According to this article from the Topeka Daily Capital, B. K. (Blanche Ketene) Bruce Jr. was given a place on the Republican ticket and ran for state auditor in 1892. Bruce, a black man from Leavenworth, became the first African American to graduate from Kansas State University in 1885. One important reason Bruce was considered to be such a good candidate for the position of state auditor, was because he was a black Republican in every sense of the word. Between the years of 1880-1900 blacks felt their political interests did not differ too greatly from white political interest or well being. African American males were placed on political party tickets and ran successfully for elective offices in Kansas during this time.