Laura Kelly (D, incumbent)
Background:
- Represented 18th district in Kansas Senate from 2005 to 2019
- As a Kansas Senator, pushed for the creation and funding of the Early Childhood Block Grants to help provide comprehensive early childhood education
- Ran for governor in the 2018 election and defeated republican nominee Kris Kobach
Stance on issues:
Taxes
- Expedite the food sales tax cut signed
into law in May 2022 - Remove sales tax on items such as feminine hygiene products and diapers
- Implement a three-day suspension of
sales tax on back-to-school items in
August - Implement a tax relief plan that would
save seniors making less than $100,000 a year a total of $50 million in tax savings over the next three years
Education
- Provide incentives to attend technical or trade schools
- Restore funding to higher education and work with the Board of Regents to address the rise in tuition
- Improve access to mental health services in schools
Public Safety
- Require background checks on all gun sales
- Limit access to certain assault weapons
- Ban bump stocks
Health Care
- Expand medicaid
- Ensure Kansans have access to reproductive healthcare, including birth control
- Pro-choice
Polling:
- An Emerson College poll has Laura Kelly leading with 45% and Derek Schmidt closely behind with 43%
Derek Schmidt (R)
Background:
- Elected as the 44th Attorney General of Kansas in 2010, reelected in 2014 and 2018
- Served as a Kansas State Senator representing part of southeast Kansas as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and as the Senate Majority Leader
- 2017-2018 President of the National Association of Attorneys General
Stance on issues:
Taxes
- A tax plan that exempts pensions, social security and private retirement distributions from state income tax
- Remove sales tax for items such as diapers and feminine hygiene products
Education
- Eliminate critical race theory in schools
- Opposes President Biden’s college loan forgiveness plan
- Against Common Core, wants education to be handled at a state level
- Advocates for parents to have more say over classroom curriculum, and opposes gender and sexual identity content being taught to young children
- “People who are biologically male should not be allowed to compete in sports that are reserved for female athletes.”
Public Safety
- More funding for school entryways and security cameras
- Double the funds for the Safe & Secure Schools grant program
- Enact the Reduce Armed Violence Act
- Supports Second Amendment right to bear arms, does not believe gun restrictions will solve issues with gun violence
Health Care
- Against expanding Medicaid
- More medical student loan repayments for doctors and medical specialists in underserved rural areas
- Pro-life
Polling Statistics
According to KSNT.com polling, 43% of voters support Schmidt while 46% support Kelly, 5% support Pyle and 5% are undecided
Seth Cordell (L)
Background
- Received a bachelor’s degree in biology and a doctor’s degree in chiropractic’s, which he used to open Cordell Chiropractic Clinic
- Served as the assistant debate and forensics coach at Lyons High School, where his students inspired him to run for Governor
Stances on issues:
Taxes
- Decrease taxes and regulations on small businesses
- Decrease taxes for consumers to increase their spending power
Education
- Eliminate standardized testing
- Believes school should focus on preparing students for the modern workforce
Public Safety
- End qualified immunity for police
- Legalize marijuana
- Decriminalize non-violent drug use
Health Care
- Believes government should not be involved with individual’s healthcare decisions
- Does not believe in restricting abortion
Dennis Pyle (I)
Background:
- Experience working as a grain and cattle farmer
- Represented Kansas State Senate District 1 since 2005
- Previously served on the Kansas House of Representatives District 49
- Elected Kansas Attorney General in 2010, 2014 and 2018
Stances on Issues:
Taxes
- Illegal immigrants should not benefit from citizens’ tax dollars
- State income tax should not be used for Social Security benefits or retirement benefits
Education
- Proposed an amendment that would give locally elected school boards the only authority to close schools
Public Safety
- Supports the Second Amendment
- Citizens should have the right to keep and bear arms
- Proposed an amendment that would allow any person who is at least 18 years of age and is on active duty in the armed forces to carry a concealed firearm
Health Care
- Pro-Life and voted twice in favor of the “Value Them Both” amendment
- Vaccines should not be mandated
- Mask mandates should be removed in Kansas
- Immigrants who entered the country illegally should not receive assistance on their medical bills
Polling:
- In an Emerson College Poll, Pyle receives support from 5% of voters, and in a Battleground Connect poll, he received support from 2% of voters
Sources:
https://www.laurakellyforkansas.com/issues/kansas-schools/
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/governor/2022/kansas/
https://ballotpedia.org/Seth_Cordell
https://lpks.org/2022/04/25/meet-seth-cordell/
https://www.cordellforkansas.com/platforms
https://ballotpedia.org/Dennis_Pyle
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