Yesterday concluded the Kansas Primary Election, and the (unofficial) results are in! Congratulations to all the new nominees and condolences to the candidates who were unsuccessful - but regardless of outcome, thank you for giving voters a choice. It takes guts to put your name on the ballot! While the wins and losses are still fresh, it's important that we all - candidates and Kansans alike - remember to win and lose with grace.

As we look toward the next election in November, the advice Governor Cox shared will need to be kept front of mind - so here's what each of us can do, in his words:

1) Turn off and tune out "conflict entrepreneurs" on cable news and social media. Consuming more headlines isn't making us smarter, it's stressing us out.

As Thomas Jefferson reportedly said, “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” The founders of our state took that to heart, and Kansans have a strong tradition of valuing and supporting public education.

As the state was settled and communities were built, building a common place for the children to learn - a public school - was a priority for the new Kansans. The schools they built still dot the landscape of rural Kansas, but that legacy is under threat.

Ideological extremists and hyper-partisan lawmakers push legislation that would undermine our public schools by diverting our tax dollars into private schools, and out of public schools - where over 90% of Kansas kids learn. Moreover, these voucher (or "school choice") programs are often unavailable to students in rural areas, simply because there are no private options within driving distance.

On the ground floor of the Kansas Statehouse, alongside a trove artifacts from Kansas' history, is a plaque bearing a quote from President Lincoln, "All political power is inherent in the people."

It's a simple truth, one so obvious to most of us that we don't take the time to think about what it means - which is a problem, because it can mean so many things.

"All political power is inherent in the people."

That's the foundation for democracy and republicanism. It's also the foundation of anarchy and communism - the difference is found in how we choose to exercise our power.

We live in a democratic republic. Here, we entrust our power to our elected officials and send them to the Capitol to exercise that power with wisdom and discernment. That's not to say that once elected, a legislator or office holder should lose touch with - or accountability from - their constituents; but it does make the act of choosing a leader with good character and temperament even more important.

"Well, Doctor, what have we got - a Monarchy or a Republic?"

"A Republic, if you can keep it."

This exchange between Elizabeth Willing Powel and Benjamin Franklin, while quoted with some regularity, seems worth reaffirming. As lawmakers in various capacities and levels of government continue to break new ground. It's hard, even exhausting, to not get overwhelmed by the endless swirl of maneuvering and retribution that has engulfed our politics. 

General Consultant

Ad Astra per Aspera and happy Kansas Day to all Kansans.

While we celebrate today as our state’s birthday, this land has existed long before it was called “Kansas.” It was home to Native Americans including the Wichita, Pawnee, Osage, and Kansa peoples, among others, long before European colonization. Before being purchased by President Jefferson, it had been part of France, Spain, Mexico, and the Republic of Texas.

Early explorers dubbed this place the “great American desert.” The federal government paid people to plant trees here. When it was opened to settlement by the U.S., people moved here not for opportunity but belief in a cause – freedom – and with a conviction to live their values.

Kansans First founding board member former Sen. Tom Hawk (D-Manhattan), General Consultant Mitch Rucker, along with Kansans First member and former Rep. Dave Baker (R-Council Grove) joined KMAN Radio and the Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy to talk about Kansans First's mission and plan for success! The interview ran on December 27, 2023 and the stream can be accessed on-demand on their website.

We appreciate this opinion piece from the Kansas Reflector. Is the road ahead long? Yes, and we're burning daylight.
Mapping a moderate Republican resurgence: Kansans First group makes big plans

Check out this interview with two of our board members, former Kansas State Senators Steve Morris and Tom Hawk, as they discuss the need for Kansans First and for Kansans to show up to the polls in August.

https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2023-10-10/kansans-first-hopes-to-recruit-more-moderates-to-the-legislature-in-2024

October 10, 2023

On Monday, Steve Morris, founding board member of Kansans First and former President of the Kansas Senate, and Mitch Rucker joined the Kansas Reflector Podcast to announce the creation of Kansans First. Read more and tune in here: Kansas Political Moderates Create Educational Non-profit.

“I believe that we have a Legislature that’s out of touch with the majority of Kansans,” Morris said. “The Legislature has migrated too far to the right.”