For 14 years, Laura Kelly has been the outsider looking in as a Democrat in the state senate.
Though she watched Republicans set policy, Kelly didnt let her underdog status go to waste. Instead she used it as a platform for compromise, crucial in garnering the support of moderate Republicans.
And though its true 80 percent of todays legislators have never served under a Democratic governor, Kellys legislative tenure has earned her their respect, making the transition an easier prospect.
In the 2018 gubernatorial campaign Kelly took the opposite approach to Republican Kris Kobach, letting her detailed policies do the talking and in so doing convincing voters she could lead them on a more rational and compassionate path.
Kansans gave Kobach a chance as secretary of state and were turned off by his power grabs and his down-your-throat positions on immigration, supposed voter fraud and guns.
Kelly gave Kansans a reason to vote for her because she:
1. Favors the expansion of Medicaid, knowing those without it are being needlessly denied life-saving healthcare.
2. Favors public education and gladly accepts her role in seeing it is adequately and equitably funded.
3. Favors a financially sound state and wont make promises to wealthy individuals and corporations that undermine its greater welfare.
REPUBLICAN legislators are mistaken if they think Kelly won only because Kobach was such a weak opponent and that its business as usual.
Kellys overwhelming victory is proof that Kansans want change. We are tired of being the state that takes the path of least resistance of giving in to private interests while we deny our poor, our children, our elderly and disabled.
To understand and work for this ever-growing group of disaffected Kansans will require courage by moderate Republicans.
First, they must be willing to stand up against those in the sway of special interest groups.
Both Susan Wagle, Senate president, and Ron Ryckman, House Speaker, are registered members of ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, and kowtow to its policies that oppose public education, government-funded healthcare and climate change regulations.
If such agendas are allowed to prevail, Kansas will return to starving valuable services and programs, or, best case, witness ensuing gridlock between ultra-conservatives and their more moderate counterparts, replicating the mayhem now on display at the national level.
To avert such a conclusion, Republicans would be better to come out the gate giving Kelly a chance.
