Here’s who is running for U.S. House, Senate to represent Kansas, and what they stand for

Kansas voters will have the chance to cast a ballot on Nov. 8, or earlier — in-person advanced voting starts on Oct. 22 in Johnson County and Oct. 24 in Wyandotte County.

Below are candidates’ responses to The Star’s survey from those running for U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.

And here is a link to all of the Kansas races on the ballot for voters around Kansas City.

If you’re not sure, you can look up your voter information to see which district you live in, and where your polling site is.

How the voter guide works:

Click on the race you are curious about, and you’ll go to a page with candidates’ responses. There, you can use the jump menu to get to a specific race or district.

Any candidates that do not have answers below their names did not respond to the survey. Our team at The Star contacted campaigns multiple times via both email and phone calls over the past month.

If you are a candidate and would like to get in touch with us and submit responses still, you can email us at kcq@kcstar.com. Voters will continue using this tool all the way through election day.

A note on editing and fact-checking

Some survey responses were very lightly edited for grammar, but the substance of the responses were not edited at all and are the candidates’ own words. The Star did not fact-check all of the candidates’ responses.

If you are concerned about misinformation or would like to learn more about some of the issues referenced in candidates’ responses, we wanted to include this past story about how to spot misinformation: How to tell if a politician is lying? A scholar who studies what they say has some advice.

U.S. Senator

Republican Sen. Jerry Moran is the incumbent running for reelection with two opponents.

Mark R. Holland, Democrat

After Kansans voted to preserve the right to abortion in the state constitution, what role do you think Congress should play in creating or enforcing policies that affect people’s access to abortion or reproductive health care?

The August vote was a temporary reprieve for Kansas. Depending upon the outcome of the November election, our state could have a new governor and Supreme Court that would most certainly “reinterpret” our constitution differently. Currently 15 states have made abortion illegal. The senate Republican leadership has stated that a nationwide ban is their ultimate plan. The rights and access for abortion health care, as were previously interpreted under Roe v. Wade, should be enshrined into federal statutory law. I support a filibuster carve-out which will allow for passage of the legislation through the U.S. Senate with 51 votes.

What should Congress be doing to address the cost of living in Kansas? This could include inflation, wages, the cost of housing and utilities or something else.

In 2020, there were 37.2 million people in poverty, approximately 3.3 million more than in 2019. Across all demographic populations poverty is trending up. Much of our current tax policy is implemented at the exclusion of the middle class. We are going to need a filibuster proof Democratic majority in order to pass additional legislation and funding that directly helps those in economic pain. At the federal level we are able to directly assist with driving down the components of inflation, such as the price of prescription medicine, healthcare, insurance premiums, fuel costs, energy production, food and housing.

What should Congress be doing to address climate change?

Significant federal investment must be made in large scale renewable energy sources such as the 3,100 Kansas wind turbines that now account for about 45% of our state’s energy generation. As part of critical infrastructure investment, I support renewable energies which will create new high paying jobs, expand our economy and energy independence. I support the use of tax credits to assist with the purchase of energy efficient heat pumps, electric water heaters and automobiles. Investments in automobile charging stations will be required for us to make a more wide scale jump to electric vehicles.

Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president, and do you condemn the Jan. 6 insurrection?

Yes, Joe Biden is the legitimate president of the United States having overwhelmingly won the 2020 presidential election. In over 65 lawsuits filed by Republicans and former President Trump, no evidence was ever presented or claimed of voter or election fraud. Our fragile experiment in democracy is built upon the orderly and peaceful transfer of power when an incumbent loses an election. The violent attack on our nation’s capital on January 6th to block the certification of election results should be widely condemned.

Do you have a position on a specific issue that crosses partisan lines, or that you think is often misunderstood? What is it, and what do you wish voters better understood about your stance?

More than 80 of Kansas’s 105 counties have continued declining populations. Factories, stores, farms and hospitals do not have the workers to support the day-to-day operations, nor the growing community that is needed to keep them economically profitable. Rural hospitals and grocery stores are dependent upon a growing, thriving population. I believe we need an improved work visa program that provides a legal path to entry so that our employers can ensure they have the workforce necessary to run their businesses and a consumer base to sustain economic growth.

Campaign website: HollandForKansas.com

Jerry Moran, Republican

After numerous emails, phone calls and text messages over a span of more than two weeks, Sen. Moran did not respond to The Star’s request to complete the candidate survey.

Campaign website: moranforkansas.com

David C. Graham, Libertarian

After Kansans voted to preserve the right to abortion in the state constitution, what role do you think Congress should play in creating or enforcing policies that affect people’s access to abortion or reproductive health care?

I am pro-life. Congress should prohibit abortion, except to save the life of the mother.

What should Congress be doing to address the cost of living in Kansas? This could include inflation, wages, the cost of housing and utilities or something else.

Congress should abolish the Federal Reserve Bank and return United States’ currency to the gold standard. Also, many laws and regulations contribute to the high cost of living in Kansas. Congress should repeal virtually all such law and regulations. Less government, not more government, would help the economy.

What should Congress be doing to address climate change?

Congress could provide tax breaks to organizations to study whether climate change is a threat to the United States and, if so, what the United States should do about it.

Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president, and do you condemn the Jan. 6 insurrection?

The electoral college elected Joe Biden, as president, as per the Constitution. I condemn the rioting that occurred on January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. I do not believe there is sufficient evidence to believe an “insurrection” occurred.My campaign is about the future! I want to make the United States a more free country!I believe in reducing the size and scope of government, criminal justice reform and a smarter national defense. As a United State senator, I shall fight for these issues.

Do you have a position on a specific issue that crosses partisan lines, or that you think is often misunderstood? What is it, and what do you wish voters better understood about your stance?

A major topic of my campaign is criminal justice reform. Congress should repeal scores of federal laws, especially when the same criminal conduct is outlawed by state law. I favor abolishing (or substantially modifying) the federal sentencing guidelines. I also favor abolishing mandatory minimum sentencing.

Many people think these reforms will make our country less safe. The opposite is true.Furthermore, the government will save millions of dollars each year by greatly reducing the prison industrial complex.

Campaign website: Graham4Senate.com

U.S. Representative District 2

Republican Rep. Jacob LaTurner is running for reelection against Democrat Patrick Schmidt.

Patrick Schmidt, Democrat

After Kansans voted to preserve the right to abortion in the state constitution, what role do you think Congress should play in creating or enforcing policies that affect people’s access to abortion or reproductive health care?

I believe Kansans spoke loud and clear August 2nd. Unlike my opponent, I do not support banning abortion and will not support Congressional action to do so.

What should Congress be doing to address the cost of living in Kansas? This could include inflation, wages, the cost of housing and utilities or something else.

Despite opposition from my opponent, Congress passed a bi-partisan infrastructure bill that will, in time help ease the supply chain issues that are plaguing our economy. Recently, with opposition from my opponent, Congress moved to crack down on price gouging. We can tame inflation and return to a strong economy if we have the will to knock down the barriers keeping critical parts in short supply and if we send a strong message to multinational corporations that we won’t tolerate price gouging.

What should Congress be doing to address climate change?

While Kansas is one of the nation’s leaders in wind energy production and Kansas has a growing solar presence, we must do more to become a leader in this category. The federal energy plan must continue to provide incentives to build more solar and wind capacity to help Kansas lead the U.S. into a sustainable future.

Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president, and do you condemn the Jan. 6 insurrection?

Yes I believe the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided, and Joe Biden is our nation’s president. While stationed at the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington, my wife and I were living across the street from the Capitol and witnessed the horrific attacks on January 6. I strongly condemn the January 6 insurrection.

Do you have a position on a specific issue that crosses partisan lines, or that you think is often misunderstood? What is it, and what do you wish voters better understood about your stance?

As I’ve spent countless hours knocking doors across my district, it’s clear to me that we must have more and better policing to protect our citizens from danger and keep order. We must ensure that our police have the resources they need to keep us safe.

Campaign website: www.patrickforkansas.com

Jacob LaTurner, Republican

After Kansans voted to preserve the right to abortion in the state constitution, what role do you think Congress should play in creating or enforcing policies that affect people’s access to abortion or reproductive health care?

The Dobbs ruling rightly states that abortion law should be left to the states—not politicians in Washington. As a pro-life American, I will continue to work with local elected officials in Topeka to stop Kansas from being the abortion destination it is today. I will never relent in my fight against Nancy Pelosi’s quest for unlimited taxpayer-funded abortions.

What should Congress be doing to address the cost of living in Kansas? This could include inflation, wages, the cost of housing and utilities or something else.

Talking with folks across the 2nd District, I have seen firsthand the severe impact soaring inflation has had on Kansans. The price of food, housing and energy have all reached record highs, and family budgets are being crushed by the cost of goods.

My opponent has made it clear that he supports Joe Biden’s failed economic policies and believes we are experiencing “the best economy since Ronald Reagan.” I strongly disagree. I am fighting to implement a pro-growth agenda in Congress that gets the American economy back on track and helps small businesses and families succeed across our state.

What should Congress be doing to address climate change?

No one cares more about our environment than Kansas farmers whose livelihoods depend on keeping climate change at bay. The decision of my opponent’s supporters to prioritize the Green New Deal over American energy has cost Kansans and done very little to address the threat of climate change.

Oil and gas produced in Kansas and across America is among the cleanest and most affordable in the world. I will continue pushing legislation to restart the Keystone XL Pipeline, resume oil and gas leases on federal lands, and roll back the burdensome regulations Biden put in place on American energy producers.

Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president, and do you condemn the Jan. 6 insurrection?

Although I believe it’s essential that we examine the causes of voter fraud to guarantee secure elections in our country, I have said from day one that Joe Biden is the legitimate President of the United States. The lawless behavior at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th was reprehensible, and I have condemned these actions in the strongest possible terms.

I proudly cosponsored legislation to award the brave Capitol police officers with the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroic actions on that day and supported a commission to help prevent these horrific events from happening again.

Do you have a position on a specific issue that crosses partisan lines, or that you think is often misunderstood? What is it, and what do you wish voters better understood about your stance?

It’s essential that elected officials in Washington put politics aside to protect our troops and support America’s veterans. I’m proud to have supported the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.

The bipartisan PACT Act will provide 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans with the benefits and care they deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. I was stunned when my opponent blatantly lied about my support for this crucial legislation in an attempt to deceive our veteran community and voters across the 2nd District.

Campaign website: www.jakelaturner.com

U.S. Representative District 3

Democrat Rep. Sharice Davids is running for reelection against Republican Amanda Adkins.

Sharice Davids, Democrat

After Kansans voted to preserve the right to abortion in the state constitution, what role do you think Congress should play in creating or enforcing policies that affect people’s access to abortion or reproductive health care?

This issue is extremely personal for so many women and families in Kansas. In this election, the contrast could not be more clear: My opponent not only supported the August amendment that would open the door to extreme bans in our state, she has also endorsed federal bans on abortion with no exceptions, not even for the life of the mother. Conversely, I believe politicians have no place in personal medical decisions. I opposed the amendment, and I have voted to codify Roe into law. I will always stand up against extremism, especially when it comes to your rights.

What should Congress be doing to address the cost of living in Kansas? This could include inflation, wages, the cost of housing and utilities or something else.

Our reliance on countries like China is hurting Kansas businesses and consumers. By investing in American industries, we can reduce inflation and costly delays. That’s why I worked with Republicans to pass a law boosting domestic manufacturing.

I’ve also pushed for immediate relief, like suspending the federal gas tax—even when some in my party disagreed. Some politicians want to use inflation to score political points, like my opponent who has come out against these common sense steps to help people save money. I’m staying focused on concrete, bipartisan solutions that make life more affordable for Kansans.

What should Congress be doing to address climate change?

Kansas parents, grandparents and young folks alike have told me they worry about the future we are leaving for the next generations. We must address the threat of climate change, and I’m proud to have voted for the most significant climate policy in our nation’s history—investing in clean energy and pollution reduction so our grandkids can have clean air, clean water and good jobs. My opponent disagrees. She endorsed a plan to slash funding for renewables.

I will continue standing up for climate action and seeking real solutions that move us towards a brighter future and a stronger economy.

Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president, and do you condemn the Jan. 6 insurrection?

Yes. Claims of widespread election fraud in the 2020 election have been repeatedly disproven.

I was in my office at the Capitol on January 6. It was a dark day. Five people lost their lives and many more struggle with the trauma. I believe that members of Congress have a duty to protect our democracy, now more than ever. That includes not only condemning the violence of that day but also speaking out against election deniers who seek to sow division and mistrust—something my opponent refuses to do.

Do you have a position on a specific issue that crosses partisan lines, or that you think is often misunderstood? What is it, and what do you wish voters better understood about your stance?

I believe good ideas can come from Republicans and Democrats, and I’ll work with anyone as long as it’s good for Kansas. So even when it wasn’t popular in my party, I came out in support of a ban on members of Congress trading stocks while in office.

Members often have access to sensitive information before the public, and too often in recent years we have seen elected officials appearing to use that for personal gain. My office has won awards for transparency, and it’s something I take seriously—which is why I continue to support stronger anti-corruption laws, no matter which party introduced them.

Campaign website: shariceforcongress.com

Amanda L. Adkins, Republican

After numerous emails, phone calls and text messages over a span of more than two weeks, Amanda Adkins did not respond to The Star’s request to complete the candidate survey.

Campaign website: www.amandaadkins.com

Steven Hohe, Libertarian

After Kansans voted to preserve the right to abortion in the state constitution, what role do you think Congress should play in creating or enforcing policies that affect people’s access to abortion or reproductive health care?

There is none. The Supreme Court threw out Roe vs. Wade and then handed it to the states to decide. On August 2, 2022, Amendment 2 was voted down. The people of Kansas have spoken. As far as subsidizing, the Kansas legislators will have to decide. Possibly due to the financial situation in the United States, Congress will have to do away with Planned Parenthood.

What should Congress be doing to address the cost of living in Kansas? This could include inflation, wages, the cost of housing and utilities or something else.

Not just the cost of living in the United States, but nationwide. Due to the poor handling of the Covid pandemic over the last 2-3 years, the federal government has spent too much money. We have a national debt of $32+ trillion, which brought upon inflation, in addition to strangling our domestic energy, interfering in the free market with ESG Scoring and Blackrock, the FED quantitive easing, and the transforming the free market ecomony into a Keynesian economy with piecemeal legistlation of Build Back Better we are now seeing history repeat itself similar to Germany’s Wiemar Republic/hyper inflation. Dercrease the debt, decrease spending and deregulate will turn it around!

What should Congress be doing to address climate change?

You will find that the energy alternatives windmill and solar are not only ineffective in supplementing our energy needs, but a boon-doggle and potential waste hazard. In addition in Kansas, DeSoto old munitions plant “Sunflower,” which is a low priority super fund site to clean up, has high levels of PCBs. Being converted into a car battery plant that will exasperate with the dumping of by-products of making car batteries. Also to power those cars you’ll have to increase energy production of the Kansas coal fire plants.

Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president, and do you condemn the Jan. 6 insurrection?

Fairly decided? Isn’t Joe Biden president and has been over two years? Everyone has moved on, it’s too late to reverse what happened. In regards to the condemnation of January 6th, I will add that those who went into the Capitol Building were arrested. As far as the Person who was responsible for the Capitol Building locking it down did not react effectively. I give low marks to the leadership actions.

Do you have a position on a specific issue that crosses partisan lines, or that you think is often misunderstood? What is it, and what do you wish voters better understood about your stance?

No, I do not have a position on specific issues that cross partisan lines, it’s more ideology than logic on decision-making with present members in Congress. My stance is that the federal government is too big, too over-intrusive, over-manipulating, and over-controlling in the American people’s lives. We are over-taxed and unfairly taxed. Decrease the size of the federal government, change the income tax system, and get out of thge way of the free market. Remember “Deregulate>Free The Market> Free Yourselves!”

Campaign website: www.steveforcongressks3.com

This story was originally published October 20, 2022 at 7:00 AM.