Star endorsement: Republicans’ best choice to face Sharice Davids in Kansas’ 3rd District
Republican voters in the 3rd Congressional District have a tough choice to make in the Aug. 4 primary, especially between former Roeland Park Mayor Adrienne Vallejo Foster and Cerner executive Amanda Adkins.
Both are articulate and passionate defenders of fiscal restraint and “health care freedom.” Neither believes that the next COVID-19 stimulus package should include additional unemployment benefits, and both would vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
But if the question is who can best take on Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids in November, that candidate is Foster, both because of her experience and her personal story.
Unlike Adkins, Foster has held elective office.
And in contrast to Adkins, whose father has bankrolled her campaign, Foster’s biography could, as she says, make it harder for Democrats to run against her. The youngest of 12 children, she grew up in the urban core of Kansas City, Kansas, and hopes to win over some Democratic voters in Wyandotte County.
Foster has also been an executive director of the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission and served the Trump administration as Region 7 advocate for the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration. “I’m the only one that has local, state and federal experience,” she said at a debate earlier this month. “I am also the only woman of color on this stage.”
At a minimum, she described Davids awkwardly at that debate: “To take on Sharice Davids, who is an American Indian, outwardly lesbian, I’m a Latina woman, married, five children.”
But her point stands that, as she says, “I am proof that the American Dream is available.”
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWho decides the endorsements?
Members of The Kansas City Star Editorial Board interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The editorial board is comprised of seasoned opinion journalists and is separate from The Star’s newsroom. The board’s members are editorial writers Toriano Porter and Mara’ Rose Williams — all veteran journalists with decades of experience. Editors Derek Donovan is also a member, and editor David Tarrant, while not a member of the board, reads and often improves each editorial we publish. Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
What does the endorsement process entail?
The Star Editorial Board invites candidates in each race to meet with the board in an on-the-record discussion, the purpose of which is more fully understand what distinguishes one candidate from another. Board members do additional reporting and research to learn as much as possible about the candidates. The editorial board then convenes to discuss the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous..
Is the editorial board partisan?
No. In making endorsements, members of the editorial board consider which candidates are well prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they agree with us or belong to a particular political party. We do weigh heavily their stances on issues we consider basic tests of judgment and candor, such as whether they even acknowledge climate change as real, or if they continue to deny the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election. We weigh these factors against many others, and state clearly what our conclusions are. Primarily, we evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, their readiness for office, their depth of knowledge of key issues and their understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points. The editorial board will endorse both Republicans and Democrats, making recommendations about who the best-qualified candidate for each job is.
Why are endorsements unsigned?
Endorsements reflect the collective views of The Star’s editorial board — not just the opinion of one writer. Board members all discuss and contribute ideas to each endorsement editorial.
The policy differences between Adkins and Foster aren’t dramatic. Adkins, a former Kansas Republican Party chairwoman, says that if elected, she’d push for further tax relief and draw on her 15 years of experience in the health care industry to work on reducing costs. Foster emphasizes deregulation and tort reform.
When asked during an interview with The Star Editorial Board to point to their most striking differences, both cited aspects of their biography. Adkins is a polished and impressive candidate, but Foster’s experience and her energetic efforts to build a base of support that spans the entire 3rd District will make her a more formidable force in November as Republicans seek to reclaim this coveted swing district.
Sara Hart Weir, the former president and CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society, also brings an impressive résumé and some high-profile endorsements to this crowded primary, but she leans heavily on her biography in her answers to policy questions, offering fewer details and less clarity about what she would do in office.
Tom Love, a former Democratic state representative-turned Republican real estate investor, and former Burns & McDonnell executive Mike Beehler are seeking the Republican nomination as well.
After losing its grip on the 3rd District seat in 2018, the GOP fielded multiple compelling primary contenders this year. Foster, though, stands apart from her competition, and she’s earned The Star’s endorsement.