Fellow Kansans, we can keep Project 2025’s boot off the neck of our personal freedoms | Opinion

As Kansans, we face a critical juncture in our state’s history. Project 2025 — a wide-ranging blueprint from the far-right, heavily-funded Heritage Foundation that aims to remake our government radically and cement an autocratic new power structure if Donald Trump regains the White House — threatens to undermine our values, dismantle progress and jeopardize our communities’ future.

But we have the power to fight back by electing more Democrats to the Legislature to expel the Republican supermajority in Topeka. We can protect reproductive rights, safeguard our LGBTQ+ community, support underrepresented segments such as low-income families and individuals with disabilities, and foster diversity, equity and inclusion.

As someone committed to these values, I have a personal stake in this fight. Canvassing in Iowa with my young daughter for Pete Buttigieg in the 2020 presidential primary was a bonding experience in volunteering and activism. In the 2022 primary election, I proudly took her to cast her first vote, protecting our Kansas constitutional amendment and women’s right to choose.

Inspired by these experiences, I have helped at the county party level, recruiting precinct committee members and helping new candidates launch their state House and Senate campaigns to dismantle the GOP supermajority hindering our progress.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent overturning of precedent in Roe v. Wade highlights the fragility of reproductive rights. Project 2025 emphasizes that this decision rescinding millions of women’s personal freedoms is just the beginning, urging conservatives to push further in every jurisdiction. We must elect state representatives committed to protecting women’s autonomy, ensuring our daughters, sisters and friends don’t fight the same battles again. By electing these representatives, we can uphold women’s rights to make their own reproductive choices.

The LGBTQ+ community in Kansas deserves to live without fear of discrimination. Project 2025’s regressive stance endangers their safety and dignity by urging the next conservative president to target “woke culture warriors” and remove terms such as sexual orientation, gender identity and gender equality from federal documents. We must elect officials committed to protecting LGBTQ+ rights, fostering acceptance and equality, and ensuring that Kansas is safe and welcoming for everyone.

The voices of low-income families and individuals with disabilities are frequently drowned out in the political sphere. Project 2025’s intent to gut programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and SNAP would only make matters worse. We need representatives who will advocate for these communities, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are addressed. By electing compassionate and dedicated officials, we can foster a Kansas that promotes fairness and opportunity for everyone.

Diversity, equity and inclusion are critical to a thriving society. Project 2025, however, seeks to dismantle DEI guidelines and organizations, depicting them as unlawful and violating First Amendment rights. To counter this, we need to support candidates who prioritize these values and promote inclusive policies, ensuring a just Kansas for future generations.

Skeptics argue that in Kansas, a red-leaning state, Democratic success is improbable. They cite the difficulty of a Democratic presidential candidate winning statewide, and claim the GOP’s message is too entrenched. Yet, the 2022 primary proved otherwise. My daughter’s first vote contributed to a historic moment when Kansans upheld the state constitution to protect reproductive rights, demonstrating that change is achievable. By working together, we can challenge the status quo and make a significant impact.

Project 2025 presents a challenge, but also an opportunity to rally for a progressive Kansas. We need all rational voters to volunteer for their county party or a candidate, donate to a campaign or sign up to work with their precinct committees.

Your efforts can shift local politics and protect our values. By engaging in this election, you can help create a more inclusive and equitable state for all Kansans.

Jason Peters lives in Topeka with his wife and daughter. He is actively involved in local politics, volunteering with the Shawnee County Democrats.