Members of Congress don’t listen. And Kansans are fed up | Opinion

Something extraordinary is happening in Kansas — and it isn’t coming from the halls of power. It’s coming from coffee shops, small-town diners and library meeting rooms. It’s coming from people who never thought of themselves as political. People who have been ignored, talked over or written off by the very leaders elected to represent them.

In a year when our federal delegation (with the exception of Rep. Sharice Davids) has largely avoided public forums, Kansans haven’t stopped talking. They’ve simply stopped waiting for their elected officials to join the conversation.

Throughout November, we members of Leading Kansas spent four consecutive Saturdays traveling to local coffee shops across the 4th Congressional District. More than 160 Kansans joined us for open, unscripted conversations in eight different towns. And from El Dorado to Wichita, Augusta to Newton, Winfield to Pratt, and Kingman to Derby, one thing was unmistakably clear: Kansans are leading where their leaders are not.

In one town, a woman pulled me aside to share her story. She has spent years advocating for disability rights and supporting nonprofit work in her community. She told me that the cruelty coming from her own party — toward immigrants, educators, the vulnerable — has left her shaken. “I don’t recognize what we’ve become,” she said. “This isn’t who we’re supposed to be.” She was relieved to find a room full of people who checked their party labels at the door and talked instead about values, community and shared humanity.

At another stop, a retired couple shared something deeply personal: They are still a few years shy of Medicare eligibility, and their Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums are set to increase by $24,000 this year. This is not because they did anything wrong, but because Washington leaders who promised to protect working families have chosen political gamesmanship over solutions.

And during one of our final stops, a woman who sat silent for nearly the entire conversation found her voice toward the end, and delivered remarks so powerful they brought the room to a standstill. She told us she has been a homemaker her whole life and was taught to “let the men lead.” But what she’s seeing now — the threats, the cruelty, the disregard for the Constitution — has shaken her to her core. Battling back tears, she lamented: “I know right from wrong. And what is happening in America isn’t right.”

These stories stayed with me — partially because they were so raw and unrehearsed — but mostly because they demonstrated the type of authenticity and bravery that people are so hungry to see in our leaders in this moment. Across all eight stops, ordinary Kansans had the courage to sit down with friends and strangers alike to talk through real problems and potential solutions. They discussed issues that transcend party lines and cut to the core of what it means to live, work, and raise a family in this state.

This is a summary of what we heard:

Agriculture and water

Farmers and ranchers described shrinking water tables, worsening drought and land prices driven sky-high by absentee investors. In Winfield, cattle ranchers talked about foreign imports undercutting local producers. Others warned that Congress’ failure to act with urgency on water policy could jeopardize the future of family farms.

A medical hemp shop owner shared that new federal THC caps in the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill would likely put her out of business altogether, eliminating a product that thousands of Kansans rely on for pain and sleep relief.

Cost of living and housing

We heard about housing shortages, skyrocketing rents and wages that no longer keep pace with basic necessities. Many urged federal leaders to stop prioritizing corporate donors and start prioritizing working families, renters and first-time homebuyers.

Health care

Kansans shared real fear about a health care system on the brink. Rural hospitals are hanging by a thread. Mental health, prenatal and specialist care are disappearing across entire counties. Families are being crushed by health insurance premiums that have doubled or tripled.

One woman shared her brother’s 17-year battle with cancer and the ongoing struggle to access necessary blood work and treatment, let alone figure out how to pay for them.

Others told us they are actively exploring whether they need to reduce their household income just to qualify for tax credits and keep their insurance.

Veterans

Veterans and military families told us they feel abandoned by a system that is overwhelmed, underfunded and often indifferent. They are tired of being used as political props, and instead want — and deserve — accountability from the leaders who claim to champion them.

Infrastructure and rural investment

From unreliable broadband to crumbling roads to failing water systems, Kansans asked why these basics have become political battlefields instead of bipartisan priorities. Many pleaded for 21st century investment so rural communities can thrive, not just survive.

Food security

Delays with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have pushed vulnerable families into crisis. Schools and food banks are carrying an overwhelming burden, and grocery prices keep rising. Kansans asked why their federal leaders refuse to acknowledge and address the harm being done.

Immigration and community safety

Across several stops, families shared stories of community members caught in the crosshairs of chaotic, inconsistent immigration enforcement. Others described growing fear as more and more local agencies agree to cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Kansans pleaded for systems that recognize humanity instead of criminalizing desperation.

Education

Teachers, librarians and parents raised concerns about attacks on public education, political interference in curriculum, the erosion of support for higher education and research, the loss of immigrant students and their tuition dollars because of new federal policies, and the challenges facing rural schools. Many emphasized that strong public education is the backbone of a functioning democracy.

Democracy and the rule of law

At every single stop — rural, suburban, urban — Kansans raised concerns about political violence, threats against public officials, pardons for numerous convicted criminals and the erosion of constitutional norms. People want courage from their elected leaders, not complicity.

But one theme rose above all others. Everywhere we went, the same message echoed: People feel abandoned by their elected representatives, and they’re done staying quiet about it.

Republicans, Democrats and independents alike told us they want leaders who will:

• Engage in real, in-person dialogue with their constituents.
• Tell the truth instead of spread fear.
• And put the Constitution and rule of law above any individual or party.

They want a return to a Kansas where community matters, where integrity matters, where we take care of one another and where our shared humanity is more important than political tribalism.

We at Leading Kansas want that, too. And this is why we reiterate our offer: We will host any member of our federal delegation, any time, in any town, in a public forum of their choosing — with only one condition. It must be free, unscripted and open to the public.

Until they accept, we will continue to show up in their place. We will continue listening. We will continue publishing what we hear. And we will continue reminding our neighbors — and our leaders — that democracy doesn’t disappear simply because some choose to hide from it.

Make no mistake: Ordinary Kansans have found their courage. The question is whether our elected officials will ever find theirs.

Katy Tyndell is a fifth-generation Kansan and a founding member and co-president of the 501(c)(4) nonprofit Leading Kansas.