Two politicians in leadership positions in the Kansas Legislature are running against against each other for Kansas Insurance Commissioner.
Republican Speaker of the House Daniel Hawkins is running against Democratic Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes.
The election is for an open position, because incumbent Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt (R) ran for governor this year, where she was among the losing candidates in the Republican Primary.
The Insurance Commissioner leads the Kansas Insurance Department, which regulates insurance companies, educates consumers, and advocates for a competitive insurance market.
On the Issues
Both Daniel Hawkins (R) and Dinah Sykes (D) are members of the Kansas Legislature, so we can compare how they voted on key issues.
In 2021, Daniel Hawkins voted for a state constitutional amendment that would have given the Kansas Legislature the legal authority to ban abortion.
Dinah Sykes voted against the constitutional amendment.
Kansas voters rejected the amendment by 18%.
I discussed the anti-abortion constitutional amendment on my blog.
In 2023, Daniel Hawkins (R) voted for a Transgender Sports Ban.
Dinah Sykes (D) voted against the Transgender Sports Ban.
I discussed the Trans Sports Ban on my blog.
In 2024, Daniel Hawkins voted for a bill that would replace the progressive state income tax with a flat income tax.
Doing so would have primarily benefited the rich, and would have been a windfall for Billionaire Charles Koch, the wealthiest Kansas resident, according to an analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP).
Daniel Hawkins (R) even had the audacity to lie that the bill was, “purposely designed to primarily help those who are on the lower rungs of the economic ladder.”
One look at the graph above shows that Hawkins was telling an outrageous lie.
This story proves Daniel Hawkins (R) cares about helping the rich, not about helping you.
In the Senate, Dinah Sykes (D) voted against a different bill that would have replaced the progressive state income tax with a flat tax, which also would have primarily benefited the rich.
I wrote an article about the efforts by Kansas Republicans to enact a flat state income tax.
Daniel Hawkins (R) voted for a law that prevents transgender Kansans from obtaining identity documents that reflect their gender identity, and makes it illegal for them to use certain restrooms and locker rooms.
Dinah Sykes (D) voted against the anti-trans law.
I discussed the draconian anti-trans law in an article I wrote for my blog, Meticulous Musings.
Daniel Hawkins supports Trump’s immigration policies.
On his campaign website, Hawkins says that he, “banned sanctuary cities in Kansas, and put in place numerous provisions to help the Trump administration push back on illegal immigration.”
Medicaid Expansion
Kansas is one of only 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, which is also known as Obamacare.
Here is a map showing which states have and haven’t expanded Medicaid, which was created by KFF, a nonprofit that covers healthcare policy.
Expanding Medicaid would greatly benefit the people of Kansas.
Republican politicians, like Daniel Hawkins, are the reason why Kansas hasn’t expanded Medicaid, despite public support for the policy.
On his campaign website, Hawkins lists among his accomplishments that, “for over a decade, Dan has led the effort to prevent the expansion of Obamacare in our state.”
Dinah Sykes (D) supports expanding Medicaid in Kansas.
Kansas should have an Insurance Commissioner who supports expanding Medicaid.
Conclusion
Kathleen Sebelius (D), who served as Kansas Governor and Kansas Insurance Commissioner, has endorsed Dinah Sykes (D).
Former Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger (R) has endorsed Dinah Sykes (D) as well.
The choice is clear.
I strongly endorse Dinah Sykes (D) for Kansas Insurance Commissioner.
Daniel Hawkins’s record is terrible.
Let’s not reward him, by electing him Insurance Commissioner.
Additional Information
The Kansas News Service wrote a guide for the Kansas Insurance Commissioner Race.
Republicans generally win Kansas Insurance Commissioner elections by wide margins.
The Republican candidate has won each of the five most recent Kansas Insurance Commissioner Races by more than 20%.
Earlier this year, I discussed the competitiveness of statewide elections in Kansas.
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