Sunflower Democrats

 

Considering Trump’s constant abuses of power and mismanagement of the economy, 2026 could be a great election year for Democrats.

Let’s make sure we make the most of that opportunity by electing as many Democrats as we can, up and down the ballot.

Seats for the Kansas House are up for reelection this year, which means we have another opportunity to break the Republican Supermajority in the Kansas Legislature.

In 2024, I raised money for Democrats running for the Kansas Legislature.

I created and promoted an ActBlue fund called, “Breaking the Republican Supermajority in the Kansas Legislature.”

Five people collectively donated $618.33 to the fund.

I discussed those donations in my 2024 Political Fundraising Report, which I published last year.

In another article, I covered the results of the 2024 elections for the Kansas Legislature.

This year, I’m raising money for Democrats running for the Kansas Legislature, again.

The sunflower is the state flower of Kansas.

I created an ActBlue fund called, “Sunflower Democrats.”

The fund will raise money for Democrats running for office in Kansas.

Caption: A close-up photo of a pin that displays the Kansas State Seal. The pin is part of my button collection. 

 

 

This article will focus on Democrats running for the Kansas Legislature.

In a future article, I will discuss the other Kansas candidates and causes I am fundraising for.

Breaking the Supermajority

Since 2011, Republicans have held two-thirds supermajorities in both chambers of the Kansas Legislature.

The Kansas Legislature passes consequential laws that affect the state budget, healthcare, education, abortion rights, and transgender rights.

The Republican supermajority allows Republican legislators to override a governor’s veto with only Republican votes.

This grants Republicans the ability to pass laws without support from any Democrats.

The Republican two-thirds supermajority also allows Republicans to advance constitutional amendments to a public vote, without the need to secure support from any Democrats in the Legislature.

Members of the Kansas House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the State Legislature, are up for reelection in 2026.

Members of the Kansas Senate, the upper chamber of the State Legislature, won’t be up for reelection until 2028.

Democrats need to flip five seats in the Kansas House to break the Republican Supermajority in the chamber.

If Democrats break the supermajority, Republicans wouldn’t be able to override a governor’s veto, or advance constitutional amendments to a public vote, without receiving support from Democratic lawmakers.

So, let’s break the Republican supermajority.

Our best chance to do that will be flipping districts won by Republicans by narrow margins in recent elections.

I have monitored districts decided by less than 10% in 2024 and 2022.

Some of these districts have contested Democratic primaries.

Others have candidates who haven’t yet published their campaign websites.

The Democrats listed in the table below are running in competitive districts, don’t have contested primaries, and have published their campaign websites.

Each of these districts is currently represented by a Republican.

These six candidates are included in the Sunflower Democrats fund.

I will discuss these six candidates, and their races, later in this article.

After additional candidates publish their campaign websites, they will be added to the fund.

If you plan to donate to Kansas Democrats, I recommend allocating your planned total donation across multiple donations throughout the campaign cycle.

Candidates can make the most of your donation early in the cycle, so donate part of your total donation, now.

Come back in a month or so, and donate again, after additional candidates have launched their campaign websites, to support them too.

Finally, save part of your donation for the general election, after we know who our nominees will be in important races with contested Democratic primaries.

The Kansas Primary election will take place on Aug. 4.

Remember, if we flip five seats, we can break the Republican Supermajority in the Kansas Legislature.

So, let’s take a look at some of those flippable seats.

Allison Hougland — Dist. 15

Allison Hougland, a former member of the Kansas Legislature, is running for her former seat, after narrowly losing it in 2024.

Hougland is a real estate agent in Olathe.

On her campaign website, Hougland says she supports expanding Medicaid and fully funding schools.

In 2022, Allison Hougland won a close election in Dist. 15, which is located in Johnson County.

Hougland (D) received 50.7%, and Matt Bingesser (R) received 49.3%.

Hougland won by 78 votes, or 1.4%.

In 2024, Hougland was narrowly defeated in Dist. 15.

Lauren Bohi (R) received 50.7%, and Hougland (D) received 49.3%.

Bohi won by 106 votes, or 1.4%.

Dist. 15 was one of three Kansas House districts flipped by Republicans in 2024.

In 2026, Hougland is running for her old seat in Dist. 15.

The election will be a rematch between Hougland and Bohi, neither of which have a contested primary.

Sherry Giebler — Dist. 14

Sherry Giebler is a retired counselor, who worked at elementary and middle schools, for Johnson County Community College, and in private practice.

She also served as an adjunct professor at Fort Hays State University.

Giebler lives in Olathe. 

On her campaign website, Giebler advocates for fully funding special education, keeping public dollars in public schools, and providing access to high-quality affordable healthcare.

Dist. 14 is located in Johnson County.

In 2022, Democrat Dennis Miller narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Charlotte Esau in Dist. 14.

Miller (D) received 51.0%, and Esau (R) received 49.0%.

Miller won by 221 votes, or 2.0%.

The 2024 election was a rematch between Miller and Esau, and this time, Esau won.

Esau (R) received 51.4%, and Miller (D) received 48.6%.

Esau won by 404 votes, or 2.7%.

Dist. 14 was one of three Kansas House districts flipped by Republicans in 2024.

In 2026, Esau (R) will run against Sherry Giebler (D) in the general election.

Neither Esau nor Giebler have a contested primary.

Brenda Bandy — Dist. 67

Brenda Bandy co-founded the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, a non-profit that promotes breastfeeding in Kansas. 

Bandy lives in Manhattan.  

On her campaign website, Bandy expresses support for quality affordable healthcare, supporting families, and lowering costs.

Dist. 67 is located in Riley County.

In 2022, incumbent Republican Mike Dodson narrowly won reelection in Dist. 67.

Dodson (R) received 52.4%, and Kim Zito (D) received 47.6%.

Dodson won by 420 votes, or 4.8%.

I covered the 2022 State House race in Dist. 67 in an article that discussed debates surrounding Medicaid expansion, abortion rights, and transgender rights.

In 2024, a different Republican, Angel Roeser, narrowly won Dist. 67.

Roeser (R) received 52.4%, and Kim Zito (D) received 47.6%.

Roeser won by 529 votes, or 4.9%.

In 2026, Stacy Kohlmeier and Kaleb James are running in the Republican Primary in Dist. 67.

Democrat Brenda Bandy will run against the winner of the Republican Primary in the general election.

Jeff Pittman — Dist. 41

 

Jeff Pittman previously served in both chambers of the Kansas Legislature. He is running for the Kansas House, after narrowly losing a race for the Kansas Senate in 2024.

Pittman lives in Leavenworth.

According to his campaign website, Pittman supports fully funding special education, increasing teacher pay, and expanding Medicaid.

In 2016, Pittman won the Kansas House election in Dist. 41, in Leavenworth County, against incumbent Republican Tony Barton.

Pittman (D) received 55%, and Barton (R) received 45%.

Pittman won by 10%, or 624 votes.

In 2018, Pittman was reelected in Dist. 41, after a rematch with Barton.

Pittman (D) received 57.4%, and Barton (R) received 42.6%.

Pittman won by 14.8%, or 781 votes.

In 2020, Jeff Pittman was elected in Dist. 5 to the Kansas Senate.

Dist. 5 is located in Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties.

Pittman (D) recevied 53.1%, and Kevin Braun (R) received 46.9%.

Pittman won by 6.1%, or 1,935 votes.

In 2024, Pittman lost reelection to the Kansas Senate by only 31 votes.

The election in Dist. 5 was the closest Kansas Senate race in the state.

Jeff Klemp (R) received 50.05%, and Jeff Pittman (D) received 49.95%.

Klemp won by 31 votes, or 0.1%.

This year, Pittman is running for his old seat in the Kansas House, representing Dist. 41, which has been competitive in recent elections.

In 2020, Republican Pat Proctor was elected in Dist. 41.

Proctor (R) received 53%, and Mike Griswold (D) received 47%.

Proctor won by 6.0%, or 435 votes.

In 2022, Pat Proctor was narrowly reelected in Dist. 41.

Proctor (R) received 51.6%, and Harry Schwarz (D) received 48.4%.

Proctor won by 144 votes, or 3.2%.

In 2024, Pat Proctor won another narrow reelection.

Proctor (R) received 52.6%, and Aimee Bateman (D) received 47.4%.

Proctor won by 324 votes, or 5.1%.

This year, Pat Proctor is running for Kansas Secretary of State.

Therefore, the election for Dist. 41 will be for an open seat.

The general election in Dist. 41 will be between Jeff Pittman (D) and Ann Reinhart (R).

Neither Pittman nor Reinhart have a contested primary.

Megan Phillips — Dist. 8

Megan Phillips is a licensed clinical psychologist who works in the Kansas state hospital system.

Phillips lives in Overland Park.

On her campaign website, Phillips advocates for increasing state investment in community mental health, reducing wait times for psychiatric care, protecting public education, and expanding Medicaid.

Dist. 8 is located in Johnson County.

It’s not as competitive as the districts we have previously discussed, but in a good year for Democrats, the district could be in play.

In 2022, incumbent Republican Chris Croft was reelected in Dist. 8.

Croft (R) received 54.4%, and Pam Shernuk (D) received 45.5%.

Croft won by 9.0%, or 896 votes.

The 2024 election was a rematch between Croft and Shernuk.

Croft (R) received 55.3%, and Shernuk (D) received 44.7%.

Croft won by 10.5%, or 1,388 votes.

In 2026, the general election in Dist. 8 will be between incumbent Chris Croft (R) and Megan Phillips (D).

Neither Croft nor Phillips have a contested primary.

Kelsey Stock — Dist. 121

Kelsey Stock is a program manager for the Kansas Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She has also worked for child protective services.

Kelsey Stock and her husband have five children, two of whom are deaf.

Stock is currently pursuing a PhD in Population Health at the KU School of Medicine. She is researching healthcare accessibility for people who are deaf.

Stock lives in Olathe.

According to her campaign website, Stock supports fully funding public schools and special education, and making Kansas more affordable.

Dist. 121 is located in Johnson County.

It’s not as competitive as the first four districts we discussed, but in a good year for Democrats, the district could be in play.

In 2022, incumbent Republican John Resman was reelected in Dist. 121.

Resman (R) received 54.6%, and Mel Pinick (D) received 45.4%.

Resman won by 9.2%, or 839 votes.

The 2024 election was a rematch between Resman and Pinick.

Resman (R) received 55.5%, and Pinick (D) received 44.5%.

Resman won by 11.0%, or 1,346 votes.

Resman is not running for reelection in 2026.

Two Republican candidates, Thomas Palenske and Mike Storm, will compete in the Republican primary in Dist. 121.

Democrat Kelsey Stock, who doesn’t have a contested primary, will run against the winner of the Republican primary in the general election.

What You Can Do

 

As you can see, elections for the Kansas Legislature are often decided by narrow margins.

You can support the candidates featured in this article through Sunflower Democrats. 

 

I plan to write about Kansas candidates, included in the fund, who are running for other positions, in a future article.

How Competitive are Kansas Congressional Races?

 

Previously, we examined the competitiveness of statewide elections are in Kansas.

But how competitive are the four Kansas congressional districts?

Today, we will explore the competitiveness of Kansas congressional districts by examining the results of previous elections.

This table shows the average partisan margin of victory, from 2016 to 2024, for each Kansas congressional district.

This period begins with Trump’s first presidential election in 2016, so the table shows the average result in each district during the Trump era of American politics.

 

Democrats are favored in the Kansas Third Congressional District.

Republicans are favored in the Kansas First, Fourth, and Second congressional districts.

The Kansas Third is the most competitive, followed by the Second, Fourth, and First districts.

Here is a map of the Congressional Districts in Kansas, which I found on Wikipedia.

Attribution:

By Nebraskan fellow - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=121276590 

The Kansas First is green.

The Kansas Second is blue.

The Kansas Third is yellow.

The Kansas Fourth is purple.

The Kansas Third — A Democratic District

Kansas is currently represented by two Republicans in the US Senate, Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran.

Kansas is represented by three Republicans in the US House: Tracey Mann, Derek Schmidt, and Ron Estes.

The only Democrat elected in Kansas, to either chamber of Congress, is Sharice Davids, who represents the Kansas Third Congressional District in the US House.

Let’s begin by examining the results of elections in the Kansas Third, from 2004 to 2024.

During this time, the Kansas Third was represented by Dennis Moore (D), Kevin Yoder (R), and Sharice Davids (D).

Across the 11 most recent elections, held in the Kansas Third, the average margin has been a Democratic victory by 1.3%.

That’s about as close as you can get.

Next, let’s examine elections in the Kansas Third, from 2016 to 2024. 

Republican Kevin Yoder won in 2016, but Democrat Sharice Davids has won every election since then.

The average margin, from 2016 to 2024, in the Kansas Third has been a Democratic victory by 6.4%. 

Finally, let’s examine the results of Sharice Davids’s elections.

Davids was first elected in 2018, and she has been elected to Congress four times.

On average, Sharice Davids has won the Kansas Third Congressional District by 10.7%.

The Kansas Third is the most competitive congressional district in Kansas, and it’s really competitive when viewed over a longer time frame.

But Davids has won each of her elections fairly comfortably, and she won each of her three most recent elections by more than 10%. 

In 2022, Sharice Davids won reelection even though Republicans in the Kansas Legislature gerrymandered her district to defeat her.

Not only did Davids win in 2022, she won by a larger margin than either of her previous elections to the same position.

In 2026, the Cook Political Report considers the Kansas Third to be Solidly Democratic.

The Kansas Second — Occasionally Competitive

Republican Derek Schmidt represents the Kansas Second Congressional District.

Schmidt was first elected to Congress in 2024, by a margin of 18.9%.

Derek Schmidt ran a transphobic campaign for Kansas governor in 2022.

Schmidt’s gubernatorial campaign was unsuccessful, and incumbent Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly was narrowly reelected by 2.2%.

Let’s begin by examining elections in the Kansas Second, from 2004 to 2024.

Since 2004, the Kansas Second has been represented by Jim Ryun (R), Nancy Boyda (D), Lynn Jenkins (R), Steve Watkins (R), Jake LaTurner (R), and Derek Schmidt (R).

Republicans have won 10 of the 11 most recent elections in the Kansas Second.

Nancy Boyda, a Democrat, won the 2006 election in the Kansas Second, by 3.5%.

The Kansas Second generally isn’t that competitive.

Republicans have won 8 of the 11 most recent elections in the Kansas Second by more than 10%.

By comparison, 3 of the 11 most recent elections were decided by less than 10%.

Boyda, a Democrat, won in 2006 by 3.5%.

Lynn Jenkins, a Republican, won in 2008 by 4.4%.

Steve Watkins, a Republican, won in 2018 by 0.8%.

Nationwide, 2006, 2008, and 2018 were particularly good election years for Democrats.

So, under the right conditions, the Kansas Second can be politically competitive, even though it generally isn’t.

Considering Trump’s constant scandals and abuses of power, 2026 could be a similarly good election year for Democrats.

Now, let’s examine elections in the Kansas Second, from 2016 to 2024. 

Republicans won all five elections in the Kansas Second during the Trump era.

On average, the Republican candidate has won by 15.6%.

Republican Lynn Jenkins had the largest margin of victory when she won by 28.4% in 2016.

Republican Steve Watkins had the smallest margin of victory when he won by only 0.8% in 2018.

In 2026, the Cook Political Report considers the Kansas Second to be Solidly Republican.

The Kansas Fourth — Reliably Republican

The Kansas Fourth is represented by Republican Ron Estes, who was first elected to the US House in a 2017 special election.

President Trump nominated Mike Pompeo, who represented the Kansas Fourth in the US House, to become CIA Director.

Pompeo resigned from the House after the Senate confirmed him to serve as CIA Director.

A special election was held on April 11, 2017, during the first year of Trump’s first term, to fill the vacant seat.

Republican Ron Estes was first elected to Congress in this special election.

Estes won by 6.2%, a considerably smaller margin than the Republican margins of victory during regularly-scheduled elections in the Kansas Fourth.

 

Next, let’s examine regularly-scheduled elections in the Kansas Fourth, from 2004 to 2024.

The tables, averages, and analysis in the rest of this section won’t include the 2017 special election discussed above.

The Kansas Fourth is a solidly Republican district.

Republicans have won each of the 11 most recent regularly-scheduled elections in the Kansas Fourth by more than 18%.

On average, they have won those elections by 28.7%.

Todd Tiahrt (R) achieved the largest margin of victory in 2004, when he won by 35.0%.

Ron Estes (R) had the smallest margin of victory in 2018, when he won by 18.7%.

Now, let’s examine the results from 2016 to 2024.

During the Trump era, Republicans won the Kansas Fourth, in regularly-scheduled elections, on average, by 26.8%.

Mike Pompeo (R) had the largest margin of victory in 2016, when he won by 31.1%.

Ron Estes (R) had the smallest margin of victory in 2018, when he won by 18.7%.

Finally, let’s examine Ron Estes’s elections, from 2018 to 2024.

 

Estes has won these regularly-scheduled elections, on average, by 25.7%.

His narrowest margin was in 2018, when he won by 18.7%.

His largest margin was in 2024, when he won by 30.1%.

During regularly-scheduled elections, the Kansas Fourth is not a competitive district.

In 2026, the Cook Political Report considers the Kansas Fourth to be Solidly Republican.

The Kansas First — Deep Red

The Kansas First is represented by Tracey Mann, who was first elected to Congress in 2020.

Let’s begin by examining elections in the Kansas First, from 2004 to 2024.

 

Republicans have won all 11 of the most recent elections in the Kansas First by more than 35%.

Since 2004, the Kansas First has been represented by Jerry Moran, Tim Huelskamp, Roger Marshall, and Tracey Mann. 

The 2004 election in the Kansas First was between Jerry Moran, a Republican, and Jack Warner, a Libertarian.

Moran (R) received 90.7% of the vote, and Warner (L) received 9.3%.

Moran won by a margin of 81.4%.

Moran’s margin in 2004 is considerably larger than subsequent margins for elections in the district, which generally include a Republican and a Democrat.

Because of this outlier, I did not calculate an average margin of victory from 2004 to 2024 in the Kansas First. 

Another notable entry is for the 2012 election, when Republican Tim Huelskamp ran unopposed.

This next table shows the results of elections in the Kansas First from 2006 to 2024.

During this time, Republicans won the Kansas First by an average margin of 45.1%.

This average does not include Huelskamp’s unopposed election in 2012. 

During this time, the largest margin was in 2008, when Jerry Moran (R) won by 68.6%.

The smallest margin was in 2022, when Tracey Mann (R) won by 35.3%. 

Now, let’s examine the results in the Kansas First, from 2016 to 2024.

During the Trump era, Republicans have won the Kansas First, on average, by 38.4%.

Roger Marshall and Tracey Mann, both Republicans, represented the Kansas First, during this time.

The largest margin was in 2020, when Tracey Mann won by 42.3%. 

The narrowest margin was in 2022, when Tracey Mann won by 35.3%. 

Finally, let’s examine Tracey Mann’s elections, from 2020 to 2024.

Tracey Mann (R) has won these elections, on average, by 38.6%.

His closest race was in 2022, when he won by 35.3%.

To reiterate, the Republican candidate has won the Kansas First in each of the 11 most recent elections by more than 35%.

The Kansas First is a deeply Republican district, and it's not remotely competitive.

In 2026, the Cook Political Report considers the Kansas First to be Solidly Republican. 

What You Can Do

None of the Kansas congressional districts currently have competitive elections.

But there are competitive house races in other states.

This year, I am raising money for Democrats running in important and competitive elections through the Democratic Victory Fund.

I am currently raising money for nine US House candidates in five states.

Texas: Katy Padilla Stout, Bobby Pulido, Vicente Gonzalez

Pennsylvania: Bob Brooks, Janelle Stelson

Florida: Kathy Castor, Darren Soto

Nebraska: Denise Powell

North Carolina: Jamie Ager

The Cook Political Report considers these elections to range from Lean Democrat to Likely Republican.

The names of elected incumbents are followed by (i).

You can support these candidates, and help Democrats win as many House seats as possible, by donating to the Democratic Victory Fund.

A Fascinating Iowa Senate Race

 

Two candidates with fascinating life stories are running for the Democratic nomination in the senate election in Iowa.

Zach Wahls, who was raised by a lesbian couple, eloquently and tirelessly advocated for gay rights, before he was elected to serve in the Iowa State Senate.

Josh Turek, who has Spina Bifida, trained hard to become a wheelchair basketball paralympian who won two gold medals, before he was elected to serve in the Iowa House of Representatives.

Iowa will hold its primary on June 2.

 

The US Senate election in Iowa is for an open seat, because Republican Senator Joni Ernst chose not to run for reelection.

The 2026 Iowa Senate Race has received little national attention, despite the captivating life stories of the two rising stars running in the Democratic primary.

So let’s learn about these candidates, and their fascinating biographies, as we explore the most interesting Senate Race you’ve likely never heard of.

Fighting for Equality

 

Zach Wahls was raised by his two mothers, Terry Wahls and Jackie Reger.

Both Zach Wahls and his sister were conceived via artificial insemination, from the same anonymous sperm donor, which means they are full biological siblings.

Zach Wahls advocated for gay rights as the US debated whether same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry.

In 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court overturned a state law that banned gay marriage.

Republicans in the Iowa House of Representatives attempted to overturn the State Supreme Court decision by amending the Iowa State Constitution to ban gay marriage.

The Judiciary Committee of the Iowa House held a hearing on January 31, 2011, as the legislature considered whether to approve the proposed state constitutional amendment.

Zach Wahls, who was a 19-year-old college student at the time, eloquently advocated in favor of marriage equality and against the proposed amendment.

His arguments were so well reasoned that The Economist magazine introduced video of Wahls’s testimony by stating, “This is what it looks like to win an argument.”

 

Wahls told the committee that his family isn’t that different from any other Iowa family.

“When I’m home, we go to church together. We eat dinner, we go on vacations,” he said. “But, we have our hard times too; we get in fights. Actually, my mom, Terry, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000. It is a devastating disease that put her in a wheelchair. So, we’ve had our struggles."

“But we’re Iowans,” Wahls continued. “We don’t expect anyone to solve our problems for us. We’ll fight our own battles. We just hope for equal and fair treatment from our government.”

Wahls said the topic of same-sex marriage came up frequently during class discussions at his university.

“The question always comes down to, ‘Can gays even raise kids?’ And the conversation gets quiet for a moment, because most people don’t really have an answer,” he said. “And then I raise my hand and say, ‘Well actually, I was raised by a gay couple, and I’m doing pretty well.’ ”

Wahls reiterated that his family is not that different.

“My family really isn’t so different from yours,” he said. “After all, your family doesn’t derive its sense of worth from being told by the state, ‘You’re married, congratulations!’ No. The sense of family comes from the commitment we make to each other to work through the hard times so we can enjoy the good ones. It comes from the love that binds us. That’s what makes a family.”

Wahls argued against amending the Iowa constitution to discriminate against families like his.

“So what you’re voting for here is not to change us,” he said. “It’s not to change our families, it’s to change how the law views us, how the law treats us.”

“You are voting for the first time in the history of our state to codify discrimination into our constitution, a constitution that but for the proposed amendment is the least amended constitution in the United States of America,” Wahls added.

“You are telling Iowans, ‘Some among you are second-class citizens who do not have the right to marry the person you love,’" Wahls continued.

“So will this vote affect my family? Would it affect yours? In the next two hours, I’m sure we’re going to hear plenty of testimony about how damaging having gay parents is on kids. But in my 19 years, not once have I ever been confronted by an individual who realized independently that I was raised by a gay couple.”

Zach Wahls’s testimony before the committee lasted only three minutes, but it is worth watching in full.

A YouTube video of Wahls’s testimony went viral.

Nevertheless, despite Wahls’s moving argument, the Iowa House voted to advance the proposed state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. But the amendment was blocked in the Iowa Senate.

Wahls went on to write a book about his upbringing titled, “My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family.”

He delivered a petition to the Boy Scouts of America advocating against the organization’s ban on gay and lesbian scout leaders.

At the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Wahls praised President Barack Obama for being willing to “put his political future on the line” to support same-sex marriage.

Wahls was elected to the Iowa State Senate in 2018, and he was reelected to the Iowa Senate in 2022.

In the Iowa Legislature, Wahls served as Minority Leader for Senate Democrats from 2020 to 2023.

In February 2011, Chloe Angyal, a journalist from Sydney, Australia, wrote an article for the blog, “Feministing” about Zach Wahls’s testimony before the Iowa Legislature.

The article was titled, “Marry Me, Zach Wahls.”

In the article, Angyal wrote, “Full transcript below the jump. Oh, and Zach? Several Feministing contributors are developing large crushes on you. I won’t name any names, but they rhyme with ‘Shmaya’ and ‘Shloe.’ What can we say? We dig guys who dig equality.”

The article led to Zach and Chloe meeting and subsequently dating. They got married in 2021.

Zach Wahls is now running for the US Senate in Iowa.

 

Overcoming Adversity

 

Josh Turek, a wheelchair basketball paralympian, is also running for the US Senate in Iowa. 

 

 

Turk was born with spina bifida, and he received 21 surgeries by the age of 12.

Turek aspired to become an Olympic athlete. 

Turek trained hard to reach his goal. He practiced by shooting a thousand basketball shots every day. 

Turek played on the USA Men’s Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball team that won gold medals in 2016 and 2020.

Josh Turek was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2022. He was reelected in 2024.

In 2023, Turek told the Des Moines Register that he looked forward to advocating for Iowans with disabilities in the legislature.

"We have essentially been 15% (of the state) with zero voice and zero representation," he said. "Essentially, (we're an) invisible minority group in the state of Iowa." 

Turek said he hopes kids on field trips who use mobility aids will appreciate seeing a legislator like them.

"There's going to be a wheelchair user. He's going to go in there and see, 'Wow, there's a legislator up here representing me and my group,'" Turek said. 

"And he's going to know that, not only can he have success in adaptive sports, but that there is no glass ceiling for him in any area. That he can go on to do great things, including being a representative for the state or even (at a) national level."

The news publication “Iowa Starting Line” interviewed Josh Turek about his US Senate campaign.

 

A Competitive General Election

 

By now, the former swing state of Iowa has earned a reputation for being a deeply Republican state.

In the 2024 Presidential Election, Donald Trump won Iowa by 13.2%.

 

But a poll of the Iowa Senate race indicates Democrats have a chance to win the seat in November.

The polling firm Echelon Insights conducted a poll from April 3-9 that compared both Democratic candidates in head-to-head general election matchups against Ashley Hinson, a Republican candidate in the US Senate election, who is currently a member of the US House.

 

Zach Wahls leads Hinson by 2%.

Josh Turek leads Hinson by 1%.

Regardless of who wins the Democratic primary, Iowa is poised to have a competitive US Senate race in November. 

The Cook Political Report considers the Iowa Senate race to be Likely Republican. 

 

Unfortunately, Iowa can’t elect both of the Democratic candidates to the US Senate in 2026. 

But the next US Senate race in Iowa is just around the corner.

Hopefully, either Wahls or Turek wins the 2026 US Senate election in Iowa.

If they do, the candidate who lost the Democratic primary can run against Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley in 2028.

You can support both Zach Wahls and Josh Turek by donating to the Democratic Victory Fund, which raises money for candidates in important and competitive elections, nationwide.

 

 

If you would like to learn more about these candidates, you can do so through the links below. 

 

Here are the campaign websites for the Democratic candidates:

Zach Wahls 

Josh Turek

 

Here are the Wikipedia pages for the Democratic candidates:

Zach Wahls 

Josh Turek 

 

How competitive is Kansas?

 

Kansas has a reputation of being a reliably Republican state, especially in presidential elections.

But Kansas does sometimes elect Democrats in statewide races, most notably for Governor.

So how politically competitive is Kansas?

The answer depends on which office we’re talking about.

The following table lists the average partisan margin of victory for statewide elections in Kansas, based on the office the election is for.

These averages were calculated using data publicly available on the Kansas Secretary of State’s website, for elections from 2004 to 2024.

Governor elections are the most competitive in Kansas, followed by elections for Attorney General.

Presidential elections are next, followed by elections for Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and US Senate. 

 

Governor

 

The most competitive elections in Kansas are for Governor.

 

Democrats have won three of the last five Kansas Governor’s races.

Across those five elections, Republicans won on average by 2.0%.





Recent Kansas Governor elections have been especially competitive.

Each of the last three Kansas Governor’s races have been decided by less than 6%.

I wrote an article about Laura Kelly’s narrow victory in the 2022 Kansas Governor’s race.

Attorney General

The next most competitive elections in Kansas are for Attorney General.

 

Republicans won four of the five most recent Kansas Attorney General elections.

A Democrat won one of the five most recent Kansas Attorney General elections. 

Across those five elections, Republicans won on average by 9.8%.






In 2022, Kris Kobach, a Republican, defeated Chris Mann, a Democrat, by only 1.6%. 

This year’s Attorney General election in Kansas will be a rematch between the same two candidates.

President

Kansas has voted for the Republican candidate for president in each of the six most recent presidential elections.

Across those six elections, Kansas voted for the Republican candidate by an average of 18.9%.

Since 2004, the closest presidential election in Kansas was the 2020 presidential election, when Trump won Kansas by 14.7%.







Kansas has voted Republican in the past 15 presidential elections, according to Wikipedia.

Kansas hasn’t voted for a Democrat for president since it voted for Lyndon Johnson in 1964, when he ran against Barry Goldwater.

That means it has been 62 years since a Democrat has won Kansas in a presidential election.







Kansas has voted for Donald Trump in each of the past three presidential elections. 

On average, Trump has won Kansas by 17.1%.

Secretary of State

Republicans have won each of the five most recent Secretary of State races in Kansas. 

 

Republicans have won these elections by an average of 20.0%.

Since 2006, the closest Secretary of State election in Kansas was in 2018, when Scott Schwab won by 8.7%.

 

That election was a three-way race between Republican Scott Schwab, Democrat Brian McClendon, and Libertarian Rob Hodgkinson.


I wrote an article about Scott Schwab’s reelection in 2022.

State Treasurer

Republicans have won each of the five most recent State Treasurer elections in Kansas. 

 

Republicans have won these elections by an average of 21.8%.

Since 2006, the closest State Treasurer election in Kansas was in 2022, when Steven Johnson won by 12.6%.
 

That election was a three-way race between Republican Steven Johnson, Democrat Lynn Rogers, and Libertarian Steve Roberts.

 

 

Rogers was elected lieutenant governor in 2018 on a gubernatorial ticket alongside Laura Kelly, who was elected governor.
 

Rogers served as lieutenant governor from Jan. 2019 to Jan. 2021, when Gov. Kelly appointed Rogers to serve as State Treasurer, after Republican Jake LaTurner was elected to the US House in 2020.

 

 

In the 2022 election, both Johnson and Rogers were well qualified for the position of State Treasurer.
 

Even though Rogers lost, he outperformed previous Democratic State Treasurer candidates because voters remembered he had served as Kelly’s lieutenant governor, and he was an appointed incumbent.
 

I voted for Rogers, but I was unimpressed by his political skills as a campaigner in the 2022 State Treasurer election.
 

I wrote an article about the 2022 Kansas State Treasurer election, where you can learn more about the race.

Insurance Commissioner

Republicans have won each of the five most recent Insurance Commissioner races in Kansas.

 

In one of those elections, the Republican ran unopposed in the general election.

 

Republicans won the other four elections by an average of 26.3%.

 

Since 2006, the closest election for Insurance Commissioner took place in 2014, when Republican Ken Selzer won by 23.0%.

I covered the 2022 Kansas Insurance Commissioner election and its results.

Senator

Republicans have won each of the seven most recent US Senate elections in Kansas.  

 

Republicans have won those elections by an average of 26.3%.

Kansas has been represented exclusively by Republicans in the US Senate for 87 years.

 

The most recent Democrat to represent Kansas in the US Senate was George McGill, who served from Dec. 1930 to Jan. 1939.

McGill was elected to the US Senate in 1930 and 1932.
 

That means it has been 94 years since Kansas elected a Democrat to the US Senate.
 

McGill lost reelection in 1938.




Not all Republicans perform equally well in US Senate elections in Kansas.
 

Jerry Moran has performed better in US Senate elections than either Roger Marshall or Pat Roberts.
 

I wrote about about Jerry Moran’s reelection in 2022.




Since 2004, the closest US Senate election in Kansas took place in 2014, when Pat Roberts, a Republican, defeated Greg Orman, an independent, and Randall Batson, a Libertarian.
 

Roberts won the 2014 election by 10.6%.




In 2020, Roger Marshall, a Republican, was elected to the US Senate, for the first time, by 11.4%.
 

Marshall ran against Barbara Bollier, a Democrat, and Jason Buckley, a Libertarian.

Roger Marshall is up for reelection this year.

How you can help Kansas Democrats

 

This year, I am raising money for Democrats in competitive races, nationwide, through the Democratic Victory Fund.
 

I am currently raising money for Cindy Holscher and Ethan Corson, who are running for Kansas Governor.
 

I am also raising money for Christy Davis, who is running for the US Senate in Kansas.
 

If Davis wins the Democratic Primary, she will run against incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall in the general election.




By default, donations to the Democratic Victory Fund are split evenly between the featured candidates, but donors can choose to make directed donations to specific candidates within the fund, instead.
 

So, if you want to specifically support the candidates from Kansas, you can do so.




I have already raised $100.63 for Chris Mann, who is running against Kris Kobach in the Kansas Attorney General election.
 

Since I have met my fundraising goal for Chris Mann, I have rotated him out of the Democratic Victory Fund.

Candidates have until June 1 to file their candidacy for the 2026 Kansas Primary, according to the Kansas Secretary of State's website.

 

There are many winnable State House races for the Kansas Legislature where a Democrat hasn’t filed to run. 

 

That being said, the filing deadline is still a month away.

Last year, I discussed the most competitive Kansas House seats, and you can check the candidate list from the Kansas Secretary of State’s website to see if any Democrats are running for a particular seat.

If you live near a competitive district, you might try to convince a Democrat to run for the position. 

 

If you live in the district, or you are willing to move to the district, you could also consider running for the position, yourself.




I plan to share an ActBlue fundraising form to raise money for Kansas candidates, including candidates for the Kansas Legislature, once we are closer to the filing deadline for the primary election.




This isn’t the first time I’ve compared the competitiveness of Kansas elections, based on the office the election is for.

You can read a similar article I wrote in 2022 about partisan advantage in Kansas elections.