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Up To Date

As Kansas Races Heat Up, Candidates Hope To Draw Voters Of All Stripes

By Steve Kraske,
Luke X. Martin
Published June 7, 2016 at 12:28 PM CDT

Lawmakers and the state Supreme Court face off over school funding, every single seat in the state legislature is up for grabs, and the budget is millions of dollars in the red. It may sound like the plot of a political thriller but the battle for control of the Kansas Statehouse is real, and things are heating up.

Guests:

  • Democratic Sen. Anthony Hensley is the Kansas Senate minority leader and represents the 19th District, which includes parts of Lawrence, Topeka and Osage County.
  • Michael Smith is an associate professor of political science at Emporia State University and the author of State Voting Laws in America: Historical Statutes and Their Modern Implications.
  • Hutchinson Republican Ed Berger is running for the 34th District seat in the Kansas Senate, currently held by Majority Leader Terry Bruce. Berger previously served as president of Hutchinson Community College.
Tags
Up To Date Talk ShowKansas LegislatureKansas Supreme Courtstate fundingemporia state universityKansas SenateKansas HouseKansas Elections 2016public schoolsKansas budgetpoliticsElections
Steve Kraske
When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
See stories by Steve Kraske
Luke X. Martin
As culture editor, I help you embrace what makes Kansas City fun and vibrant, whether it’s a championship sports franchise or a little-known wonder. I work with reporters to ensure KCUR stories on art, culture, and race fully reflect our diverse home so readers and listeners can take full advantage of what the metro has to offer. Email me at luke@kcur.org.
See stories by Luke X. Martin