Democrats

KCUR invited Congress members from Kansas and Missouri to answer questions from constituents about what's happening in Washington. Despite multiple invitations to each of the area’s federal elected officials, just Democratic Reps. Sharice Davids and Emanuel Cleaver II chose to attend. Here's what we heard.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has put Missouri's 2nd Congressional District on its target list for the first time since 2020. The seat is currently held by Republican Rep. Ann Wagner.

The Joint Economic Committee - Minority report released Thursday by Congressional Democrats projects Republican tax cut proposals could mean a one-third cut to Medicaid nationwide. Children, the elderly and rural residents stand to lose the most.

Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall has blamed the turmoil that erupted at a recent town hall meeting in rural Kansas on “paid Democratic operatives.” But the people who attended the meeting say they are just Kansans concerned about funding cuts, layoffs and more.

Newly minted Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin says national Democrats need to pay attention to deep-red Missouri.

Jason Kander is a former Missouri Secretary of State and host of the podcast Majority 54. He shared his thoughts on the state of local and national politics, and played along for Up To Date's series "5 Questions."

Two U.S. representatives from Missouri — Republican Mark Alford and Democrat Emanuel Cleaver II — joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss how they're approaching their jobs during the second Trump administration.

Not only did Democratic candidates get blown out in statewide contests for governor and the U.S. Senate, the party failed to gain any ground in the Missouri General Assembly. The election showed that the party continues to falter in rural and exurban areas.

Missourians have backed ballot items supported by Democrats in the past decade — including abortion rights, expanded Medicaid, legalized marijuana and labor rights — while also giving Republicans unfettered control over state government.

Missouri residents voted to legalize abortion, overturning one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the nation. They also voted to raise the minimum wage and send Josh Hawley back to the U.S. Senate. In Kansas, voters reelected Sharice Davids to the U.S. House. Plus, Kansas City and Johnson County voters made big decisions about their top law enforcement officials.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Missouri and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Kansas (although Johnson County opens an hour earlier!). With the U.S. presidential race at the top of the ticket, and a critical abortion rights amendment plus statewide and congressional races below, it's a stacked election. We break down the races on both sides of the state line.

In the race to be Missouri's next governor, Democrat Crystal Quade says she'll work across political differences to make Missourians' lives better. She shares her thoughts on issues Missouri voters are concerned with ahead of the November election. Plus: We bring you political headlines from across the metro.