Kansas politics

With bills limiting gender-affirming care and trans sports participation on their way to Gov. Mike Parson, some transgender Missourians are packing up and moving to other states. Plus: How an unlikely feathered friend changed one Kansas City homeless man's life.

Legislators in Missouri and Kansas this session have introduced some 50 of the most restrictive anti-trans bills in the country. Missouri legislators have sent bills limiting gender-affirming care and trans sports participation to Gov. Mike Parson to be signed, and more are still waiting to be heard. The political environment and accompanying rhetoric have some in the transgender community moving to safer states. Or seriously considering it.

In both Kansas and Missouri, lawmakers are focusing heavily on the state budget, education issues, and targeting the rights of transgender residents.

Jeanna Repass lost the race for Kansas secretary of state and now faces criticism from her former campaign manager.

The senior U.S. senator from Kansas "has thrown red meat here and there to the extreme right of his party," according to one political science professor.

The two candidates for Kansas House District 37 diverge on issues ranging from education to abortion, but both are promising to make up for what many feel has been two years of lost time representing constituents in Topeka.

Kansas’ 39th House District is predominantly white and for decades has elected Republicans. But new district borders and changing demographics have a first-time, African American candidate hopeful about her chances.

No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas since George McGill in 1932. Mark Holland hopes to end that trend, but he’s challenging Jerry Moran, the Republican incumbent seeking a third term after cruising to victory over Democrats in the past.

For former police officer and prosecutor Chris Mann, running for Attorney General "is just a continuation of my life in public service."

As they seek the job of chairing the Johnson County Commission, a current commissioner for Johnson County's District 3 and the mayor of Roeland Park bring different agendas to the campaign trail.

The Johnson County Commission governs the county budget, public health and dozens of county departments. More than half of the commissioners are up for election this year.

Dozens of people protested the Republican candidate’s appearance with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been criticized for sending two planes of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard with no warning or assistance.