Parents across the state throw support behind Governor Laura Kelly, citing the need to protect their childrens’ futures
TOPEKA – Today a bipartisan group of over 200 parents from across the state endorsed Governor Laura Kelly for re-election. These parents, spanning the political spectrum, cite Governor Kelly’s commitment to investing in public education, childcare access, and affordable healthcare access. These latest endorsements highlight Governor Kelly’s successful coalition building and her broad support among those most invested in our childrens’ futures.
“Governor Kelly has always put our children first. She moves past partisan politics and brings people together to get the job done,” Cortney Xiong said. “And she’s done a fantastic job, like fully funding schools and bringing new high-quality jobs to Kansas. Governor Kelly is the only candidate that I trust to put the interests of Kansas families first. I’m standing with Governor Kelly because I know it’s the right choice for the future of our state and the future of my children.”
“There is nothing more important to me than ensuring that Kansas’ future is bright. And there is no better way to do that than by investing in our children,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I’m making sure that Kansas families have the resources and support they need to succeed. That includes fully funded schools, access to high-quality jobs, access to high-quality childcare, and access to affordable healthcare. I’m proud to have the support of every one of these parents from across Kansas and look forward to building a better future for Kansas.”
Since Governor Kelly took office in 2019, she has prioritized investments in Kansas’ children and working families. When Governor Laura Kelly first took office, Kansas public schools were chronically underfunded, leaving our children to suffer the consequences. Governor Kelly wanted to ensure that every one of our children received the world-class education they deserve and worked to fully fund public schools all four years in a row.
Governor Laura Kelly knows childcare is a major economic driver in Kansas. We can not have a robust workforce if parents do not have access to affordable, quality childcare. Governor Kelly invested funds to make childcare more affordable for Kansans so that more parents, especially women could enter the workforce.
Governor Kelly expanded Medicaid postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months for new mothers, a move that will decrease rates of infant and maternal mortality and set new parents up for success.
Governor Kelly’s campaign continues to build momentum earning broad support from every corner of Kansas, including Republican Kansas Governor Bill Graves, Republican Kansas Governor Mike Hayden, former Republican US Senator Nancy Kassebaum, former Republican US Senator from Kansas Sheila Frahm, former RNC Committeewoman Alicia Salisbury, former Republican Attorney General Robert Stephan, former Republican Representative Jan Kessinger, former Republican Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger, over 160 other Kansas Republicans, the Kansas Carpenters Union, Equality Kansas, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union of Kansas, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Union of Kansas, over 60 Kansas small business owners, the Kansas Service Employees International Union, the Kansas City Pipe Fitters Local 533 Union, the Kansas AFL-CIO, Kansas Laborers’ Local 1290, and End Citizens United & Let America Vote, The Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council, the Wichita / Hutchinson Labor Federation, the Ironworkers Local 10 Union, the Roofers Local 20 Union, over 50 Kansas ranchers and farmers, the Kansas State Council of Fire Fighters, over 125 current and former Kansas educators, Stand Up Blue Valley, Game on for Kansas Schools, Education First Shawnee Mission, American Federation of Teachers-Kansas, Kansas National Education Association, and United Teachers of Wichita, and the Kansas Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 441, and MainPAC.
Full list of parent endorsements below:
| Casey Phillips, North Newton |
| Andrea Slagle-Abrams, Manhattan |
| Katie Roggenbaum, Augusta |
| Lindsay Schmidt, Hays |
| Katherine Warren, Wichita |
| Jen Spearie, Manhattan |
| Laura Vollen, Wichita |
| Lynnlea Anderson, Garden City |
| Susan Hoge, Salina |
| Sarah Wesch, Manhattan |
| Angela Quintana Oropeza, Wichita |
| Katie Allen, Manhattan |
| Bill Allen, Manhattan |
| Nikki Owen, Manhattan |
| Carolyn Devane, Manhattan |
| Kim Bradney, Junction City |
| Mary Ware, Wichita |
| Jim Swim, Maryville |
| Trina Powell, Hays |
| Amy Bergman, Hays |
| Kyle Carlin, Hays |
| Todd Powell, Hays |
| Kandyce Cudney, Marysville |
| Carol Hughes, Seneca |
| Sheryl Brotton, Douglass |
| Darlene Jones, Plainville |
| Nicole Frank, Hays |
| Gregory Eiselein, Manhattan |
| Marlene Whitney, Plainville |
| Mary Lucas, Derby |
| Esau Freeman, Wichita |
| Mona K. Gasaway, WIchita |
| Sarah Leslie, Wichita |
| Krista Danielson, Manhattan |
| Greta Clark, Dodge City |
| Kristen Alhareedi, Andover |
| Kristi Kirk, Wichita |
| Morgan Carney, Wichita |
| Martha Wade, Pratt |
| Ty Dragoo, Topeka |
| Lauren Tice Miller, Topeka |
| Matthew Miller, Topeka |
| Kimberly Brewer, WIchita |
| Michael Harris, WIchita |
| Jordan Bayless, Topeka |
| Peggy Valliant, Wichita |
| Rebecca Munson, Stilwell |
| Lisa Beran, Derby |
| Amanda Smith, Augusta |
| Dixie B. Robinson, Wichita |
| Jennifer Becker, Stilwell |
| Miranda Smith, Manhattan |
| Melinda Waldron, Shawnee |
| Skylar Estes, Topeka |
| Arielle Murphy, Topeka |
| Dana Gillis, Louisburg |
| Cortney Xiong, Leawood |
| Maria Roth, Shawnee |
| Charleen Mankameyer, Shawnee |
| Elizabeth Kelly, Roeland Park |
| Claire Reagan, Olathe |
| Robynn Andracsek, Olathe |
| Cate Eighmey, Olathe |
| Amy Cunningham, Olathe |
| Kate McNeil, Olathe |
| Deborah Winchel, Olathe |
| Colleen Cunningham, Overland Park |
| Erin English, Lenexa |
| John English, Lenexa |
| Marcia Carney, Lawrence |
| Ashley Walker, Olathe |
| Shauna Devenport, Olathe |
| Kelly Piper, Overland Park |
| Shabina Kavimandan, Leawood |
| Taylor Vitztum, Olathe |
| Heather King, Overland Park |
| Katie Ireland, Olathe |
| Megan Lee, Lenexa |
| Amber Duensing, Olathe |
| Danielle Keller, Overland Park |
| Leena Fry, Lenexa |
| Ashley Miller, Kansas City |
| Laura Hewitt, Prairie Village |
| Megan Maciel, Olathe |
| Stacey Sales, Olathe |
| Amy Warkentin, Overland Park |
| Mary Ralstin, Lenexa |
| Katie Korte, Lenexa |
| Jennifer Widman, Overland Park |
| Emily Vijayakirthi, Olathe |
| David Jarrell, Leawood |
| Cinthya Hernández, Overland Park |
| Morgan Funk, Olathe |
| Amber Hruska, Overland Park |
| Sarah Dubin, Leawood |
| Shanna Groves, Olathe |
| Meg Schimmels, Olathe |
| Sherrie Dupree, Olathe |
| Carrie Wieneke, Fairway |
| Traci Graves, Merriam |
| Jennifer Jarrell, Leawood |
| Amber Pagan, Gardner |
| Amanda Ball, Olathe |
| Allison Calvin, Overland Park |
| Laura McCamish, Olathe |
| Angie Mendez, Olathe |
| Jennifer McCabe, Overland Park |
| Amy Milakovic, Overland Park |
| Nikki Herr, Olathe |
| Cary Smalley, Overland Park |
| Lauren Levy, Leawood |
| Brittany Bates, Olathe |
| Vann Benson, Olathe |
| Gaby Munoz-Lucas, Olathe |
| Brooke Johnson, Olathe |
| Nicole Bernard, Overland Park |
| Megan Langford, Lenexa |
| Emily Meissen-Sebelius, Prairie Village |
| Lauren Wyatt, Kansas City |
| Scott Reagan, Olathe |
| Melissa Gener, Overland Park |
| Laura Arenas, Kansas City |
| Christine Jackson, Overland Park |
| Sally Jercha, Leawood |
| Marni Thompson-Tilove, Overland Park |
| Denise Todd, Olathe |
| Candace Johnson, Spring Hill |
| Patty Logan, Leawood |
| Rebecca Bell, Kansas City |
| Ginny Krumme, Kansas City |
| Kelly Wall, Lawrence |
| Megan Jennings, Leawood |
| Sarah Selby, Leawood |
| Luke Selby, Leawood |
| Nikki Pauls, Overland Park |
| Shannon Kimball, Lawrence |
| Kim Jennings, Lawrence |
| Jenn Hethcoat, Lawrence |
| Barry Shalinsky, Lawrence |
| Cindy Yulich, Lawrence |
| Amy Phalen, Lawrence |
| Brian Geary, Olathe |
| Christina Holt, Lawrence |
| Amy Sand, Lawrence |
| Megan Poindexter, Lawrence |
| Lisa Greenstreet, Lawrence |
| Regina Tireman, Olathe |
| Kristina Salmans, Lawrence |
| Devin Wilson, Lenexa |
| Emily Ray, Lawrence |
| Lindsey Yankey, Lawrence |
| Julia Hilt, Lenexa |
| Amy Hoover, Lawrence |
| Ashton Martin, Lawrence |
| Marcel Harmon, Lawrence |
| Darbi Hebrank, Lenexa |
| Brenda Rausch, Olathe |
| Courtney Grundy, Olathe |
| Melissa Bellach, Overland Park |
| Dana Lattin, Lawrence |
| Maggie Padek, Overland Park |
| Katie Mangelsdorf, Lenexa |
| Audra Stiles, Overland Park |
| Carlyn Locascio, Olathe |
| Amy Hill, Olathe |
| Carrie McCarthy, Overland Park |
| Amy Carter, Overland Park |
| Heather Grimsley, Overland Park |
| Molly Lund, Prairie Village |
| Natalie Morgan, Overland Park |
| Emily Lane, Overland Park |
| Stewart Lane, Overland Park |
| Jamie Greason, Prairie Village |
| Amanda Betzen, Mission |
| Sarah Preu, Overland Park |
| Eileen Siegl, Olathe |
| Courtney Carlson, Overland Park |
| Connie Grimes, Lawrence |
| Kay Nelson, Prairie Village |
| Rebecca Kurtz, Olathe |
| Oliver Kurtz, Olathe |
| Molly Marciel, Lawrence |
| Jody Stoskopf, Fairway |
| Randy Warner, Spring Hill |
| Elizabeth Winter Lewis, Mission Hills |
| Mackenzie Mader, Shawnee |
| Erin Chudley, Roeland Park |
| Sabrina Reed, Overland Park |
| Nicole Novak, Overland Park |
| Beth Jacobson, Overland Park |
| Melissa Ragland, Roeland Park |
| Becky Eason, Lawrence |
| Jami Hubbard, Olathe |
| Judith Deedy, Mission Hills |
| Laura Parks, Overland Park |
| Sherri Soule, Lawrence |
| Tom Ruddy, Lawrence |
| Marilyn Ward, Leavenworth |
| Deann Mitchell, Olathe |
| Patricia Willer, Lawrence |
| Shea Geist, Roeland Park |
| Mandy Baldwin, Lawrence |
| Colleen Denney, Leavenworth |
| Norine Spears, Lawrence |
| Codi Bates, Lawrence |
| Simon Bates, Lawrence |
| William Peterson, Overland Park |
| Matt Xiong, Leawood |
| Jennifer Talbott, Lawrence |
| Chris Barnes, Olathe |