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Daniel Hawkins (Kansas)

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Daniel Hawkins
Image of Daniel Hawkins

Candidate, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance

Kansas House of Representatives District 100
Tenure

2013 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

12

Compensation

Base salary

$86.66/session day

Per diem

$166/day

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Next election

November 3, 2026

Education

High school

Buhler High School, 1978

Bachelor's

Emporia State University, 1983

Personal
Profession
Insurance
Contact

Daniel Hawkins (Republican Party) is a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing District 100. He assumed office on January 14, 2013. His current term ends on January 11, 2027.

Hawkins (Republican Party) is running for election for Kansas Commissioner of Insurance. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]

Hawkins became speaker of the house in 2023.[1] A ruled passed in 2023 limited speakers to only serving two consecutive terms. Hawkins said part of his decision to run for insurance commissioner in 2026 was based on that rule. "I think once you become Speaker, you've got four years, do everything you can in those four years, and then move on. And I'm going to abide by that tradition," he said.[2]

Hawkins earned an associate degree in business from Hutchison Community College in 1981, a bachelor's degree in marketing from Emporia State University in 1983, and the chartered life underwriter (CLU) designation in 2000.[3] He was a staff sergeant in the Kansas Army National Guard, retiring in 1991. He later worked as an insurance agent for Mutual of New York and National Farmers Union before launching his insurance agency, Hawkins Group, Inc., in 2001.[3] He was on the board of directors for the Make-a-Wish Foundation in Kansas for six years.[4]

Hawkins was first elected to the Kansas House in 2012, defeating John Willoughby (D) 70%-30% in the general election. He was re-elected six times thereafter between 2014 and 2024 by an average margin of 26.2 percentage points.

He was elected majority leader before the 2019 legislative session, a position he held until he was elected speaker before the 2023 legislative session. After he was elected speaker, Hawkins said, "Truly the philosophy of our leadership is going to be we believe in the people, we believe in the people of Kansas to make the best decisions of how to spend their money, not the state," and that "the legislation you’re going to see is probably more conservative."[5]

During a 2024 tax policy dispute with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly (R), Hawkins said, "The governor is out of excuses. We don’t need an $84,000-a-day special session for tax relief — the work has already been done through great bipartisan efforts of the legislative tax committees. We simply need the governor to make good on her campaign promise to govern from the middle and sign the bill."[6] Hawkins responded to Kelly's state of the state address earlier that year, saying, "Many of Governor Kelly’s proposals mirror Joe Biden’s extreme approach — spending more rather than cutting taxes for our families, all while chipping away at freedom, personal responsibility, and public safety."[7]

Ahead of the 2025 legislative session, Hawkins said the top issue would be property taxes: "As we campaigned across the state, it really didn't matter what part of the state we were in, the main issue that people talked about at the door was property tax. And property tax is very high."[8]

Biography

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Hawkins earned his B.S. in business marketing from Emporia State University. His professional experience includes owning and operating his own insurance firm.[9]

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Hawkins was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Hawkins was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Hawkins was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Kansas committee assignments, 2017
Financial Institutions
Health and Human Services, Chair
Insurance
Taxation
Home and Community Based Services Oversight, Vice chair
Pensions, Investments and Benefits

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Hawkins served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Hawkins served on the following committees:

Issues

2016 presidential endorsement

✓ Hawkins endorsed Marco Rubio for the Republican primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[10]

See also: Endorsements for Marco Rubio

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2026

See also: Kansas Insurance Commissioner election, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for Kansas Commissioner of Insurance

Daniel Hawkins is running in the general election for Kansas Commissioner of Insurance on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Daniel Hawkins
Daniel Hawkins (R)

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Endorsements

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2024

See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Kansas House of Representatives District 100

Incumbent Daniel Hawkins defeated Mike McCorkle in the general election for Kansas House of Representatives District 100 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Daniel Hawkins
Daniel Hawkins (R)
 
60.8
 
7,368
Image of Mike McCorkle
Mike McCorkle (D) Candidate Connection
 
39.2
 
4,753

Total votes: 12,121
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100

Mike McCorkle advanced from the Democratic primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100 on August 6, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mike McCorkle
Mike McCorkle Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
548

Total votes: 548
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100

Incumbent Daniel Hawkins advanced from the Republican primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100 on August 6, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Daniel Hawkins
Daniel Hawkins
 
100.0
 
1,724

Total votes: 1,724
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Hawkins in this election.

Pledges

Hawkins signed the following pledges.

  • U.S. Term Limits

2022

See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Kansas House of Representatives District 100

Incumbent Daniel Hawkins defeated Mike McCorkle in the general election for Kansas House of Representatives District 100 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Daniel Hawkins
Daniel Hawkins (R)
 
59.7
 
5,641
Image of Mike McCorkle
Mike McCorkle (D)
 
40.3
 
3,808

Total votes: 9,449
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100

Mike McCorkle advanced from the Democratic primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100 on August 2, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mike McCorkle
Mike McCorkle
 
100.0
 
1,971

Total votes: 1,971
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100

Incumbent Daniel Hawkins advanced from the Republican primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100 on August 2, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Daniel Hawkins
Daniel Hawkins
 
100.0
 
4,055

Total votes: 4,055
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Kansas House of Representatives District 100

Incumbent Daniel Hawkins defeated Chad Smith in the general election for Kansas House of Representatives District 100 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Daniel Hawkins
Daniel Hawkins (R)
 
62.9
 
7,976
Chad Smith (D)
 
37.1
 
4,700

Total votes: 12,676
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100

Chad Smith advanced from the Democratic primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Chad Smith
 
100.0
 
1,404

Total votes: 1,404
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100

Incumbent Daniel Hawkins advanced from the Republican primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Daniel Hawkins
Daniel Hawkins
 
100.0
 
3,463

Total votes: 3,463
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Kansas House of Representatives District 100

Incumbent Daniel Hawkins defeated Jennifer Winn in the general election for Kansas House of Representatives District 100 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Daniel Hawkins
Daniel Hawkins (R)
 
60.3
 
6,124
Jennifer Winn (D)
 
39.7
 
4,036

Total votes: 10,160
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100

Jennifer Winn advanced from the Democratic primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Jennifer Winn
 
100.0
 
1,128

Total votes: 1,128
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100

Incumbent Daniel Hawkins defeated James Breitenbach in the Republican primary for Kansas House of Representatives District 100 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Daniel Hawkins
Daniel Hawkins
 
75.9
 
2,191
James Breitenbach
 
24.1
 
697

Total votes: 2,888
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Kansas House of Representatives were held in 2016. The primary election was held on August 2, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.

Incumbent Daniel Hawkins defeated Glen Shafer in the Kansas House of Representatives District 100 general election.[11][12]

Kansas House of Representatives, District 100 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Daniel Hawkins Incumbent 64.69% 7,211
     Democratic Glen Shafer 35.31% 3,936
Total Votes 11,147
Source: Kansas Secretary of State


Glen Shafer ran unopposed in the Kansas House of Representatives District 100 Democratic primary.[13][14]

Kansas House of Representatives, District 100 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Glen Shafer  (unopposed)


Incumbent Daniel Hawkins defeated James Breitenbach in the Kansas House of Representatives District 100 Republican primary.[13][14]

Kansas House of Representatives, District 100 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Daniel Hawkins Incumbent 71.25% 1,782
     Republican James Breitenbach 28.75% 719
Total Votes 2,501

2014

See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Kansas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 5, 2014, and a general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 2, 2014. John Wallace Willoughby was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Daniel Hawkins was unopposed in the Republican primary. Hawkins defeated Willoughby in the general election.[15][16]

Kansas House of Representatives District 100, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel Hawkins Incumbent 70.1% 6,008
     Democratic John Wallace Willoughby 29.9% 2,565
Total Votes 8,573

2012

See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2012

Hawkins won election in the 2012 election for Kansas House of Representatives District 100. He defeated Bridget Schneider in the August 7 Republican primary and defeated John Wallace Willoughby (D) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[17][18]

Kansas House of Representatives, District 100, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel Hawkins 69.7% 7,175
     Democratic John Willoughby 30.3% 3,119
Total Votes 10,294
Kansas House of Representatives, District 100 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel Hawkins 54.2% 1,642
Bridget Schneider 45.8% 1,387
Total Votes 3,029

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

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Twitter

2024

Daniel Hawkins did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Daniel Hawkins did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Daniel Hawkins did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2016

Hawkins' website highlighted the following campaign themes:[9]

Limited Government

  • Excerpt: "I will work to limit government intervention in our day to day lives and make government more efficient."

Taxes

  • Excerpt: "We must continue to reform our tax law to include both income tax and property tax reform."

Grow Business and Grow Jobs

  • Excerpt: "As a legislator I will do everything in my power to insure that government gets out of the way of business."

Education

  • Excerpt: "We must insure that parents are in charge of their children’s education."

Gambling

  • Excerpt: "I will not support expanded gambling in Kansas."

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Daniel Hawkins campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Kansas House of Representatives District 100Won general$187,530 $0
2022Kansas House of Representatives District 100Won general$168,695 $0
2020Kansas House of Representatives District 100Won general$131,495 N/A**
2018Kansas House of Representatives District 100Won general$104,446 N/A**
2016Kansas House of Representatives, District 100Won $71,365 N/A**
2014Kansas House of Representatives, District 100Won $51,327 N/A**
2012Kansas State House, District 100Won $18,581 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Kansas

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of Kansas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.


2024


2023


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Associated Press, "Legislative veterans to lead both parties in Kansas House," December 5, 2022
  2. KAKE, "Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins announces run for state insurance commissioner," May 13, 2025
  3. 3.0 3.1 Linkedin, "Daniel Hawkins," accessed May 2, 2025
  4. The Beacon, "House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Mike McCorkle run in rematch of 2022 election," October 9, 2024
  5. Kansas City Star, "Johnson County loses some influence as Wichita lawmaker becomes Kansas House Speaker," December 5, 2022
  6. Kansas Reflector, "Kansas House speaker urges governor to sign tax cuts and avoid special session," May 6, 2024
  7. Kansas City Star, "Gov. Laura Kelly, in State of the State, issues a call: rural Kansas must be preserved," January 10, 2024
  8. WIBW, "Kansas House Speaker looks ahead to 2025 session," January 8, 2025
  9. 9.0 9.1 "danhawkinskansas," Official Campaign Website
  10. Topeka Capital-Journal, "Kansas Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan, 18 state legislators endorse Marco Rubio," March 2, 2016
  11. Kansas Secretary of State, "Candidate list," accessed August 23, 2016
  12. Kansas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election official results," accessed December 19, 2016
  13. 13.0 13.1 Kansas Secretary of State, "Candidate list," accessed June 3, 2016
  14. 14.0 14.1 Kansas Secretary of State, "2016 Official Kansas Primary Election Results," accessed September 12, 2016
  15. Kansas Secretary of State, "2014 Primary Election - Official Vote Totals," accessed September 15, 2014
  16. Kansas Secretary of State, "2014 General Election - Official Vote Totals," accessed April 17, 2015
  17. Kansas Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Election - Official Vote Totals," accessed March 31, 2014
  18. Kansas Secretary of State, "2012 General Election - Official Vote Totals," accessed March 31, 2014

Political offices
Preceded by
-
Kansas House of Representatives District 100
2013-Present
Succeeded by
-