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Kansas' 3rd Congressional District election (August 7, 2018 Democratic primary)
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 16
- Early voting: Oct. 17 - Nov. 5
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Voter ID: Photo ID required
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
2020 →
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| Kansas' 3rd Congressional District |
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| Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: June 1, 2018 |
| Primary: August 7, 2018 General: November 6, 2018 Pre-election incumbent: Kevin Yoder (Republican) |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Kansas |
| Race ratings |
Cook Political Report: Lean Democratic Inside Elections: Lean Democratic Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean Democratic |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018 |
| See also |
1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th Kansas elections, 2018 U.S. Congress elections, 2018 U.S. Senate elections, 2018 U.S. House elections, 2018 |
Sharice Davids (D) defeated five opponents and won the Democratic Party's nomination to challenge Rep. Kevin Yoder (R) in Kansas' 3rd Congressional District. The district voted for Hillary Clinton (D) by a margin of 1 percentage point in the 2016 presidential election. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) put the district on its target list for 2018.
Davids, who has experience as a lawyer, economic adviser, and former mixed martial arts competitor, ran with the backing of EMILY's List.[1] She highlighted her experience working on economic development programs on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and other Native American reservations.[2]
Labor lawyer Brent Welder (D) received endorsements from Our Revolution and the Congressional Progressive Caucus among other progressive groups. Welder spent more than a year working for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign and ran on many of the policy positions that Sanders ran on in 2016, such as a $15 per hour minimum wage and Medicare for all.[3] Welder was endorsed by Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), the winner of a high-profile Democratic primary in New York's 14th Congressional District.[4][5][6][7] Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez appeared at a rally for Welder on July 20 in Kansas City.[8] Welder saw an increase in campaign contributions following the endorsements, and she led all Democrats in small dollar donations and cash on hand as of July.[9]
Teacher Tom Niermann (D) made his personal experience with healthcare a central message of his campaign. His wife, also a teacher, was denied insurance coverage by many companies before the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). "Our healthcare premiums rose to equal our mortgage, and no one else would insure Katie due to pre-existing conditions," he said on his campaign website.[10]
Businessman Jay Sidie (D) won the 2016 Democratic primary and lost to Yoder in the general election by 10.7 percentage points. Sidie ran again in 2018 on an updated platform, supporting a $15 per hour minimum wage and single-payer healthcare.[11]
Non-profit executive Mike McCamon (D), a self-described progressive moderate, prominently displayed the phrase "Leading from the Center" on his campaign website. He was one of several candidates in the race who drew a comparison between Yoder and Trump, saying, "I believe Kevin Yoder is no longer in touch with Kansans’ values or needs. It’s not that he and President Trump are wrong on every single issue. It’s that they create more problems than they solve."[12]
Retired bank manager Sylvia Williams (D) said she believes the federal minimum wage should be subject to annual cost of living adjustments. She highlighted her experience in the banking industry as a model for government. "We always put our customers first," she said. "I believe our country needs a similar approach."[13]
For more on related elections, please see:
- Kansas' 3rd Congressional District election (August 7, 2018 Republican primary)
- Kansas' 3rd Congressional District election, 2018
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2018
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2018
- Democratic Party primaries in Kansas, 2018
- Republican Party primaries in Kansas, 2018
Election results
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Kansas District 3
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Sharice Davids  | 37.3 | 23,379 |
 | Brent Welder | 33.8 | 21,190 | |
 | Tom Niermann | 14.3 | 8,939 | |
 | Mike McCamon | 7.0 | 4,354 | |
 | Sylvia Williams | 4.7 | 2,955 | |
 | Jay Sidie | 2.9 | 1,790 | |
| Total votes: 62,607 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Reggie Marselus (D)
Timeline
- August 3, 2018: Ending Spending, a conservative PAC that supported Donald Trump's presidential campaign, spent $160,000 on ads critical of Brent Welder, highlighting his support for a $15 minimum wage and subsidies for college.[14]
- July 20: Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez appeared at the "Win With Welder" rally at the Reardon Convention Center in Kansas City.[8]
- July 18, 2018: Republican state Sen. Barbara Bollier reached across the aisle and endorsed Tom Niermann over incumbent Kevin Yoder (R).[15]
- July 16, 2018: Brett Welder released a campaign ad titled "Yes We Kansas!"
- July 12, 2018: Tom Niermann released a campaign ad titled "Safe" featuring a classroom scene and discussion of firearm regulations.
- July 2: Several national and international media outlets covered the endorsement of Welder by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) following her win in a Democratic primary in New York's 14th Congressional District. Her win was used as evidence of a shift to the left in the Democratic Party by several outlets, and her endorsement of Welder was highlighted as an example of what the momentum of her win might lead to.[6][5][7]
- June 25, 2018: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed Brent Welder in a speech in suburban Kansas City, saying, “In Congress he will fight for a fifteen-dollar minimum wage, ending crippling student loan debt with debt-free college, and Medicare for all. I’m supporting Brent because he is the bold progressive voice Kansas needs in Congress."[16]
- June 11, 2018: EMILY's List released an ad in support of Sharice Davids titled "Ring" set in a mixed martial arts gym.
Top candidates
Sharice Davids
Davids earned a law degree from Cornell University. She is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, a Native American tribe in Wisconsin. She received attention for her work on reservations with tribes to create economic development opportunities and was one of 16 selected to participate in the White House Fellowship program in 2016. She has also competed professionally as a mixed martial artist.[17]
Tom Niermann
Niermann earned a Ph.D. in American History at the University of Kansas and had 26 years of experience as a high school teacher as of 2018.[18]
Jay Sidie
Sidie graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with a bachelor's degree in agricultural business administration and earned a master of business degree in finance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He founded CounterPunch, a Kansas City-based financial services company. Sidie ran for Kansas' 3rd Congressional District seat in 2016 and lost to Kevin Yoder (R).[19]
Brent Welder
Welder began his career as a workers rights advocate and was a national field director for the Teamsters union. After completing law school, Welder worked as a labor lawyer. In early 2015, Brent began leading the grassroots campaign in Kansas’s 3rd Congressional District for Bernie Sanders during the presidential primary. Sanders endorsed Welder in his 2018 congressional campaign.[20]
Candidates
Democratic primary candidates
Did not make the ballot:
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+4, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 4 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Kansas' 3rd Congressional District the 208th most Republican nationally.[21]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.05. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.05 points toward that party.[22]
Campaign themes and policy stances
Sharice Davids
| “ |
Our Economy Sharice believes -
Sharice plans to -
Sharice believes -
Sharice plans to -
Sharice believes -
Sharice plans to -
Our Gun Safety Sharice believes -
Sharice plans to -
Our Environment Sharice believes -
Sharice plans to -
Our Immigration Sharice believes -
Sharice plans to -
Our Equal Rights Sharice believes -
Sharice plans to -
CONTACT campaign@shariceforcongress.com 13851 W. 63rd St. #303 Shawnee, KS 66216 |
” |
| —Sharice Davids for Congress[24] | ||
Mike McCamon
| “ |
Everyone deserves affordable healthcare
Transparency and integrity from public servants Politics is not a profession. Too often our elected officials believe their constituents are the donors, not the electorate. Dark money, no matter its source, and the Citizens United case distorts public opinion and damages the integrity of our elections. We need to acknowledge that money in politics hurts our democracy. We deserve transparency from our elected officials. Who are our leaders meeting with today, yesterday? What legislative actions are forthcoming and how can the electorate weigh in on issues? Technology can play an important role. The fact that you can closely follow the lives of former high school friends online but can’t easily monitor laws that directly affect your life is absurd. Today the system is broken and must be fixed.
Common sense gun laws Gun violence and mass shootings should not be the norm for a civilized nation. Certainly our Constitution protects our rights as gun owners, but we must legislate better solutions. Mike believes we can all agree that everyone has the right to protect their family and property. And even the most avid 2nd Amendment advocates, agree that we don’t want criminals and dangerous people to have guns. Our collective Congressional inaction to protect us from dangerous people with guns is unforgivable. Closing loopholes in the gun market and coordinating with federal and local law enforcement is our best way forward.
Equal Rights Regardless of Sex Since our Independence, women have bravely fought for a voice in our government. For over a century, women have been fighting for Constitution equality in our country. An Equal Rights Amendment was first introduced in 1921 and again later in 1971. Both efforts failed. The time is now to address sex inequity in our country.
Campaign Finance Reform The only way to break the back of special interests and get more qualified citizens to run for public office is through campaign finance reform. Billions of dollars are spent on campaigns each year and a good measure of that is wasted on over saturating voters with things like direct mail and TV commercials. It has become an arms race, where there are no winners.
Make Public Education a Real Priority for Kansas Many of us, including our family, moved to Kansas and in particular this part of the state for great schools. It is a travesty that the Kansas Legislature has continuously under resourced education at all levels of the system. Great education is the background of our community and our best way to grow opportunity in the region.
Dignity and Compassion for one another Let’s be real: every single one of us wants and deserves equality and the personal liberty to live the life that suits our true selves. Rather than striving to always finding the differences we have among us, we should be striving to see all those things we have in common. We want to be tolerated, and should not only tolerate but also protect others. Companies should eliminate discrimination, in every form and help lead reconciliation in the workplace. Our country’s diplomatic policies should reflect these same values abroad. We must work to make the world safe, energy efficient, healthy, and sustainable with a thriving global economy that helps everyone on the planet.
Caring immigration solutions We are a country of immigrants and to deny this heritage is disrespectful to the real struggles many of our families faced to ultimately find liberty and prosperity in the United States. It is important to also agree that undocumented persons, immigrants, Visa card holders, and citizens should comply with our laws pertaining to the responsibilities and pathways to citizenship. Long time neighbors make our country better so helping them gain citizenship and be reunited with their families should be our priority; not arbitrary enforcement designed to destabilize our neighborhoods. A society can and should be measured by how it treats those most marginalized and at risk, and we owe it to our own immigrant ancestors to welcome everyone who strives for liberty.
Reproductive Health Rights Like our former Presidents, I support “Safe, Legal, and Rare” and a women’s right to choose. Despite our differences, most every American can agree on two things: (1) people should have the right to make their own family planning decisions and (2) we should care for those making remarkably difficult decisions and comfort those affected by them. People have the liberty to make their own family planning decisions. We don’t want the government to control every pregnancy. Likewise we don’t want government to mandate we have 10 children either. We want the freedom to decide and our democracy should protect that right. Even the most “single issue” voters in our community practice family planning. Family planning decisions, especially those that are a result of an unplanned pregnancy, are likely the most difficult life decision women and a family can make. We should care and support those navigating that decision. They need our support. And the last point, we should comfort those impacted by that decision.
Open and safe Internet Over the past two decades our economy has grown to depend on the public and open Internet. Our digital life in America today is one the great technological and social wonders of our times. We all want to be independent actors on this public service and users do not want their activities, identities, and personal stories irresponsibly monetized in the digital economy. Net Neutrality should be the law of the land and we must restrict intermediaries commercializing our online behavior. Like cigarette and liquor packaging, we should enforce simplified labeling of how services protect our privacy as well as easy to understand user agreements that default to the most private of settings for new users.
Protect our Environment We must work to make the world safe, energy efficient, healthy, and sustainable with a thriving global economy that helps everyone on the planet. Our leaders must acknowledge and embrace science that shows human behavior is impacting our ecosystems, some in unchangeable ways. The US should chart an aggressive path to energy independence. Technological innovation is making fossil fuels obsolete, impractical, and inefficient. Nearly 30% of power generated in Kansas is wind energy. Through investment and incentives our country, and state, will become a leader in renewable energy.
Our economy should reward work, not just wealth A healthy economy should be measured by low unemployment, rising wages for everyone, and less wealth disparity. Certainly entrepreneurs and Boards should have the autonomy to reward executive success, but they must also be held accountable for workplace safety and career growth. Our tax code must also maintain balance; where everyone wins by participating in and realizing the American Dream. The most compassionate fiscal policy for our country most likely means both greater spending discipline and more fair taxation schemes. |
” |
| —Mike McCamon for Congress[25] | ||
Tom Niermann
| “ |
Where I Stand Tom Niermann often tells people that in his 26 years as a teacher, he’s seen just about everything you can imagine in the classroom. He’s seen the miracles education can achieve, and also lost students to gun violence and the cycle of poverty. He decided to run for Congress because 26 years of experience has made it clear to him that only a handful of members of Congress represent working families like his and many of his students in good faith. Our class of professional politicians has veered a long way from the citizen legislators he teaches his students about, who framed our government and paved the road to the promise of the American Dream. He felt it was important to do his part to help us find that road again.
The 3rd District has incredible 21st century economic potential, and we have a chance to transform our economy to create opportunity for everyone who lives here. In order to get there, we need Congress to commit to a bipartisan process for investing in infrastructure, incentivizing wind power production, and developing capacity for advanced manufacturing.
Empowering Women I could not imagine asking any woman to accept fewer rights than I have to make my own medical decisions, so I support a woman’s right to choose. I know not all of my constituents will agree with me. I am a confirmed Catholic, and understand and respect that many of my neighbors have deeply held religious beliefs, and it is each woman’s right to make decisions for her own family. Women’s reproductive medical decisions are so personal and complicated that government involvement virtually guarantees infringement on a woman’s basic rights. Instead, our government ought to guarantee those rights, and make opportunity more accessible for women, not less. In Congress, I pledge to fight for equal pay for equal work, and work to end the culture of sexual harassment both in public life and the American work place.
My brother faithfully served our country in the Persian Gulf War, all while hiding that he was gay. My brother, like all Americans deserve to live without fear of discrimination because of who they are, or who they love. In Congress, I will fight to pass the Equality Act to ensure the next generation of LGBTQ Americans is safe from discrimination. Money in Politics With the Citizens United ruling, special interests have more power than ever to influence elections and our elected officials, while folks like you and I get shut out from the process and don’t have a voice. It’s extraordinary that our campaign has generated the level of support we have – a middle class teacher like me needs an outpouring of grassroots support to pull it off, and we’re lucky we’ve got it. Even so, I still have to teach full time to make ends meet for my family, and we should not have a system where only the wealthy can afford to serve in Congress.
Like many Americans, I am a gun owner. And like most gun owners, I support common-sense gun safety protections to make us all safer. Americans have a right to be safe in their own neighborhoods, to not have to fear being gunned down whether in the process of a crime being committed, or in a mass shooting or terrorist attack. Our gun murder rate is an astounding 20 times higher than any other developed nation, and I’ll never be able to shake the image of my student who lost his life to gun violence. We should re-instate a ban on military-style assault weapons as a first step to de-escalate our mass shooting epidemic.
Our goal should be to empower law enforcement to keep guns out of the wrong hands, and out of the wrong places. Guns have no place in schools or college campuses. Just as significantly, we are way overdue for universal background checks. Guns have no place in the hands of people who have already demonstrated that they will use them unlawfully. Guns especially have no place in the hands of domestic abusers, who represent 1 in 7 of gun purchasers stopped by background checks. It should be a scandal that those convicted of domestic violence are not required to forfeit their guns in Kansas, even those domestic abusers under restraining orders. Too many Americans die each day to postpone action, and it’s time to elect a common-sense majority to fix this problem. |
” |
| —Tom Niermann for Congress[26] | ||
Jay Sidie
| “ |
CAREER POLITICIANS POSSESS TUNNEL VISION THAT KEEPS THEM FROM EFFECTIVELY REPRESENTING THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE. POWER AND GREED BECOME THEIR FOCUS; THEY SELL THEIR VALUES UPSTREAM IN SUPPORT OF IDEAS THAT DAMAGE OUR COUNTRY. A YODER DECODER Kevin Yoder is a career politician. Since he was in school, the entirety of his work life has revolved around holding political office. This is unhealthy for our district. Kevin is too removed from the people he represents, and he has demonstrated that he is out of touch with his constituency. He actively avoids hearing ideas and feedback from members of his district by avoiding meetings and town halls. How can someone represent people to whom they refuse to listen? GOVERNING IN HIS OWN SELF INTEREST Kevin is so influenced by lobbyists and special interest groups that his decisions are made with tunnel-vision. He accepts money from the banks who caused the 2008 crash, the payday loan companies who prey on low-income communities, deepening our economic disparities, and the national rifle association. Kevin makes decisions impacting the future of our district in his own self-interest rather than in the interest of those he represents. THE DIFFERENCE Our district needs a representative who views political office not as a career that must be managed with sound bites and spin, but as a part of daily life. The people of Kansas' 3rd district need a representative who has worked with them at ground level, as Jay has done for the last 20-plus years in Johnson County. Someone who understands the issues and the people’s points of view, and truly cares that those points of view are well-represented in Washington.
GOING GREEN TO SAVE THE GREEN Jay believes in the importance of the development of environmentally friendly technologies, the creation of renewable energy sources (like wind and solar) and the adoption of environmentally safer practices and products. The United States only stands to gain from developing these technologies, as they create jobs, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, which are ever-depleting, and damaging to our planet. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH Research remains a key to making sure our decisions and actions do not have a negative impact on our planet. Jay believes that a variety of solutions can meet the funding requirements for that ongoing research including programs funded through public and private grants, and initiatives sourced through partnerships between industry and government. THE EPA Jay shares concerns about EPA administrator Scott Pruitt and his seeming indifference to our environment. Pruitt's rollback of key protections must be challenged. We should work with environmentally friendly groups like the Sierra Club to identify, track and combat attacks on the safety of our air, land and water. PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY BASED ON THEIR RACE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RELIGION, AGE OR DISABILITY. IT’S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT MUST BE SPELLED OUT. IN TRUTH, THIS SHOULD JUST SAY, “PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY. PERIOD." THE OBSTACLES Rights and opportunities should not be limited by the differences listed above. There are many obstacles that are slowing our progress toward equality. We must tackle each one, and work hard to correct biases so that social and economic outcomes improve for all. GENDER EQUALITY Did you know that if things don’t change we are not expected to see gender equality in our lifetimes? And we all lose out because of this. The health of our future economies depends on embracing the ideas, perspectives and skills of everyone. Leaving out one or more groups of individuals severely limits opportunity for us all. RACIAL EQUALITY Our nation needs to do more to address racial inequality as well. Fifty years after the death of Martin Luther King Jr. we as a nation are still struggling with civil rights reforms. People of color are too often targets of violence and discrimination. THE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS BROKEN FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST. JAY IS GOING TO WASHINGTON TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IS ACCESSIBLE, ACCOUNTABLE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, AFFORDABLE FOR ALL AMERICANS. ACCESS TO CARE We need to ensure that all Americans have equal access to the healthcare system when they need it, as well as access to preventative care that could save billions of dollars. ACCOUNTABILITY The current complex business model of healthcare makes it difficult to figure out who is responsible for each particular aspect of care. We need to increase accountability related to health coverage: financial accountability (with an eye toward reducing costs) and performance accountability (with a focus on standards of care). AFFORDABILITY The ballooning cost of healthcare can be terrifying. Those who are sick or suffering from a medical problem should not have to choose between a visit to the doctor or dinner on the table. We need to look effective ways to reduce costs, identify more efficient ways of treating patients and gain control over the rising cost of prescription medication. INCOME INEQUALITY: KANSAS' BILLIONAIRE KOCH BROTHERS INVESTED MILLIONS LOBBYING FOR A TAX PLAN WHERE THE TOP 1 PERCENT OF EARNERS WOULD RAKE IN ROUGHLY 83 PERCENT OF THE BENEFIT. THIS INEQUALITY ALLOWS THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS TO EXERT DISPROPORTIONATE CONTROL OVER POLITICS AND THE POLICIES THAT HELP THEM MAINTAIN THEIR PERSONAL WEALTH. WOMEN Women face many challenges in the battle for financial equality. Overall, women tend to earn less than men. When you couple this fact with rising levels of student debt, it takes women much longer to pay off what they owe. Women often pursue degrees that result in lower paying jobs, instead of focusing on areas like math and science. Women also provide much of the care giving, needed by children and elderly relatives. This reduces or removes them from the job market. We as a nation must look for way to address this issues. PEOPLE OF COLOR Did you know that according to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, black families in America earn just $57.30 for every $100 in income earned by white families? The difference between what black Americans and white Americans earn is large. Often black job seekers are offered less than their white counterparts, and black Americans have been more likely to accept lower compensation, according to a study by three prominent economists. The reason for earnings differences -- says the Economic Policy Institute -- is discrimination, and ways to address this issue are complex. One idea that should be tested is requiring companies to report on what they pay workers, by race, ethnicity and gender. MILLENNIALS Today’s young people are poorer than most. Often receiving lower wages and struggling with student loan debt, Millennials are falling behind their parents' generation in regards to financial well-being. Home ownership has also declined among young adults -- a result, some studies show, of the high levels of student loan debt many Millennials face. We need to continue to challenge the changes in student loan servicing championed by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. States should continue to regulate student loan servicers. Student loan borrowers must be protected. GUN REFORM: WE ARE AT A POINT IN TIME WHERE WE NEED TO BALANCE OUR RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS WITH OUR RIGHT FOR SAFETY. GUN LOBBY The National Rifle Association spends millions to buy the support of our elected officials and promote hysteria among gun owners. We must not allow the NRA to distort discussions about the epidemic of gun violence impacting America. We must counter this with by electing officials who haven't been bought by the NRA and who are not selling out the safety of our citizens in exchange for personal gain. CAREFUL REGULATION Guns deaths -- from accidents, suicides, homicides, mass shootings -- are one of the leading causes of death in our country. We must review current and proposed regulation to determine what is effective. Regulations tracking ownership are needed. Private gun sales should be recorded. Only through the careful and enforceable regulation of gun ownership can we reduce the number of gun deaths in America. WAR WEAPONS A common thread of the recent mass shootings is the perpetrator's use of assault weapons. The shooters in Parkland, Las Vegas, the Pulse nightclub in Orlando and the church in Texas all purchased their military-style assault weapons legally. These weapons have no place on the streets of America, and we should reinstate the assault weapons ban to stop their legal sale. NOT IN SCHOOLS Increasingly, our schools have become a target for those who seek to cause the largest amount of damage and impact. But arming teachers is not the answer. The chances of an accidental shooting are too great. Even highly trained police officers, the average hit rate during gun fights is 18 percent. That percentage alone should cause concern. LAWMAKERS NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND EMBRACE THE MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS CREATED BY LEGALIZING MEDICAL AND RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA. MEDICAL MARIJUANA Jay joins millions of others across the nation in supporting the legalization of medical marijuana for the benefits it provides those suffering from a wide variety of medical conditions, like chronic pain, seizures, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia and inflammation. In addition to these benefits, multiple studies have demonstrated that states with legalized medical marijuana have considerably fewer opiate deaths. RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA Our representatives need to take initial steps toward legalizing recreational marijuana: They need to legalize medical marijuana; they need to decriminalize recreational marijuana; and they need to set up an infrastructure designed to grow, process and distribute cannabis safely and efficiently. DECRIMINALIZATION Lawmakers need to decriminalize recreational marijuana: Immediately reclassify cannabis from a Class I to a Class II drug; and charge adults convicted of possession with a small fine, as well as expunge their records and reduce any sentences to time served. Years of harsh penalties have not reduced consumption, and heavy fines and jail time disproportionately target people of color and those from poorer neighborhoods. Not to mention that these are largely non-violent offenders, whose crimes do not negatively impact their communities. Marijuana possession convictions can hurt job, housing and educational opportunities. Families are torn apart. Lives can be, and are, ruined, needlessly. As our elected officials continue to talk about the uniquely American problem of mass incarceration, this is a seemingly obvious way to begin correcting it. FINANCIAL BENEFITS People across the nation are buying marijuana, but right now that money does not help our social programs or infrastructure. Legalization would create a new revenue stream at both the state and federal levels. In some of the states where recreational marijuana is legalized, 50% of more of the tax revenue is funneled directly into their public school system. A boost the schools in Kansas sorely need. AS THE AMERICAN WORKFORCE CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, WE MUST TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE WE ARE PREPARED TO MEET THE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE FUTURE. PRIMARY & SECONDARY EDUCATION Education helps prepare the next generation of young people for a productive role in both the workplace and society. Because of the importance of the critical thinking, emotional intelligence and social skills learned in Pre-K and K-12, we must ensure we appropriately fund our schools. If we want a population who can be productive in work, life and citizenship, we must invest in proper education. SKILLS TRAINING & APPRENTICESHIPS Our nation’s current workforce is suffering from a skills gap. We have high school and college graduates who lack the technological or specialized skills required by companies today. One method of address this issue is to strengthen and expand apprenticeship programs. Modern apprenticeships go beyond the traditional training of construction and manufacturing, and include training in diverse areas like accounting, agriculture, banking, digital marketing, freight logistics, system support and health care services. We need to embrace apprenticeships to help create a skilled workforce ready for the future. CONTINUING EDUCATION Technology and other innovations drive changes in the workplace. To keep up with these changes, both the workers and employers need to participate in continuing education and professional development. This type of ongoing training can fill in knowledge gaps and prepare workers to take on other roles within a business. It also helps with worker engagement and retention. PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR GREAT NATION. THE EFFORTS OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND STAFF HELP LEAD TO SUCCESS BOTH FOR THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AND FOR SOCIETY. DEFUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION Kansas' own Koch Brothers are on a mission to de-fund public schools. Their billionaire network is waging war across the nation. State by state, they are pushing to funnel public funding into private and charter schools. We cannot allow the Kochs to succeed in their efforts to bankrupt our public school system. We must fight to retain the funding we have and increase efforts to secure additional monies -- at both the state and federal levels -- to ensure our public schools have the tools to effectively educate our nation's youth. EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES Funds supporting low-income students, students with disabilities and early childhood programs must not only continue to be allocated, but be increased. More resources, such as counselors and social workers, available in schools to both students and teachers means more success not only for those students and teachers directly impacted, but their peers in the same environment. TEACHER TRAINING Appropriate funding should be allotted for the ongoing training of teachers in the latest tools and technology. Up-to-date teaching skills help ensure better outcomes for students. It is a proven theory that investing in your employees will better their success rates and keep them satisfied and engaged in their work, avoiding burnout and compassion fatigue. TEACHER PAY Teachers today are asked to play so many roles. The federal government needs to work with the states to ensure they are held accountable for paying teachers fair wages. Many teachers have to hold second jobs to make ends meet, giving them less prep time, and less ability to focus on what their students need. We should value our teachers as the priceless resources they are, and pay them as such. MENTAL HEALTH The federal government must increase funding for student mental health programs, especially in light of the recent school shootings. We need to put staff and programs in place to reach our at-risk youth and help address the personal roadblocks that prevent them from succeeding or drive them to violence. Students struggling with mental health crises of their own or at home are often punished in school in ways that jeopardize their futures, making it difficult for them to trust the school system at all, often resulting in higher drop out rates, or escalation of behavior until expulsion. |
” |
| —Jay Sidie for Congress[27] | ||
Brent Welder
| “ |
Our Economy Fighting for US, Not Billionaires or Giant Corporations Brent is sick and tired of big corporations calling the shots in Washington. He is committed to fighting for hard working Kansas families, not Wall Street CEO’s. That’s why he won’t accept corporate PAC money. In 2016, as a member of the Democratic National Platform Committee, Brent wrote an amendment to ban corporate money from elections. He will fight to end Donald Trump’s corporate welfare. Brent wants to wipe out corrupt tax loopholes for giant corporations and billionaires, so we can invest in our local communities and small businesses. Fighting for a $15 Minimum Wage A higher minimum wage boosts the local economy, reduces national and state deficits, and creates good paying jobs at all income levels. Brent believes that no one who works a full-time job should live in poverty, especially while corporate CEO’s make as much in an hour as their workers make in a year. Raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour will pump billions of dollars into local communities, and ease underpaid workers off government assistance. In order to do this, we need real, actual change in Washington. Fighting for Middle Class Workers and Labor Throughout his life, Brent has fought alongside workers across the country for higher wages, safer workplaces, and better benefits. As National Field Director for the Teamsters union, Brent organized over a million union members to help elect pro-worker candidates at the national, state, and local levels. After law school, instead of joining a corporate law firm, he became a labor lawyer for a national labor union, and continued to fight the biggest, greediest corporations on behalf of middle class workers. Brent strongly opposes federal so-called “Right to Work” legislation, and will fight to expand union workers’ ability to organize. Fighting for Medicare for All Every woman, man, and child in the United States deserves quality health care as a right. No one should have to choose between going to the doctor, taking their medicine, and having food on the table. Big drug companies should not be able to drive the price of medications to twice what they cost in Canada and other countries. Brent will fight to end the double standard in health care—where members of Congress give themselves premium health care while everyone else gets second-rate insurance or goes without. Fighting for Women’s Equality As a husband and father of two young girls, women’s rights, equal pay, and health care are personal to Brent. In our rigged economy, the average woman makes 80 cents for every dollar a man makes in the same job. With misogynist Donald Trump as President, it’s now more important than ever to draw a line in the sand on women’s rights. Brent pledges to stand up to Trump, and support equal wages for equal work. He also believes in a woman’s right to choose, and will fight all efforts to defund community health centers, such as Planned Parenthood. Fighting for Racial Justice Brent knows that black lives matter. He is committed to stopping unconstitutional police violence and brutality. Brent understands that racial justice extends to creating more equitable legal, political, and economic systems. He is running for Congress to fix our rigged economy that results in lower wages, unsafe workplaces, and discriminatory hiring practices for minority workers. He is also committed to investing in minority communities by supporting minority owned businesses and educational opportunities. Fighting for Immigration Reform Trump has made fear of immigrants a center point of his administration. Brent will fight for the dignity and safety of all immigrants and the aid of international refugees. He is dedicated to seeing Dreamers thrive and maintaining DACA. He believes in fair and compassionate comprehensive immigration reform that doesn’t break up families, provides a pathway to citizenship, and fixes our broken immigration system. Fighting for LGBTQ Equality Love is love. Brent believes that all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, deserve equal rights and protection at work, in our communities, and at home. Brent has always supported LGBTQ rights. As a community organizer, he helped fight the battle for marriage equality from the very beginning. He also worked with Congressman Patrick Murphy to repeal the discriminatory “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” law that banned openly gay and bisexual people from military service. Fighting for Debt-Free College Higher education is one of the best ways to ensure better wages, make our workforce more productive, and boost our economy as a whole. Brent will fight to make sure that students don’t have to decide between huge amounts of debt and going to college. He believes that if students work hard, they deserve the opportunity to succeed just like everyone else—regardless of how much money their parents make. He also will work to end crippling student loan debt for those who have already finished their college education. Fighting for Pre-K Education for Every Child Brent and his wife Kristie are parents of two young girls. They realize the importance of a quality education, and the doors it can open. Education starts early. That’s why they support Pre-K for every child to ensure high quality preschool is available to all families, so every child can start off on equal footing. Fighting to Protect Our Environment We can’t survive without clean air and water. Part of being a good parent and citizen is ensuring that the world we leave our kids is just as good or better than the world we came into. Climate change is a real threat to our country and the world. We must rejoin the Paris Accord, and invest in energy through renewable resources. Brent supports clean energy that that creates good American jobs, boosts our economy, and keeps us safe by ending our dependence on foreign oil. Fighting for Veterans Benefits If we can afford to go to war, we can afford to take care of our veterans. Brent worked with Patrick Murphy, the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress, and has fought his entire career to help veterans. In the 3rd District of Kansas, we have over 40,000 veterans. Brent will continue to fight to make sure that the VA is fully funded and that our veterans in Kansas and across the country get the full benefits they deserve. Fighting for Common Sense Gun Reform Gun violence is a serious threat that cannot be ignored any longer by Congress. Brent will stand up to the corporate gun lobby and demand that we pass strong, sensible restrictions on firearms. This should start with immediately reinstating the assault weapons ban, outlawing bump stocks, increasing background checks, stopping suspected terrorists, stalkers, and domestic abusers from buying guns, and enacting federal legislation putting in place Extreme Risk Protection Orders. |
” |
| —Brent Welder for Congress[28] | ||
Sylvia Williams
| “ |
Reversing Escalating Healthcare Costs Health care is a right not a privilege. As a society, we need to immediately start taking necessary steps to move towards a universal system. As we make the shift, we need to understand that the process will be a relay and not a sprint. As we take these responsible steps, we need to create a system that will not only insure all Americans today but will last for generations to come. Immediate steps:
Women In The Workplace Kansas ranks in the middle third in the nation for women’s Employment & Earnings. We need protections passed in Congress that require women to receive equal pay and fair benefits which should include paid family leave. Below are some key findings regarding women in Kansas:
Pay Inequality We need to modernize the federal minimum wage system. We currently have a lagging system that is only adjusted about once every decade. We need a dynamic system that is adjusted annually and is tied to the cost of living index for each specific district. For example, some areas of the country need higher than $15 per hour.
In Kansas’ Third Congressional District, we have unique economic challenges. Our two major counties face some shared challenges and some unique challenges.
Investment and Banking The 2008 financial crisis hurt many communities throughout the district. More importantly, the recovery has not been shared equally. We need to pass legislation that requires investment in all communities.
School and Community Safety Support of the 2nd Amendment is not in conflict with support of common sense solutions to the escalating epidemic.
The Environment Climate change is real and supported by science. We need to move forward on this issue since it is one of our greatest threats to society.
Jobs Our district needs a comprehensive economic plan with Federal and State officials working together. We need an economic development push in underserved areas which would provide quality new jobs. We need to support retraining programs for displaced and aging workers. Too often displaced workers end up underemployed once they secure new employment. This is especially true with veteran workers. I also believe the federal minimum wage should be subject to annual cost of living adjustments. Medicare and Social Security We must fulfill our promise to our seniors. I will fight to preserve Medicare and Social Security. As Americans, we have paid into these programs our entire lives and rely on them for a secure retirement. Education The price of higher education and vocational training programs is becoming unreachable for many. We need to work on making educational opportunities reachable for all. We need more transparency and oversight in the current student loan program system. Common Sense Gun Safety Solutions Our society has experienced far too many episodes of gun violence. Our families and children need to feel safe. Being a native of Kansas, I have a strong respect for our 2nd Amendment right. Kansas has a long tradition of owning guns for hunting, sport, and self-protection. History has recognized that there are reasonable limitations to that right. I support keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and those suffering from serious mental illness. I also support closing the gun show loophole for background checks. Lastly, technology has surpassed our current laws. I am for reinstating the assault weapons ban. |
” |
| —Sylvia Williams for Congress[29] | ||
Campaign finance
The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Yoder | Republican Party | $4,655,830 | $4,966,110 | $125,073 | As of December 31, 2018 |
| Sharice Davids | Democratic Party | $4,860,761 | $4,852,129 | $8,632 | As of December 31, 2018 |
| Mike McCamon | Democratic Party | $180,149 | $180,148 | $0 | As of December 31, 2018 |
| Tom Niermann | Democratic Party | $810,073 | $809,820 | $254 | As of September 30, 2018 |
| Jay Sidie | Democratic Party | $107,632 | $117,504 | $0 | As of December 31, 2018 |
| Brent Welder | Democratic Party | $996,963 | $996,664 | $299 | As of December 31, 2018 |
| Sylvia Williams | Democratic Party | $317,826 | $317,826 | $0 | As of August 27, 2018 |
| Trevor Keegan | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Joe Myers | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Chris Clemmons | Libertarian Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
|
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2018. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
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Campaign tactics and strategies
Campaign advertisements
Sharice Davids
Support
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Tom Niermann
Support
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Brent Welder
Support
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Yes We Kansas July 16, 2018
Against
Endorsements
The table below summarizes the endorsements Ballotpedia identified for Democratic candidates in the primary for Kansas' 3rd Congressional District.
Do you know of an official or organization that endorsed a candidate in this race? Let Ballotpedia know by email at editor@ballotpedia.org.
| Democratic candidate endorsements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endorsement | Davids | McCamon | Niermann | Sidie | Welder | Williams |
| Public Officials | ||||||
| Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)[30] | ✔ | |||||
| Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA)[31] | ✔ | |||||
| Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA)[32] | ✔ | |||||
| National Figures | ||||||
| Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D)[5] | ✔ | |||||
| State Figures | ||||||
| State Sen. Barbara Bollier[33] | ✔ | |||||
| Organizations | ||||||
| EMILY's List [34] | ✔ | |||||
| Equality Kansas [32] | ✔ | |||||
| LPAC [32] | ✔ | |||||
| BOLD PAC [32] | ✔ | |||||
| LGBTQ Victory Fund [32] | ✔ | |||||
| Brand New Congress [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees Division [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Congressional Hispanic Caucus [32] | ✔ | |||||
| Congressional Progressive Caucus [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Demand Universal Healthcare [31] | ✔ | |||||
| End Citizens United [31] | ✔ | |||||
| International Brotherhood of Boilermakers [31] | ✔ | |||||
| International Union of Painters and Allied Trades [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Iron Workers local 10 [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Justice Democrats [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Laborers International Union of North America [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate [31] | ✔ | |||||
| National Nurses United [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Our Revolution [31] | ✔ | |||||
| The People for Bernie Sanders [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Political Revolution [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Progressive Change Campaign Committee [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Service Employees International Union [31] | ✔ | |||||
| SMART Transportation Division [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Teamsters Joint Council 56 [31] | ✔ | |||||
| Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate [32] | ✔ | |||||
| Mainstream Coalition [35] | ✔ | |||||
| Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate [35] | ✔ | |||||
Republican district won by Hillary Clinton
This district was one of 25 Republican-held U.S. House districts that Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election.[36] Nearly all were expected to be among the House's most competitive elections in 2018.
Click on the table below to see the full list of districts.
Click here to see the 13 Democratic-held U.S. House districts that Donald Trump (R) won.
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Kansas, 2018
- United States House elections in Kansas (August 7, 2018 Democratic primaries)
- Kansas' 3rd Congressional District election (August 7, 2018 Republican primary)
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2018
Footnotes
- ↑ The Kansas City Star, Emily’s List endorses another Dem in Kansas’ 3rd District after first candidate drops out," May 23rd, 2018
- ↑ 50 States of Blue, "Sharice Davids could be the first Native American woman in Congress," March 8, 2018
- ↑ Bret Welder for Congress, "Issues," accessed June 14, 2018
- ↑ Kansas City Star, "Bernie Sanders wades into race against Yoder, endorses former delegate Welder," June 25, 2018
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Daily Beast, "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Endorsements Boost Other Left-Wing Democratic Candidates," July 3, 2018
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Guardian, "Does Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez signal an earthquake in Democratic politics?,"July 2, 2018
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Huffington Post, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Is Driving New Energy And Money To Progressive Candidates," July 4, 2018
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Brent Welder for Congress," "Press Release," accessed July 16, 2018
- ↑ The Intercept, "ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ AND BERNIE SANDERS ARE TRYING TO PROVE THEIR CASE IN KANSAS," July 17, 2018
- ↑ Tom Niermann for Congress, "Meet Tom," accessed June 14, 2018
- ↑ Kansas City Star, "Jay Sidie faces a tougher road to the Democratic nomination in Kansas’ 3rd District," November 16, 2017
- ↑ Mike for Kansas, "Leading from the Center," June 14, 2018
- ↑ The Kansas City Star, "Leawood woman is latest to challenge U.S. Rep Yoder," March 7, 2018
- ↑ Huffington Post, "A Major Conservative Donor Is Meddling In A Democratic Primary In Kansas," August 3, 2018
- ↑ Kansas City Star, "Republican state senator endorses one of Kevin Yoder’s Democratic challengers," July 18, 2018
- ↑ Kansas City Star, "Bernie Sanders wades into race against Yoder, endorses former delegate Welder," June 25, 2018
- ↑ Sharice for Congress, "About," accessed July 16, 2018
- ↑ Tom Niermann for Congress," "Meet Tom," accessed August 6, 2018
- ↑ [https://www.jay4congress.com/about Jay Sidie for Congress, "Meet Jay, accessed August 6, 2018
- ↑ {http://www.brentwelder.com/meet-brent/ Brent Welder for Congress, Meet Brent, accessed July 16, 2018]
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ "Priorities," accessed June 16, 2018
- ↑ "The issues," accessed May 16, 2018
- ↑ "Issues," accessed June 16, 2018
- ↑ "Jay4Congress," accessed June 16, 2018
- ↑ "Issues," accessed June 16, 2018
- ↑ "The Issues," accessed June 16, 2018
- ↑ Kansas City Star, "Bernie Sanders wades into race against Yoder, endorses former delegate Welder," June 25, 2018
- ↑ 31.00 31.01 31.02 31.03 31.04 31.05 31.06 31.07 31.08 31.09 31.10 31.11 31.12 31.13 31.14 31.15 31.16 31.17 31.18 31.19 31.20 31.21 Brent Welder for Congress, "Endorsement," accessed July 18, 2018
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 32.6 Sharice for Congress, "Home," accessed July 18, 2018
- ↑ The Kansas City Star, "Republicans want to oust moderate senator for endorsing a Democrat over Kevin Yoder," accessed July 19, 2018
- ↑ EMILY's List, "EMILY’S LIST ENDORSES SHARICE DAVIDS IN KANSAS’ 3RD DISTRICT," May 24, 2018
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 Niermann for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed July 18, 2018
- ↑ This figure includes Pennsylvania districts that were redrawn by the state Supreme Court in early 2018 and districts that flipped in special elections.
- ↑ The new 1st district was created in early 2018 due to court-ordered redistricting and most closely resembles the old 8th District held by Fitzpatrick. Click here to read more.
- ↑ The new 5th district was created in early 2018 due to court-ordered redistricting and most closely resembles the old 7th District held by Meehan. Click here to read more.
- ↑ The new 6th district was created in early 2018 due to court-ordered redistricting and most closely resembles the old 6th District held by Costello. Click here to read more.
- ↑ The new 7th district was created in early 2018 due to court-ordered redistricting and most closely resembles the old 15th District held by Dent. Click here to read more.
