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Mike McCorkle

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This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Mike McCorkle
Image of Mike McCorkle
Elections and appointments
Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Wichita West High School

Associate

University of Maryland Global Campus, 1988

Bachelor's

University of Maryland Global Campus, 2001

Graduate

Troy State University, Global Campus, 2005

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army

Years of service

1976 - 1994

Personal
Birthplace
Wichita, Kan.
Religion
Pantheist
Contact

Mike McCorkle (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Kansas House of Representatives to represent District 100. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

McCorkle completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Mike McCorkle was born in Wichita, Kansas. He served in the United States Army from 1976 to 1994.[1] McCorkle earned a high school diploma from Wichita West High School, an associate degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus in 1988, a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus in 2001, and a graduate degree from the Troy State University, Global Campus in 2005. As of 2024, McCorkle was affiliated with Wichita Veteran's Memorial Park Board and the ICT Trees Board.[2]

Elections

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.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete 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 McCorkle in this election.

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.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

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.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

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.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2020

See also: Kansas State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Kansas State Senate District 27

Incumbent Gene Suellentrop defeated Mike McCorkle in the general election for Kansas State Senate District 27 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Gene Suellentrop
Gene Suellentrop (R)
 
66.7
 
26,296
Image of Mike McCorkle
Mike McCorkle (D) Candidate Connection
 
33.3
 
13,143

Total votes: 39,439
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Kansas State Senate District 27

Mike McCorkle advanced from the Democratic primary for Kansas State Senate District 27 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mike McCorkle
Mike McCorkle Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
3,889

Total votes: 3,889
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Kansas State Senate District 27

Incumbent Gene Suellentrop advanced from the Republican primary for Kansas State Senate District 27 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Gene Suellentrop
Gene Suellentrop
 
100.0
 
11,014

Total votes: 11,014
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Mike McCorkle completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by McCorkle's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I’m running to be the next elected Representative for Kansas House District 100 in west Wichita because Kansans deserve better representation.

I am a native Kansan and returned to Wichita in October of 2019 to look after my parents. I am a healthy, active 65-year-old decorated Desert Storm Veteran who has seen some of the world and will use my experience in our Legislature to improve quality of life for ALL Kansans! I honor my oath to protect and defend our constitutional democracy against all enemies, foreign and domestic - by seeking elected office a third time because I am concerned for our Democracy.

I am the product of public schools, a love of reading and learning, and a boundless curiosity about the world we share. Raised with a strong work ethic, I learned responsibility early working alongside my father and delivering newspapers. I began working full-time at sixteen and enlisted while still in high school.

I served in the Army through 14 assignments on 3 continents as photographer, intelligence analyst, and embassy operations staff and volunteered for Operation Desert Storm.

I married a Norwegian and then lived and worked abroad for 25 years, visiting Wichita and my family every year. I have earned multiple degrees and worked in education, international business, and senior care. I am divorced with three adult children. I serve on two boards including the Wichita Veteran’s Memorial Park board and ICT Trees as a founding board member.
  • Kansans deserve better representation. This election is a referendum on the incumbent who was first elected in 2012 as a Brownback supporter whose votes damaged Kansas schools, and he has used his vote since to cut taxes for the wealthy while cutting services on the needy. He is out of touch with House 100 voters - most do not know who their elected representative is. His long list of out-of-state corporate donors begs the question: Who does he really represent? His continuing attacks on Kansas women's reproductive freedom reflect his extreme far right anti-choice agenda for Kansas. Hawkins' votes and actions do not represent what the majority of Kansans want for themselves and their children's future. Vote him out!
  • I will use the House District 100 vote to improve healthcare for ALL Kansans. Currently, 2.9 million Kansans are held healthcare hostage by the obstructionist votes and actions of a Brownback supporter who has become Speaker of the House, where he has blocked Medicaid expansion for 150,000 fellow Kansans to have access to adequate healthcare, which he dismissed as "just politics." He has blocked medical cannabis for the many veterans and cancer sufferers who want legal access to lessen their pain. And he continues to support attacks on Kansas women's reproductive healthcare as part of an extremist far right agenda for Kansas. By winning House 100 for ALL Kansans, we remove Speaker Hawkins for ALL Kansans! Win-Win!
  • Kansans want progress and positive leadership. All the states around Kansas have adopted Medicaid expansion and some form of medical marijuana while Kansas has been held back by Republican party politics that do not serve the majority of Kansans. When I asked Mr. Hawkins how he can be so friendly to me but have no qualms about denying Medicaid expansion and medical marijuana, he shrugged and said it was "just politics." Kansans deserve elected representatives who will prioritize people and planet over party politics. I am also concerned about the economic impact of climate change on Kansas agriculture and future generations because water concerns are certain to escalate.
Healthcare, education, transportation, and the environment.
I have always admired leaders who stand up for what is right rather than what is popular or politically expedient. I admire Presidents Harry Truman and Jimmy Carter, both of whom made decisions based on what they believed was right rather than on what would win them votes or popularity. I have also admired leaders who were good team builders.
As an avid reader and fan of film, there are so many examples of inspiration that it is challenging to select a few. I have always enjoyed reading biographies and history to increase my understanding of the big picture of why things are as they are and whose actions have contributed to the common good. Books offer detailed insights on how noteworthy people have handled the challenges of their times. Since returning to Wichita, I have read the following relevant books: John Meacham: The Soul of America (2018), Nancy Bristow: American Pandemic (2012), Greta Thunberg: No One Is Too Small To Make A Difference (2018), Thomas Frank: What's The Matter With Kansas? (2004), Sarah Smarsh: Heartland (2018), Jonathan Alder: His Very Best, Jimmy Carter, A Life (2020), Dan Glickman: Laughing At Myself, My Education in Congress, on the Farm, and at the Movies (2021), Bob Dole: One Soldier's Story (2005), Christopher Leonard: Kochland (2019), Steve Inskeep: Differ We Must, How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided American (2023), Max McCoy: Elevations, A Personal Exploration of the Arkansas River (2018), James Mead: Hunting and Trading on the Great Plains, 1859-1875 (1986), Rachel Maddow: Prequel, An American Fight Against Fascism (2023), Richard Haas: The Bill of Obligations, Ten Habits of Good Citizens (2023), Dee Brown: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (1970), Bill Gates: How to Avoid a Climate Disaster (2021), plus many others about native American history, climate change, and politics with the occasional indulgence into fiction.
I believe a person who will stand for equality and our constitutional Democracy today and always with broad experience, who has traveled widely and experienced other cultures and ways of life, who has attempted to educate themselves broadly and continues to learn new things, who likes to interact with people who have different backgrounds, who has had a variety of jobs and lived in different places, who wants to visit schools and hospitals and senior centers, who likes to interact with students and seniors as well as business leaders, who is willing to place the concerns of the many over the wishes of the few, who knows that despite their own attempts to be educated there is more to know, who is not afraid to admit they have been wrong about something in order to pursue progress, who believes in fairness for all, who is not afraid to defend a minority position, who is courageous about pursuing what is right in uncertain times, who understands that life and personal interactions can be complicated and messy, who knows that they are not perfect and that anyone can make a mistake, who looks to history for examples of what not to do as well as what could be emulated again, who wakes up hopeful everyday with positive expectancy that this honorable position is a tremendous opportunity to improve the quality of life for ALL Kansans by their actions and with their vote as an elected Kansas House Representative.
I am humble, honest, and hard-working with a long-term view of progress for ALL Kansans. Another "quality" that I bring to this elected position is that I am not beholden to anyone politically. I have no agenda to follow other than what I believe to be best for ALL Kansans. I am open-minded to new ideas and different perspectives because I know that I do not have all the answers, but I believe in progress. I believe yet another "quality" I bring is a kind of impatience about the status quo. I am a door-knocker because I am impatient about the status of progress for ALL Kansans and urge more Kansans to get involved in our Democracy - especially at the local level. There is nothing more effective for persuading voters than an earnest, sincere conversation about shared values with the conviction that the future of our Democracy and a future worth having for our children and their children is worth the effort of stepping out of ones comfort zone to work together with other like-minded Kansans for a better future for ALL Kansans!
To use the House 100 vote to support progress for ALL Kansans; to work for the common good.
That I worked selflessly for the greater good for ALL Kansans.
I recall the assassination of President Kennedy as something that upset my mother as she watched the news coverage on our black and white television. I had just turned five a few weeks earlier
At sixteen, I began working as a mill operator 3-9pm Monday-Friday plus 6-12noon on Saturdays at Harlow Tool where my father worked. (Both of my younger brothers would also start their formal working lives at Harlow.) I started at $2.25 per hour and worked at Harlow through my junior and senior high school years. I kept that job until I joined the Army after graduating from high school. An even earlier job was that of paper deliverer for the Wichita Eagle & Beacon, which I had for several years prior to turning sixteen.
I like to read. My default answer to dinner party queries about my favorite book has - since the late 1980s - been Somerset Maugham's "The Razor's Edge". It is a remarkable story about a young man who survived WWI as an underage pilot and returned to the U.S. not wanting to pursue opportunities that his hero status presented. He inherits a modest stipend and decides to go to Europe where he embarks on multi-year quest to understand what success means to him. Along the way he meets and learns from interesting people on his "journey" and in the end he publishes a book of what he has learned and returns to the U.S. with a plan to be a truck driver until he finds a city he wants to live in and then to be a taxi driver because he likes people. The main character, Larry Darrell's quest and humility have always resonated with me. Years later, I read a biography about the author who wrote "The Razor's Edge" during WWII drawing on his many travels and his diverse life experience. I have always liked Larry Darrell's example.
Spending too much time on projects and tasks trying to get them as close to perfect as possible.
I believe the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature would be collaborative in support of long-range goals that necessarily requires long-term cooperation. A governor supported by a majority legislature with a balancing opposition could produce legislation for the people of that state that would hopefully be fair and balanced.
I expect that the greatest challenge to impact Kansas over the next decade will involve our changing climate. The economic impact of climate change and desertification of western Kansas will continue to unfold in ways that will challenge existing contingency plans. We are in the midst of a prolonged drought despite what most feel has been a wetter-than-normal spring and the future economic impact on Kansas agriculture is likely to get worse.
I believe that all experience is useful, transferrable, and beneficial. Like any new job that involves rules, procedures, diverse personalities, and changing circumstances; there is a learning curve for anyone new to any position, but I also lean towards term limits as a check on legislators becoming institutions of and for themselves. My opponent is a good example of what happens to someone who prioritizes success in party politics rather than the common good. Hawkins is at the pinnacle of Kansas legislative success as Speaker of the House, but he is not a leader "of the people, by the people, for the people."
I do and look forward to it! We are social creatures and as Mr. Hawkins told me himself, "It takes 63 votes to do anything." I watched with great interest an interview with former Governor John Carlin who also emphasized the importance of relationships with other legislators as well as lobbyists to build alliances for legislation that can get through the entire legislative process and become a law benefitting the people of Kansas. I have also been impressed by Governor Kelly's recommendations to work with others "across the aisle" to find common ground. Our 16th President practiced the same out of political necessity.
I believe there are many examples of good legislators that a newly elected legislator would want to model themselves after. I mentioned John Carlin as a past example. While I do not know many current legislators, I have been impressed with Jason Probst (House 102) as someone I would certainly look to for counsel and advice on unfamiliar issues.
While I had never thought seriously about running for any elected office prior to returning to Kansas in 2019, I must acknowledge a desire to do good for the people of Kansas. By stating that aspiration, I would not want to limit future opportunities to serve in another position by saying no to any other future political office at this time.
The one story that immediately comes to mind involves my opponent. When asked by a frustrated legislator about why a promising bill did not move forward, Hawkins answered back that first, the frustrated legislator would have to find someone who cares - implying that Hawkins, as then Majority Leader, did not.
The first bill I would like to introduce would be something co-sponsoring Medicaid expansion.
Health and Human Services; Education; Transportation; Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications; Agriculture and Natural Resources; Water; and Veterans and Military
I believe having financial transparency and government accountability are essential for people to trust government leaders, decisions, and processes. I believe both should be mandatory at all levels of government.
A state ballot initiative process would be very good for Kansas because it represents the voice of the people, which is what Democracy is all about.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Mike McCorkle did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Candidate Connection

Mike McCorkle completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by McCorkle's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I run for public office because I care about the future of Kansas, but I am not a professional politician. Born and raised in Wichita, I graduated West Highschool, Class of 1976 then joined the Army. My Kansas work ethic served me well in the Army and during my years living and working abroad in Berlin, the Middle East, Korea, and for the last 16 years in Norway. I returned to Wichita to look after my parents and got involved in local politics because Wichita is my hometown and I care about the future of Kansas for my family, their children, and your children! As a former explorer scout, machinist, soldier, squad leader, team leader, intelligence analyst, photographer, teacher, warehouse manager, international move manager, commercial imports agent, and senior care giver, I bring diverse work experience and broad international perspective to the Kansas Senate legislative debate. During this period of public health and economic uncertainty, the voters of Kansas Senate District 27 can trust that I will always put people and public safety before ""open for business"" profits. We can work together for a healthier Kansas, improve education for our children, and protect our natural environment for future generations!
  • 1- Medicaid expansion should be approved asap! It is inexcusable that 150,000 Kansans do not have some kind of healthcare during this pandemic! And medical marijuana!
  • 2- Increased funding for Kansas schools must be a priority to compensate the disastrous Brownback tax experiment years and give our children the educational opportunities needed to compete in a global economy. Will encourage reading and learning with personal visits!
  • 3- Economic development must include protection for the natural environment and should include opportunities for new industries. Both actions protect future generations.
Medicaid expansion (Healthcare reform) and medical marijuana, education, and environment (climate change emergency crisis).
The Razor's Edge by Somerset Maugham.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.


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.


Mike McCorkle campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Kansas House of Representatives District 100Lost general$60,728 $0
2022Kansas House of Representatives District 100Lost general$17,438 $0
2020Kansas State Senate District 27Lost general$10,150 N/A**
Grand total$88,317 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 10, 2020
  2. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 7, 2024


Current members of the Kansas House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Daniel Hawkins
Majority Leader:Chris Croft
Minority Leader:Brandon Woodard
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
Ron Bryce (R)
District 12
Doug Blex (R)
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
Rui Xu (D)
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
Mike Amyx (D)
District 46
District 47
District 48
Dan Osman (D)
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
District 63
District 64
District 65
District 66
District 67
District 68
District 69
District 70
District 71
District 72
District 73
District 74
Mike King (R)
District 75
District 76
District 77
District 78
District 79
District 80
District 81
District 82
District 83
District 84
Ford Carr (D)
District 85
District 86
District 87
District 88
District 89
District 90
District 91
District 92
District 93
District 94
District 95
District 96
District 97
District 98
District 99
District 100
District 101
District 102
District 103
District 104
District 105
Jill Ward (R)
District 106
District 107
Dawn Wolf (R)
District 108
District 109
District 110
District 111
District 112
District 113
District 114
District 115
District 116
District 117
Adam Turk (R)
District 118
District 119
District 120
District 121
District 122
District 123
Bob Lewis (R)
District 124
District 125
Republican Party (88)
Democratic Party (37)