By GRACE HILLS
Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — Two Republican Senate newcomers say the main reason they beat their Democratic incumbent opponents — and the reason behind the expanded Republican supermajorities in the Legislature — was constituents’ concerns about taxes.
Brad Starnes, who will represent Riley County, is the first Republican to win the seat since 2008. Jeff Klemp, who will represent Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties, won his election by 31 votes — the smallest margin this election season. The two talked about their campaigns and the upcoming legislative session on the Kansas Reflector podcast.
“People are hurting. It’s evident when you go to doorsteps. The No. 1 concern is the amount of taxations,” Starnes said.
Both senators-elect are set to be on the tax committee, and they predict property tax relief will be a Day 1 priority.
Klemp credits Democratic incumbent Sen. Jeff Pittman’s voting record on taxes as a reason for his loss. Klemp referenced how Pittman voted to uphold Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto on a bipartisan $2.3 billion five-year tax cut plan, which Kelly vetoed because of concerns that it would harm the state’s financial foundation.
“When you have truly bipartisan legislation that we know is good for Kansans and we choose to play politics at the expense of Kansans, I think we start making bad decisions,” Klemp said. “Kansans should expect more out of us.”
The governor called a special session in June, where lawmakers, including Pittman, adopted a $2 billion five-year tax cut plan.
Klemp and Starnes said their Democratic opponents also were voting out of alignment with their constituents’ beliefs.
For example, Starnes pointed to Democratic incumbent Sen. Usha Reddi’s vote against the “foreign threat” land ownership bill, which would have restricted “countries of concern” from purchasing real estate within a 100-mile radius of Kansas military installations.
But Starnes said in the district, which has a high number of military members associated with Fort Riley, protections like that are “paramount” to people.
Democrats campaigned to break the Republican supermajorities in both chambers, arguing the imbalance of power harmed the legislative process. Kelly ran a $2 million PAC in hopes of electing more Democrats.
Voters instead elected more Republicans in both the House and Senate, expanding GOP ranks beyond the two-thirds threshold needed to override the governor’s vetoes.
Starnes said he doesn’t see this as a concern.
“When we have a much stronger supermajority, that puts more pressure on the entire Legislature — there’s more energy that needs to be on the decisions we make and how we pay for them,” Starnes said.
Kelly has said she will continue to advocate for Medicaid expansion this session, as she has done throughout her administration. Klemp and Starnes both want medical care to be affordable but are wary of expansion. Starnes says improving Medicaid reimbursement rates would be a better solution than expanding eligibility.
Abortion-rights activists also warned against a Republican supermajority this year, in fear of further abortion restrictions. Both Klemp and Starnes were endorsed by Kansans for Life, the largest anti-abortion PAC in Kansas.
Klemp says the issue of abortion was “overplayed” this election. Starnes says he knocked on 9,000 doors and had four people bring up abortion. Both said they see abortion as a “decided issue.” They said they want more options for pregnant people before birth and for the adoption process to be less expensive.
Starnes said after talking with the four constituents who were concerned about abortion, two decided to vote for him.
“Personally pro-life, I support giving women more options through things like pregnancy crisis centers, ensuring child support is paid prior to birth,” Starnes said. “I think that’s going to be important in the conversation as we go forward in providing more choices for women.”