By: Morgan Chilson and Sherman Smith
Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — Fifth-generation Kansan Christy Davis announced Saturday she is exploring a run against incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, who she said is spending his time flattering the “tyrant in the White House” instead of standing up for Kansans.
Davis, a Democrat, made the announcement to the hundreds of people gathered for the No Kings rally at the state Capitol. She served as White House appointee for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development during the Biden administration and previously lost in the Democratic primary in 2020 when she ran for the U.S. House in the 1st District against Kali Barnett. Republican Tracey Mann won that seat.
Davis and her family live in Cottonwood Falls.
“Unfortunately, the rights Kansans have fought for are being threatened by a tyrant and a Congress that is scared to hold him to account,” Davis said. “This isn’t the America that is the land of the free and the home of the brave. Nothing about this is our values. We didn’t vote for this. We need to stand together, regardless of political parties, and remember who we are — not just Americans, but we’re Kansans, and we deserve better.”
Davis criticized Marshall for failing to protect Kansas and its economy.
“The administration is clawing back funding for our public schools and dismantling the entire farm economy,” she said. “And what is Senator Marshall doing in response? He doesn’t even live here. Not what the Constitution says he’s supposed to. Instead of representing us and checking the power of the tyrant in the White House, he’s trying to flatter him.”
Davis’ words drew chants of “vote him out” from the crowd, which was gathered to protest the Trump administration.
On Saturday, Newsmax posted an interview with Marshall honoring the 250th birthday of the Army. He also sent birthday wishes to Trump.
“It’s been just the honor of a lifetime to work beside him to make America great again,” Marshall said.
In 2016, Marshall, who is a obstetrician and gynecologist, entered politics with a run against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, defeating him in the primary and later winning the 1st District seat. In 2019, he announced he would run for the seat that U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts was vacating. He won the primary and eventually the seat, beating out Democrat Barbara Bollier.
Devon Welcher, of Topeka, also revealed her intent to run for office, telling the crowd she plans to run for governor as an independent candidate.
In an interview, Welcher said she is running because “Kansas is in trouble,” and that voters should know, “I’m the real deal.”
“I have enthusiasm, and grace, and I am charismatic,” Welcher said.