If you listened to that guy, above — Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS CD3) you’d think that Republican energy inside of a district that Hillary Clinton won in 2016 was ready to send him back to DC, no questions asked.
Democratic candidates in the district, though, think Yoder’s close ties with Donald Trump — who just gave him a pat on the back on twitter — make the Skinny Dipping Republican vulnerable.
With a week of heavy activity, and tons of back and forths between the campaigns, I reached out to all, or their known surrogates, and offered them a chance to make a case for their candidate here. Outside of piecing it together, each candidate was given a chance to submit a short statement about what their campaign is about.
Mike McCammon
The most enjoyable aspect of running for U.S. Congress are the people you get to meet. There are the social events, Town Halls, Forums, and Meet & Greets, but what has made this so fulfilling has been our campaign’s extremely intentional focus on meeting with local leaders in the District. Since entering the race we’ve have one-on-one meetings with 197 people like Mayors, Pastors, business owners, doctors, lawyers, school superintendents, teachers, students, nonprofit leaders, Dreamers, public safety leaders, hospitals, and other local officials.
There is no ideological test beforehand, just a respectful willingness to listen and learn. Big ideas come from everywhere but they are more likely to succeed when informed by real world experience. And over time you start to see where the dots connect and how this role is more about leadership and public service, than a personal agenda or platform.
Brent Welder
From the candidate:
I’m Brent Welder, labor lawyer and national workers’ rights advocate. I’m running in one of the most flippable districts in the nation – one of only five nationwide in which Bernie Sanders won the primary, Hillary Clinton won the general, but that is held by a Republican congressperson.
Why do we still have a Republican representative? Well, as President Harry Truman once said, “If it's a choice between a genuine Republican and a Republican in Democratic clothing, the people will choose the genuine article, every time.” In this district, we keep nominating Democrats who act like Republicans, and we keep getting decimated.
To beat right-wing Congressman Yoder, we need to offer the voters a real choice. We need bold ideas, an energized base, and to inspire infrequent and independent voters. I’m not running on the same platform that has already lost twice, and instead, am running on a platform that offers voters a real choice. We're fighting for Medicare for All, $15 minimum wage, debt-free higher education, and quality employment. Racial and economic justice, immediate family reunification, and standing up to Trump’s policies of hatred and division.
And voters are responding. We have more cash on hand than any of our other Democratic challengers. We have over 14,000 volunteers and donors from across the district and across the nation, with an average online donation of less than $30. And we are building the kind of grassroots support, based on genuine excitement for bold policies, that we need to defeat Congressman Yoder.
In addition to a huge grassroots organization and fundraising, we have great endorsements from local and national leaders whose support is providing momentum and excitement. Endorsements include the U.S. Congressional Progressive Caucus (representing over 40% of the Democrats in the U.S. House), voting rights advocate Jason Kander, the former Kansas Democratic Party chair, 11 labor unions, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Senator Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, two former local NAACP presidents, civil rights advocates, End Citizens United, and many more.
I believe in big solutions for big problems. I don’t accept that the “moderate” or “middle-of-the-road” compromise is all we should shoot for or all we should accept. And, poll after poll confirms that Kansans want these kind of bold policies. I am the only Democrat in this race defeating Congressman Yoder in independent polling. We’re winning by 7% – the largest lead of any Democratic challenger in America. Kansans know that as long as we elect representatives whose core vision is “a little better” we will never get a lot better, which is what we deserve.
Sylvia Williams
Sylvia Williams grew up in Parsons, Kansas, a small town where she worked hard and learned the power of kindness, caring and compassion. If someone in her community needed help, people banded together and made sure they got it. As a fifth generation Kansan she knows the struggles that families in the Kansas 3rd Congressional District face. She is a proud product of the Kansas public school system, graduating from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA in Finance from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.
More recently, Sylvia worked for 30 years in regional banking and financial institutions. As one of the first females to reach top senior management in her field, she knows how to break barriers and solve problems. Due to personal experience, she understands the need for equal pay and paid family leave legislation and as a member of Congress, she will fight for equal pay for women in the workplace, paid family leave, improving access to health care, and providing safe quality public schools.
Sylvia strongly believes that health care is a right and not a privilege. When Sylvia’s husband Greg was diagnosed with cancer, Sylvia learned firsthand that families fighting illness shouldn’t have to fear losing coverage. That is why, Sylvia will work to provide a Medicare for All Option that includes reducing the cost of prescription drugs.
Sylvia believes that our seniors have earned their Social Security and Medicare, she understands the importance of these programs and will make sure they are preserved.
She is working hard on the campaign trail and has personally knocked on more than 1,500 doors so far in the district talking directly to voters and listening to their concerns.
Sylvia is also a very active member in our community. She is a leader in the Girl Scouts of America, member of League of Women Voters, member of United Methodist Women, member of Building Better Moms, and volunteers in the reading program at her daughter's public school. As a member of the Church of the Resurrection, she ushers at services and serves as a youth leader.
Sharice Davids
From her advocate:
Sharice Davids is a barrier breaker — she would be the first LGBTQ Native American elected to US Congress, and by time zone, she could be the first Native American woman elected to Congress, period. Sharice is a progressive who understands the issues that face Kansans right now, and knows what it means to fight for their success.
Sharice Davids is an attorney in Shawnee KS and lives in Johnson County, in KS-03. Sharice Davids is winnable against Kevin Yoder.
Sharice Davids is a proud Kansan who grew up in Leavenworth. Upon graduating from the Johnson County Community College, she earned her law degree (JD) from Cornell Univ. and served at legal clinic in South Dakota. She completed a year as White House Fellow (one of 16 White House Fellowships in 2016-17) in Washington DC during the Obama-Trump transition. She has lived and worked in economic and community development in the Native communities.
Sharice Davids is the daughter of a strong single mom, a 20-years' Army Veteran who went onto earn a degree in history from UMKC in 2016! She is an economic advisor and a staunch advocate. Sharice is highly trained in martial arts. With her brother, she started a video podcast (Starty Pants) to highlight entrepreneurs in the Greater Kansas City area, with focus on WOC, POC and LGBTQ entrepreneurs.
Sharice Davids is winnable Democratic candidate. She is also endorsed by Emily's List, Victory Fund, Equality Kansas, and Democrats Work For America grassroots pac.
Our campaign has energy that comes not from outside of our district, instead, we are a people-powered by Kansans who care about our future.
From the candidate:
As the daughter of a single mother Army veteran, I know the importance of determination and service to country. As a woman and a Native American, I know how to stand up and fight for equity. As a lawyer, economic advisor, and advocate, I know how to build consensus and get things done.
Please join me as we take our vision of opportunity, equity, and action to the Third District.
Tom Niermann
From his advocate:
Tom Niermann is the candidate that scares Kevin Yoder. WIth a long list of endorsements from both Democratic and Republican leaders, Tom Niermann isn’t just a good fit for this district, Niermann is a leader who can work across the aisle without compromising progressive values.
Tom is endorsed by Mainstream Coalition, Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Distinction, Carpenters Union, Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers Union (SMART). The campaign is student driven , with more than 45 high school and college volunteers who knock doors, make calls, and reach out to voters every day.
What makes Tom different is that he's a teacher, so the issues facing our community are personal. He taught in public schools for 22 years, so we know he'll make school funding a priority in Congress. He lost students to gun violence, and even had a gun brought into his classroom, so we know he'll take the NRA to task and fight tirelessly for commonsense gun reform. His wife was uninsurable due to pre-existing conditions before the ACA, so we know he'll fight to protect our care, and work to pass universal healthcare. It's time we had a member of the middle class stand up for the middle class, and that candidate is Tom.
From the candidate:
My father was a minister, and my mother was a music teacher. They raised me and my brothers in Wichita, KS, and while we didn’t have much, we had a lot of love. My parents set an example for us as to what a life of service looks like, and we tried our best to follow.
My older brother went on earn a Bronze Star in the Persian Gulf War. Today he’s an attorney and LGBT activist in Texas. My younger brother is a pediatrician. As for me - I became a teacher. Our public school system was struggling, and many criticized it, but the point is to change it. In fact, I wanted to change the world.
So one classroom at a time, I aimed to do exactly that. Some of my toughest challenges as a teacher came early on - my first teaching jobs were at a psychiatric hospital and a juvenile detention center. I went on to teach in the Wichita public school district, where I had students killed by gun violence, and even a gun brought into my classroom. I worked hard to improve my students’ lives outside the classroom, and help them resolve their conflicts non-violently. But it became clear to me that policymakers were failing my students, who faced incredible hardship at home, and expected few opportunities ahead of them.
When I was finishing up my PhD in American History at the University of Kansas, I met my wife, Katie, a special education teacher, who shared my dream of changing the world through teaching. 17 years ago, we moved to Prairie Village, KS, and I taught at Blue Valley West High School for many years, and then Shawnee Mission East High School. In those years, we saw how policymakers failed our family too. Our healthcare premiums rose to equal our mortgage, and no one else would insure Katie due to pre-existing conditions. To cover childcare for my children, Jack and Livy, I was already working three jobs, seven days a week, hauling furniture and teaching night classes in addition to teaching high school. Like so many working families before ObamaCare’s passage, we were out of options. The Pembroke Hill School suddenly called me and offered more affordable insurance. I took a pay cut, but my family was covered, and I could breathe a sigh of relief.
My family and my students’ families have been let down by politicians like Kevin Yoder too many times because they're afraid to stand up to their donors and political parties. With Yoder voting to upend healthcare protections, to slash critical public education funding, and to protect predatory lenders who donate to him, it’s clear that he doesn’t stand for the values of Kansas anymore.