Research & Publications

The 2024 elections marked a significant turning point in Kansas politics. Under newly drawn district maps designed to consolidate Republican power, the party emerged with a supermajority in both the House (70%) and Senate (78%). This dominance grants Republicans the ability to override any veto by the Democratic governor without significant bipartisan support. Only five Republican legislators in either chamber would need to join Democrats to block legislation. This unparalleled power raises questions about whether Republicans will use this opportunity for bold reforms or repeat past experiments, such as the controversial Brownback tax policies that led to severe fiscal challenges.

As we look back at 2024, we’re celebrating the local and statewide victories we’ve accomplished in the sunflower state. This year, we focused on three issue campaigns—expanding voting rights to make elections safe and available to all eligible Kansans, reforming our broken criminal legal system, and fighting for a more inclusive Kansas for LGBTQ+ constituents. Here are just some of the highlights:

Recently, many of us may be feeling disappointed and frustrated in our national politics. In times like these, when our faith in government institutions and higher systems of power is wavering, our local community resources remain steadfast in their commitment towards progressive advocacy. Here are some local resources for you to plug into.

In honor and celebration of Native American Heritage month, ACLU of Kansas highlights some of the literature and authors that preserve Native Kansas culture and address Native Kansans’ futures. With special thanks to The Raven Bookstore, we have gathered a list of Indigenous Kansas authors and literature we would like to platform as recommended reading for all Kansans.

In September of this year, I sat down with a friend of mine to discuss the collateral effects of mass incarceration, how he found himself caught in the cradle-to-prison pipeline, and how he now works to disrupt the pipeline for the youth in his community.

For 18 months, Wyandotte County community members and local organizations have called on Election Commissioner to make voting easier for voters who speak a primary language other than English. This week, Mayor Tyrone Garner and Unified Government Commissioner Melissa Bynum joined them, and we delivered a petition signed by over 1,000 people calling on Secretary of State Scott Schwab and Election Commissioner Michael Abbott to provide multilingual voting materials.

This past primary election, we had volunteers at 86 polling locations in the state. Here are the Reports From the Field:

Your ability to vote and make your voice heard can vary severely based on where you live. Many decisions affecting voter access are made at the county level, meaning two neighbors on opposite sides of a county line could have dramatically different options on how to vote. One example of this is Shawnee County.

By training citizens to serve as poll monitors, floating poll monitors, and county captains, we are establishing a robust network of election protection across the state. Together, we can uphold the integrity of our democratic process, ensuring that every vote counts and every voice is heard.