Rachel McClurg
Editor-in-Chief
Democrat Gov.-Elect Laura Kelly, and Kansas’ next governor, has new plans for Kansas such as affordable healthcare and school funding.
Kelly defeated Republican candidate Kris Kobach and Independent candidate Greg Orman on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
“She [Kelly] was the best choice for Kansas because Kansas needed the change she is hoping to make,” sophomore liberal arts major Marcus Smith said.
There are even Kobach supporters that are hopeful that Kelly can deliver on some of her promises.
“There are some positives to Kelly getting elected because if she is able to balance the budget without raising taxes that would be great,” sophomore liberal arts major Jaxon Heath said. “But if she doesn’t, like I anticipate, Kansans will see that you can’t really increase funding for things like education when you live in a state like Kansas…”
Among common changes for new governors, affordable healthcare, funding for education and taxes, Kelly hopes to make some changes to laws regarding the protection of the LGBT, including protecting their jobs and preventing adoption discrimination.
“The order, first put in place by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in 2007, prohibited harassment, firing, or discrimination against state workers based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” Wichita Eagle journalist Jonathan Shorman said.
Said order was erased by Brownback after same-sex marriage was legalized in 2015, according to Shorman.
Some students at Butler believe that out of all of the candidates, Kelly was the best choice.
“I do think that Kelly was the best fit for Kansas,” sophomore nursing major Sophie Watkins said. “Kobach was a very controversial opponent. She is transparent in her goals and has had a lot of experience in politics.”
A popular trend in voters picking Kelly has been her views on education.
“I am hoping to see Laura Kelly help with the education financial crisis in Kansas,” Watkins said. “I hope she will gather bipartisan support for the state as well.”
Taxes are another thing that influences voters in upcoming elections, and Kansas seems to be in agreement with her views.
“One of the big things I like about Kelly is her wanting to get rid of Brownback’s tax plan,” Smith said. “She wants everyone to pay their share of taxes to fund important things like schools.”
Another part of Kelly’s plan when she takes office is to reverse a law that could be seen as anti-LGBT.
“The debate over the law centered on agencies that won’t place children in LGBT foster homes,” Associated Press journalist John Hanna said.
Kelly said she will do whatever she can to make sure the law is not implemented in Kansas, according to The Associated Press.
Kelly will take over for the current Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer who replaced Sam Brownback in 2018. Kelly will assume office on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019.
