Kansas

This webpage houses the responses to 14 questions crafted by the Kansas Stance on Science team.

Only official candidates who will appear on ballots were contacted.

Candidates were contacted in September 2026 (with a follow-up to those who did not initially respond) and given the opportunity to answer the questions selected for their race. Only the responses of candidates who answered the questions are included. None of the candidates' responses were modified in any way before being published on this resource page.

For the November 2026 General Mid-term Election, only candidates in the following elections were contacted:

Note: not every question below was posed to every candidate. The race or races each question was asked of are listed beneath it.

If you want to know how a candidate would answer a question they were not asked, we encourage you to reach out to that candidate directly. Contact us at stanceonscienceKS@gmail.com if you need help reaching out.

1. How would you weigh scientific evidence alongside economic, ethical, and policy preferences when making decisions? (see "Policymaking Process")Asked of: US Senate, US House of Representatives candidates.
2. Federal grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) fund a substantial share of the scientific research conducted at Kansas universities, hospitals, and research institutions (approximately $195 million per year). What policies, if any, do you support regarding federal funding for scientific research agencies like the NIH and NSF? (see "Investment in Higher Education" and "Science Funding")Asked of: US Senate, US House of Representatives candidates.
3. What role do you believe science, research, and innovation should play in Kansas’s economy, state revenues, and accountable investments in infrastructure and services? (see "Jobs and Workforce")Asked of: US Senate, US House of Representatives candidates.
4. Kansas, as well as other states, experiences severe weather and natural disasters in many forms including tornados, flooding, fires, and winter storms, all of which can impact lives, property, and the environment. In what ways, if any, will you consult with scientists and experts to prevent/ mitigate the risk and damage from natural disasters and in the response to natural disasters? (see "Climate" and "Environment")Asked of: US Senate, US House of Representatives, Governor candidates.
5. Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are becoming increasingly prevalent in Kansas waters. At high levels, these can pose public health risks, contribute to algae blooms, and have other off-target consequences. What do you think the balance between limiting chemical exposure and maintaining necessary uses should be, and what policies do you support to accomplish this? (see "Agriculture", "Environment", and "Public Health")Asked of: US Senate, US House of Representatives, Attorney General candidates.
6. In 2025, Kansas experienced its largest measles outbreak in over 30 years, with 91 total cases reported that year by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). What policies, if any, would you implement to prevent and/or control a measles outbreak in the future? (see "Public Health")Asked of: US Senate, US House of Representatives, Governor candidates.
7. Rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and large-scale data centers are increasing electricity demand and placing new pressures on energy and water infrastructure. Kansas has recently decided to use tariffs on large energy consumers to address the economic aspect of increased energy needs (Chilson, 2025), although this is just one of the issues associated with data center development. What policies, if any, would you support to balance technological growth with infrastructure reliability and environmental sustainability? (see "Artificial Intelligence" and "Energy")Asked of: US Senate, US House of Representatives, Governor candidates.
8. America has a growing artificial intelligence (AI) industry, supporting cutting edge innovation and reshaping businesses, but raising concerns about education, ownership, and security. What are your policy positions in regards to data centers and AI? What are your reasons for supporting these policies? (see "Artificial Intelligence")Asked of: US Senate, US House of Representatives, Governor candidates.
9. What steps, if any, would you take to ensure state agencies have access to reliable scientific expertise when implementing policies and that scientific evidence considered during policymaking is communicated clearly and transparently to the public? (see "Policymaking Process" and "Trust in Science")Asked of: Governor candidates.
10. Kansas adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in 2013 and reviewed these standards in 2025. These guide the learning expectations for students across the state (Kansas State Department of Education, 2026). What investments, if any, do you believe would have the greatest impact on meeting those expectations for science education in Kansas, especially considering the resources currently available in different regions of the state? (see "K-12 Science Education")Asked of: Governor candidates.
11. The governor represents Kansas in formal dealings with other states (such as water management agreements affecting the Republican River Basin with Nebraska and Colorado). What policies would you implement to keep water from the Ogallala aquifer and rivers passing through the state clean, and how would you balance maintaining necessary water levels in KS with sharing water resources with other states? (see "Environment" and "Science Diplomacy")Asked of: Governor candidates.
12. Please provide examples, if any, of the type of experts from scientific disciplines you would source information from when providing legal counsel. Describe the context you would ask for scientific expertise in. (see "Trust in Science")Asked of: Attorney General candidates.
13. Modern farms increasingly generate large amounts of operational data including global positioning system (GPS) and supply chain records. What role, if any, should the Attorney General play in protecting farmers’ data privacy while encouraging innovation and research? (see "Agriculture")Asked of: Attorney General candidates.
14. Scientific advancements are constantly evolving. What standards would your office use to determine whether information based on scientific research provides a sufficient basis for litigation, legal opinions, or enforcement actions? (see "Policymaking Process" and "Trust in Science")Asked of: Attorney General candidates.