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Your Cheat Sheet To The Kansas 2020 General Election

Crysta Henthorne
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Kansas News Service

The time has come to cast a ballot — but for whom? The Kansas News Service can help you make your decision with this rundown of the major races, links to our stories and handy comparisons of the congressional candidates.

To read this in Spanish, go here.

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Democrat Barbara Bollier is a state senator (who left the Republican Party in 2018) from the ritzy Kansas City suburb of Mission Hills. She’s also a retired anesthesiologist.

Republican U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall has spent two terms in Congress for the vast 1st District. He’s a retired obstetrician from Great Bend.

Find out how the candidates feel about President Donald Trump and economic issues, and where they stand on pressing health care issues — including the coronavirus. We also talked with voters about cultural issues. And if you’re looking for a quick comparison, just go here.

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The Big First values its seat at the table in the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, which is instrumental in the every-five-year farm bill. So it’s little surprise two people with farming backgrounds are vying to replace Marshall.

Democrat Kali Barnett is a music teacher in Garden City. Republican Tracey Mann was the former lieutenant governor during the short-lived Jeff Colyer administration. Learn more about their platforms here.

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The seat for this district, which includes Lawrence and Topeka, came open when incumbent Steve Watkins lost his primary.

For the Democrats, there’s Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla, who lived in New York City and Puerto Rico before moving to Kansas. For Republicans, 32-year-old Treasurer Jake LaTurner is seen as a rising star. Find out more about their thoughts on major issues.

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Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids took over this largely suburban Kansas City district in 2018, and has mostly hewed to a moderate stance in Washington. Former Cerner executive and ex-state GOP head Amanda Adkins emerged from a crowded primary.

The coronavirus forced both of them to address health carethis year, and we compared their stanceson what else is at stake.

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Republican Ron Estes replaced now-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in this district in 2017, and he’s now looking for his second full term. He’s up against Democrat Laura Lombard, a political newcomer, but someone well-versed in the world of government contracting.

Here's a full breakdown of this race.

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Here's a breakdown of the Kansas House and Senate races in the Kansas City area.

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Kansas offers a range of voting options, from in-person on Nov. 3 to advance voting by mail. Find details about all of them at the Secretary of State’s website.

Erica Hunzinger is the news editor for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @ehunzinger.

Translation by Marcela Renna in partnership withAmerica Amplified. If you have any questions or concerns about the translation, please email Jennifer@americaamplified.org.

The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy. Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished by news media at no cost with proper attribution and a link to ksnewsservice.org.

Copyright 2021 KCUR 89.3. To see more, visit KCUR 89.3.

GOP candidate U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall and Democrat Barbara Bollier.
Candidates campaigns / Crysta Henthorne
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Crysta Henthorne
GOP candidate U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall and Democrat Barbara Bollier.
Republican Tracey Mann (left) and Democrat Kali Barnett.
Candidates' campaigns / Crysta Henthorne
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Crysta Henthorne
Republican Tracey Mann (left) and Democrat Kali Barnett.
Republican Jake LaTurner (left) and Democrat Michelle De La Isla (right).
Candidates' campaigns / Crysta Henthorne
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Crysta Henthorne
Republican Jake LaTurner (left) and Democrat Michelle De La Isla (right).
Republican Amanda Adkins (left) and Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (right).
Candidates' campaigns / Crysta Henthorne
/
Crysta Henthorne
Republican Amanda Adkins (left) and Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (right).
Democrat Laura Lombard (left) and Republican Ron Estes (right).
Candidates' campaigns / Crysta Henthorne
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Crysta Henthorne
Democrat Laura Lombard (left) and Republican Ron Estes (right).

Erica Hunzinger brings several years of editing experience to the politics and education team. Before landing in St. Louis, Erica spent five years on The Associated Press' Central Region desk, handling a wide variety of topics with special emphasis on state government and agriculture and food supply. She also has been a sports copy editor at The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina, and an assistant news editor at The News Journal in Delaware. Erica holds a master's degree in humanities from the University of Chicago (poetry) and bachelor's in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. If you can't find her, try looking at Busch Stadium — or any other ball diamond in the region.