Laura Kelly

Governor · KS

Democrat

Governor of Kansas since 2019

Want to know how closely Laura matches your views?

Where Laura stands

Positions inferred from the public record. Each one shows our confidence level — and when the evidence isn't there, we say so.

What should the federal government's overall approach to taxes and spending be?
Limited evidence
Keep current tax and spending levels stable
Lower taxes, smaller governmentHigher taxes, expanded programs
⚠ The evidence here is thin — treat this as a rough read, not a firm record.
Vetoed SB 169 establishing a 5.15% flat income tax and corporate tax cut, defending Kansas existing progressive brackets (2023).
The record we reviewed on this issue — 1 signing or veto
Signings & vetoes
Vetoed · Apr 2023 — House Substitute for SB 169 by Committee on Taxation - providing an income tax rate of 5.15% for individuals and decreasing the normal tax for corporations, increasing the income limit for the income tax subtraction modification for social security income, increasing the standard deduction by a cost-of-living adjustment, discontinuing the food sales tax credit, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, establishing a 0% state rate for sales and use taxes for food and food ingredients on January 1, 2024, and increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy.
How should Social Security and Medicare be changed, if at all?
No clear evidence
We don't have clear evidence on this issue.
What should the federal government's role be in setting wages and protecting workers?
No clear evidence
We don't have clear evidence on this issue.
How should the federal government structure healthcare coverage and costs?
Limited evidence
Keep and strengthen the ACA; add a public option for those who want it
Market-based, private insuranceSingle-payer government insurance
⚠ The evidence here is thin — treat this as a rough read, not a firm record.
Signed autism-coverage and rural-hospital bills (SB 24, SB 42); vetoed restrictions on abortion providers and gender-affirming care (2023).
The record we reviewed on this issue — 4 signings & vetoes
Signings & vetoes
Vetoed · Apr 2023 — Amending the definition of "healthcare provider" for purposes of the healthcare provider insurance availability act to include maternity centers and not include facilities where elective abortions are performed.
Signed · Apr 2023 — House Substitute for SB 42 by Committee on Appropriations - Exempting rural emergency hospitals from the hospital provider assessment and establishing residency and other requirements for membership on a hospital board.
Vetoed · Apr 2023 — Creating a civil cause of action against a physician who performs childhood gender reassignment service and requiring revocation of a physician's license who performs childhood gender reassignment service.
Signed · Apr 2023 — Changing the required number of employees contained in the definitions of "large employer" and "small employer" for purposes of coverage for autism spectrum disorder.
How should the federal government address climate change and energy policy?
No clear evidence
We don't have clear evidence on this issue.
What should federal abortion policy be?
Some evidence
Federal protection up to viability (~24 weeks) with later-term exceptions
Federal restrictions on abortionFederal protection for abortion access
Vetoed three abortion-restriction bills: a born-alive act, a medication-reversal notice mandate, and an abortion-provider definition change (2023).
The record we reviewed on this issue — 3 signings & vetoes
Signings & vetoes
Vetoed · Apr 2023 — Amending the definition of "healthcare provider" for purposes of the healthcare provider insurance availability act to include maternity centers and not include facilities where elective abortions are performed.
Vetoed · Apr 2023 — Creating the born-alive infants protection act to provide legal protections for infants who are born alive regardless of the intent of the delivery.
Vetoed · Apr 2023 — Requiring notification to patients that the effects of a medication abortion may be reversible and revising the definition of "abortion" to clarify procedures that are excluded from such definition.
What should federal firearms policy be?
No clear evidence
We don't have clear evidence on this issue.
What should US immigration policy be?
No clear evidence
We don't have clear evidence on this issue.
How should the federal government approach criminal justice and policing?
Limited evidence
Modest reforms: training standards, body cameras, sentencing review
Stronger enforcement, expanded authorityDecarceration and federal reform
⚠ The evidence here is thin — treat this as a rough read, not a firm record.
Signed HB 2216 removing mandatory imprisonment for unpaid-fine license suspensions; signed catalytic-converter-theft penalties HB 2326 (2023).
The record we reviewed on this issue — 4 signings & vetoes
Signings & vetoes
Signed · Apr 2023 — Removing the mandatory term of imprisonment as a penalty for driving with license that is canceled, suspended or revoked for failure to pay fines.
Vetoed · Apr 2023 — Requiring the secretary for aging and disability services to reimburse counties for certain costs when a person is in a county jail awaiting examination, evaluation or treatment for competency, modernizing statutes concerning county jails, removing the requirement that every county shall have a jail, modifying procedures used when district courts commit prisoners to jail in another county and when counties contract with city jails to keep prisoners and requiring a medical examination before certain United States prisoners or city prisoners are taken into custody of a county jail.
Signed · Apr 2023 — Substitute for HB 2121 by the Committee on Judiciary - Extending the suspension of statutory speedy trial time limitations and providing that time during the COVID-19 public health emergency shall not be assessed against the state.
Signed · Apr 2023 — Extending the sunset date on the scrap metal theft reduction act and clarifying that catalytic converters are covered by the act.
What should drive US foreign policy?
No clear evidence
We don't have clear evidence on this issue.
How should the federal government approach democratic institutions and elections?
Limited evidence
Pass federal voting access protections and ban partisan gerrymandering
⚠ The evidence here is thin — treat this as a rough read, not a firm record.
Vetoed SB 209 tightening mail-ballot return deadlines; signed campaign-finance ethics-enforcement authority SB 208 (2023).
The record we reviewed on this issue — 5 signings & vetoes
Signings & vetoes
Signed · Apr 2023 — Amending statutes concerning election officials, election crimes and election procedures.
Signed · Apr 2023 — Directing political parties to have procedures for the selection of presidential electors.
Vetoed · Apr 2023 — Requiring all advance voting ballots be returned by 7 p.m. on election day.
Signed · Apr 2023 — Senate Substitute for HB 2053 by Committee on Federal and State Affairs - Providing for a presidential preference primary election on March 19, 2024, and establishing voter registration and voting procedures for such election.
Signed · Apr 2023 — House Substitute for SB 208 by Committee on Elections - Amending provisions relating to the governmental ethics commission's authority to investigate and enforce the campaign finance act and limitations on the receipt and expenditure of contributions.

Where Laura stands

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