Platform

Intro

Our party believes its candidates should have broad flexibility in how they vote on the issues before them. As a republic, our nation relies on communities electing representatives who reflect local values and act in their best interests. A candidate from rural western Kansas will naturally have different priorities than one from an eastern suburban city — yet both are Kansans, united in the search for solutions.

However, a party must stand for something, or it stands for nothing. We also believe in guardrails to defend against developing our own “fringe.” To give our party label meaning, every candidate must embrace our core principles and the broad framework of our platform.

Free State’s Platform Includes

Core principles, including unwavering support for the Constitution and the rule of law

Policy positions that reflect the party’s views on specific issues, some allow flexibility, others set firm boundaries for those seeking to represent our party

Mission Statement

We are uniting to defend our democracy and renew a spirit of optimism by giving voice to the broad, pragmatic political center.

  1. We support and stand ready to defend the Constitution and the democratic republic it established.

  2. We support the rule of law and equality before the law. Both are essential to democracy.

  3. We are proud of America’s founding ideals and committed to renewing the march toward fully realizing them.

  4. We reject performative politics in favor of pragmatic, respectful, and solution-focused leadership.

  5. Decency and respect are a mark of strength, not weakness.

  6. We believe in balancing liberty and equality, allowing all people to live freely while also respecting the rights of others to do the same. A “you live your life, I’ll live mine” approach.

  7. Diversity of opinion, belief, and lifestyle is a core strength of our nation, not a threat.

  8. Our platform reflects the broad center—not just a midpoint between extremes. It recognizes the complexity of modern issues. It establishes guardrails against extremism and promotes practical and pragmatic governance.

Party Principles

Issues

Affordable Housing

Every Kansas family deserves a fair shot at homeownership. We support expanding affordable housing, with a focus on starter homes for first-time buyers. By working with communities and developers, we will work to reduce barriers to homeownership.

Childcare

Kansas families deserve access to affordable, reliable childcare. We support practical and fiscally responsible solutions to ease childcare costs, expand availability, and give parents the flexibility they need to work, raise families, and thrive.

Economy

A strong economy fosters job creation, innovation, and financial stability. Government should be a partner by providing the educational and physical infrastructures needed for private industry to thrive. Tariff-induced trade wars are counter-productive.

Education

Our youth are our future. Higher, technical, secondary, and elementary education need to be funded as the foundational structure that they are. This does not mean unlimited funding but sufficient funding with clear expectations of success, especially in teaching reading.

Environment

We must be good stewards of the planet we have inherited. Climate change is real and, whatever its causes, needs to be addressed through a responsible mixture of diversifying our energy sources, strengthening our infrastructure, and adapting to the changes.

Fiscal Responsibility

A fiscally responsible government ensures that public spending is efficient, transparent, and sustainable—balancing the need for essential services and investments with careful management of debt and deficits to protect long-term economic stability.

Government

Government is neither always the enemy nor the solution. Government is essential for protecting rights, ensuring public safety, and providing services that support the public good.

Guns

We believe there is room for both gun rights and reasonable regulations to ensure the safety of our communities and our children.

Health Care

We believe health care must be accessible to all Kansans. Government must simplify the confusing web of insurance, regulation, and restrictions that make it harder for Kansans to get the care they need. Medicaid expansion is crucial to supporting our low-income residents. Our rural hospitals are struggling and will continue to close without addressing their needs.

Immigration

Legal immigration is important to our state. We support a strong border with humane treatment of undocumented people, a clear path to citizenship for long-time residents, and an ample visa program for temporary workers while protecting their labor rights.

Reproductive Rights

We support the right of women to control and make choices about their health, including abortion. We support and respect the decisive decision made by Kansas voters in 2022.

Social Media

While protecting free speech, we support holding social media companies accountable for harmful content. This includes exploring reform or repeal of special legal immunity given to online platforms in the 1990s. We favor a healthier, more responsible digital culture over the unchecked power of tech billionaires

Taxes

Taxes support the services and infrastructure we all rely on. Government must spend and tax responsibly. A fair and efficient tax system helps maintain stability and opportunity for everyone. Property taxes should not be a barrier to home ownership.

Working with Other Parties

We will seek to work with all parties in finding common solutions to our state’s pressing problems. However, we will not join another party in deciding legislative leadership on the first ballot. If no party wins in the first ballot, we will be open to working with others to find a leadership solution.