Democrat Ward launches bid for governor – The Hutchinson News
Mary Clarkin
Kansas House Minority Leader Jim Ward, D-Wichita, jumped into the pool of candidates running for governor by announcing his candidacySaturday morning in Wichita.
Ward joins a Democratic Party lineup that includes former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer; former Kansas Agriculture Secretary Joshua Svaty, Ellsworth; Olathe physician Arden Andersen; and Wichita high school student Jack Bergeson. The Republican primary has drawn an even larger field.
Speaking prior to the announcement, Ward said the decision by Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, to run for the congressional seat in the 3rd District was one factor in his decision to run for governor. Davis is a previous House minority leader who ran but lost to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback in 2014. Davis had been mentioned as a possible candidate in the 2018 gubernatorial race.
I did my due diligence, Ward said, as he weighed the race. That included surmising the field of candidates and talking to every Democrat in the House. There are 40 Democrats in the 125-seat House.
Ward, 59, will run on a platform advocating fiscal responsibility, tax fairness, strong schools, public safety and investment in roads and infrastructure. He has prior experience as a prosecuting attorney in Sedgwick County, and he opened his private practice in 1990.
He entered the House in 2003 and was elected House minority leader for a two-year term that began in 2017. He will continue in that role next year. He will not be the only member of the Legislature running for state office or Congress next year. Ward thinks that works in his favor.
I think theyre looking for a problem-solver, Ward said of voters. They will gain insight about candidates from their job performance, in his opinion.
Ward wont be able to run for governor and another term in the Kansas Housesimultaneously, so his jump to the governors race creates an opening in the 86th House District in the 2018 election. It also means House Democrats will choose a new leader following the 2018 election.
Rep. Jason Probst, D-Hutchinson, was chosen in June to fill the seat held by the late Rep. Patsy Terrell, D-Hutchinson, andProbst said Ward has been helpful as he learns about the new job. Probst said he knows Ward better than the other Democrats running for governor, but hehasnt felt pressureto endorse a candidate.
Probst said he also hasnt thought much about the topic of endorsing a gubernatorial candidate.He said hes spent most of his time trying to figure out how to do this and what the district needs from him.
University of Kansas political science professor Burdett Loomis said Ward is not going to get a better year than 2018 to run for governor. He gets to run against the Brownback record and against President Trumps record, Loomis said.
I certainly think if youre Jim Ward, you look around and Carl Brewer is certainly not nothing as a candidate at all, but I dont see that theres a lot of energy there, Loomis said. And youve got Josh Svaty who is pro-life and also is not especially well-known, Loomis said.
Ward also has the example of Davis, who ran a competitive campaign against Brownback in 2014.
More Democratic votes are in the four northeast Kansas counties of Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee than anywhere in the state, Loomis said. If I was any of these candidates, Loomis said, I would work like an absolute dog in those counties.
Loomis did not regard Wards entry into the race as too late. A big question will be which of the candidates can raise serious money to run against the Republican nominee in fall 2018, he said.
Ward made his announcement at a labor union headquarters, and Loomis said which candidate gets labors support also will be important.
Read more here:
Democrat Ward launches bid for governor - The Hutchinson News
- Democratic Party of Arkansas chair announces he will step down effective July 15 - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Democrat who says he stands for underdogs will be one in quest to unseat Hal Rogers - Kentucky Lantern - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Rep. McCollum Joins Every Senate and House Democrat in Opposing the One Big Ugly Bill - Congresswoman Betty McCollum (.gov) - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Mayors Fourth of July celebration - River Valley Democrat-Gazette - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Democrat Jeffries Sets Record In Speech Delaying House Vote on Trump Bill - Yahoo Finance - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Lucas: Trump should demand the unconditional surrender of the Democrat Party - Boston Herald - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- There will be consequences for GOP in 2026 after passing Trump's bill, says House Democrat - NBC News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Appeals Court Lets Trump Remove Another Democrat From Independent Agency - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrat Warned To 'Avoid Vulgar Speak' After Ripping Trump-Backed Bill - Newsweek - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrat sets record with 8.5-hr speech before vote on Trump bill - Times of India - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Pennsylvania House Democrat on Fetterman: If you dont want to be here, leave - Politico - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Colin Allred announces he will run for U.S. Senate again - Houston Chronicle - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Colin Allred is running again for US Senate in Texas - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Dan Haar: CT's top Democrat on how the party outside of New York should respond to Zohran Mamdani - CT Insider - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Geoff Duncan weighs whether to run for Georgia governor - as a Democrat - AJC.com - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Rips Fettermans Beach Gripe: If You Dont Want to Be Here, Leave - Yahoo - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- 2nd Democrat announces campaign to unseat GOP congressman - Grand Haven Tribune - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Colin Allred announces campaign for Cornyn's seat, O'Rourke testing the waters - fox4beaumont.com - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Longtime Pa. Democrat says he wont run for reelection to Congress - PennLive.com - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat McMorrow to report $2M haul for Senate bid - The Oakland Press - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Pat Williams, Last Montana Democrat to Serve in the House, Dies at 87 - The New York Times - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrats fight to exercise their oversight duties - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrat Billie Butler wins special election to represent Somersworth and Rollinsford in NH House - New Hampshire Bulletin - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrat Wyden presses Bessent to commit to US sanctions on Russia - Reuters - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- House Democrat demands VA disclose any spyware, AI installed on agency computers as part of DOGE initiative - Stars and Stripes - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Zohrans Next Challenge: Another Disgraced (Former) Democrat - Mother Jones - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Trump wins over lifelong Democrat with 'big, beautiful bill' and more top headlines - Fox News - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Rep. Robert Garcia elected top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee - NBC News - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- Rep. Robert Garcia elected top Democrat on Oversight panel, setting new path for partys opposition - Federal News Network - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- Hear heated exchange between Pam Bondi and Democrat over possible foreign influence on Trump - CNN - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- 88-Year-Old House Democrat's Staff Walks Back Comments on Reelection Bid - Newsweek - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- Top Democrat says Trump strikes on Iran a 'massive, massive gamble' - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- As a Seventy-Two-Year-Old Democrat, Am I Too Young to Run for Congress? - McSweeneys Internet Tendency - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Democrat AGs push to move OB-GYN tests out of Texas - Dallas News - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Robert Garcia earns key backing for top Democrat on House Oversight Committee - Washington Examiner - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Top House Intel Democrat warns 'we have no idea' yet whether U.S. strikes were successful - CNN - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Senior Democrat blasts Trump for not seeking congressional authorization for Iran strike - The Times of Israel - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- The Star Democrat's top 10 online stories this week - The Star Democrat - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Robert Garcia is a young Democrat with an old-style approach to moving up the House ladder - Politico - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Democrat Party reaches consensus to remain in government coalition - Nation Thailand - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Democrat Party affirms continued coalition participation, urges review of ties with Cambodia - Nation Thailand - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth says the GOPs Big Beautiful Bill will negatively affect the healthcare - 25 News Now - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Democrat Josh Weil Running for Senate in Bid to Unseat Ashley Moody - FlaglerLive - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Oklahoma Democrat Kalyn Free Pushed for New DNC Elections And She Wants a Seat at the Table - Oklahoma Watch - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- David Jolly, a Trump critic and former GOP congressman, to run for Florida governor as a Democrat - AP News - June 5th, 2025 [June 5th, 2025]
- Colorado's Jason Crow named ranking Democrat on bipartisan House cartel task force targeting fentanyl - ColoradoPolitics.com - June 5th, 2025 [June 5th, 2025]
- Democrat announces run against Ernst after her 'We're all going to die' comments - ABC News - June 5th, 2025 [June 5th, 2025]
- Some federal workers lost health coverage they had paid for. A Democrat wants answers - NPR - June 5th, 2025 [June 5th, 2025]
- Kentucky Senate Democrat switches parties to GOP in major blow to Dem Gov Andy Beshear - Fox News - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Long-time Kentucky Democrat switching parties - The Hill - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- No, were not doing that: Democrat voter rebukes centrists ahead of primary vote - CNN - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Hannah Pingree exemplifies Democrat rule in Augusta | Letter - The Portland Press Herald - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Meet Anthony Moor, the Greenwich Democrat looking to be the next first selectman - Greenwich Time - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- People know 'they're going to die': Democrat hits GOP senator over viral town hall exchange - USA Today - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Arkies in the Beltway | Week of June 1, 2025 - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Nayib Bukele Went All In on Trump. One Democrat Still Wants to Work With Him. - Politico - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Long-time Kentucky Democrat switching parties - FOX 56 News - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Do we have to play this game? - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Little Rocks high-end home sales for April 28-May 2: Six of the most expensive properties - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Lebanon Democrat finds her footing in Concord - Valley News - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Democrat demands info on Trump plan to shift national parks to states - E&E News by POLITICO - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- House Democrat campaign chair says her party is 'on offense' in the 2026 midterms battle to win back majority from GOP - Fox News - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Maryland Democrat says he was denied access to Abrego Garcia in El Salvador - USA Today - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Meet the former Democrat leading Trumps charge against 10 universities - Politico - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Local democrat to host political Facebook live, What the Heck is Happening in Ohio - WKBN.com - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Neon Raspberry Art House in Occidental wants everyone to feel welcome - The Press Democrat - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Opinion | Poll: Trump Has Higher Approval Rating in New Jersey Than Democrat Governor - WSJ - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- House Democrat withdraws Trump impeachment bill that angered party leaders - ABC News - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Democrat Spanberger: No right-to-work repeal in Virginia, but maybe reform - The Washington Post - May 10th, 2025 [May 10th, 2025]
- Balancing Trump criticism and bipartisanship, Democrat Jon Ossoff walks a fine line in Georgia - WABE - May 10th, 2025 [May 10th, 2025]
- Democrat Jared Golden's only tariff fear: That Trump will back down - Axios - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Trump sued by Democrat he removed from US civil rights agency - Reuters - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Ohio Democrat introduces bill to prevent state money from going to sports teams with 'losing record' - Ohio Capital Journal - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Owners of popular Petaluma beer garden take over former Bear Republic taproom in Rohnert Park - The Press Democrat - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Kornacki: Wisconsin amendment suggests Democrat voters 'aren't with their leaders' on voter ID issue - NBC News - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- House Democrat says he'd vote to protect Trump's tariff plan, worries White House will stand down - Fox News - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- President Trump has a new nickname for this Democrat, and its watermelon head - MassLive - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Whats the Future of the Democrat Party in North Dakota? - The Dakotan - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- This Democrat just nabbed a big progressive endorsement in the race for N.J. governor - NJ.com - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrat Talking As Long as He's 'Physically Able' to Protest Trump - Newsweek - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]