Candidate Comparison:

Kansas Governor

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Laura Kelly (D)

Derek-Schmidt

Derek Schmidt (R)

Wages

Kelly supports raising the minimum wage, noting, “It’s long past time to increase the minimum wage.”	Schmidt has no plans to raise wages or achieve pay equity. [2]
Kelly supports efforts to achieve equal pay for women, saying, “Until Kansas women finally achieve pay equity, I will keep fighting.” [1]

Paid Time Off & Sick Leave

Kelly also expanded parental leave for certain employees and said, “I encourage all other Kansas employers to develop similar parental leave policies to strengthen our growing economy.” [3]	Schmidt has not proposed any plans to expand paid time off or paid sick leave for Kansans. [4]

Helping Essential Workers

Kelly has been a strong advocate for essential workers, and supported the American Rescue Plan, which included $1,400 direct payments to individuals, provided relief for multiemployer pensions, and expanded the child tax credit. Kelly established the COVID-19 essential worker health care fund, which used federal relief funds to help workers in the childcare, education, and food service sectors with COVID-related medical expenses.	Schmidt opposed federal efforts to protect health care workers by ensuring workplaces were protected with vaccinations. [6]
Kelly supports meat and poultry processing workers and said, “Throughout this pandemic, meatpacking plant workers have stepped up to successfully maintain the food supply chain. We owe them our gratitude for keeping food on the shelves and on the plates of families across our state, our nation, and the world.” [5]

Health Care

Kelly is committed to delivering accessible and affordable healthcare, saying, “Every Kansan deserves access to affordable health care – no matter their Zip Code.” In 2021, she announced the “Increase the Reach” Initiative, which will expand health equity across the state.	Schmidt attempted to repeal some of the consumer protections in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He even attempted to deny funds for the ACA amid the COVID-19 pandemic, despite that law’s protection of coverage of 1.2 million Kansans with preexisting conditions. His efforts would have increased the uninsured population in Kansas by 62,000 individuals, or 18%.
Kelly supports expanding the Affordable Care Act, writing, “Expanding Medicaid will ensure over 150,000 Kansans have access to affordable health insurance, stimulate the economy in rural, suburban, and urban communities, generate 23,000 new jobs, inject billions in increased economic output, and keep health care jobs in Kansas.”	Schmidt is against expanding access to affordable health care coverage through the ACA. [8]
Kelly signed legislation establishing a suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline and behavior health intervention teams in Kansas. She got federal funding to provide Kansas mothers with up to 12 months of healthcare coverage post-delivery. [7]

Economic Insecurity & Inflation

Kelly is committed to helping Kansas families deal with rising costs, saying, “We must make it easier for Kansans to put food on the table, especially as grocery prices rise due to the pandemic-induced inflation.” She signed the “Axe the Food Tax,” eliminating the state’s sales tax on groceries by 2025. Kelly also urged Congress to ensure Kansas children can receive school breakfasts and lunches.	Despite rising inflation and costs, Schmidt has not come out in with any plan to provide relief to Kansans. [10]
Kelly is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible childcare in Kansas and signed a bill that makes childcare more affordable and accessible by expanding the state’s childcare tax credit.
Kelly called for a one-time $250 tax rebate to Kansans who filed a tax return in 2021, saying, “I want to return this money to the people who earned it.” [9]

Unions & Labor

Kelly recognizes the important role of unions, saying, “Unions will play a powerful role to improve working conditions for years to come.”	Schmidt opposes the PRO Act, which would protect workers’ rights to organize and collectively bargain, and actively supports Right-to-Work in Kansas.
Kelley directed the Kansas Department of Labor to establish workers’ compensation coverage for first responders and health care workers who contract COVID-19.	Schmidt rejected the Kansas secretary of labor’s idea to give worker compensation benefits to essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. [12]
The Kelly Administration has included labor leaders in key positions. Monica Vargas Huertas, a UFCW political and community outreach director, was appointed to the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission and the Workers’ Compensation and Employment Security Review Board’s Nominating Committee.
Kelly consistently stands with union and supports their right to strike, having walked strike lines with the United Auto Workers and the International Associate of Machinists and Aerospace workers.
Kelly has received extensive union support, including endorsements from UFCW Local 2, Kansas Service Employees International Union, the Kansas Carpenters Union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union of Kansas, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Union of Kansas, the Kansas National Education Association, Amalgamated Transit Union Local #1360, USW, and the Mid-America Regional Council of Carpenters, among others. [11]

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