At Jejune Magazine, we love seeing progressive candidates run nationwide. There is no reason why progressives cannot have crossover appeal and win elections in conservative areas across the country. This includes states like Kansas. Over 20 years ago, author Thomas Frank wrote a book called What’s the Matter with Kansas? in which he details how his home state became uniformly conservative due to cultural issues. But this book is severely out of date, and Kansas does not fit neatly into the Republican box. Kansas has notched some socially progressive wins, including in 2022, when Kansans roundly rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to make abortion illegal in the state after the overturning of Roe v. Wade — today, the right to an abortion is still legal in Kansas. Kansas also elected one of the first two female Native American US representatives to Congress, who also happens to be a lesbian.

Still, Kansas sometimes cannot shake right-wing controversy. Its capital, Topeka, is the home of the anti-LGBTQ Westboro Baptist Church, a Southern Poverty Law Center designated hate group. But Topeka contains multitudes: across the street from Westboro are Equality House and Mott House, which are affiliated with the nonprofit organization Planting Peace. Also, one of Topeka’s state representatives, Alexis Simmons (she/her), is an agnostic, bisexual Democrat. Born at the end of the millennial generation, she identifies as a “childless cat lady” and is a government professor at Washburn University. What drove Alexis to teach government was a belief that people should feel empowered to engage with government, and not be intimidated by the complexity of it. Alexis is passionate about defending the US Constitution from attacks on freedom of speech, freedom to worship freely (or to not worship not at all), and basic privacy.

Where are you based?
Topeka, Kansas

What is your position/what position are you running for?
I represent the 58th district (Topeka) in the Kansas House of Representatives and I am running for reelection.

How would you briefly summarize your platform?
We live in a world that’s been designed by and for the wealthiest, most privileged people. They’ve hijacked our democracy and soiled it with personal favors and corrupted values. Government should work for everybody and I am working to get us back to that.

What inspired you to run?
For four years I was the communications director in the Kansas House Democrats’ office. I sat on the sidelines watching debates and studying the issues. I often wished I could leap up and interject during debates, or share my two cents during committee. I couldn’t understand why people weren’t pushing back harder or fighting longer!

When my seat opened, I jumped at the opportunity to put my experience — both personal and professional — to work. We need lawmakers who aren’t afraid to push back against abuses of power and I do that well. I’m rarely intimidated, for better or worse.

What change are you hoping to bring to your district and country?
Like so many people, I’m sick and tired of the party elites trying to dictate how people govern, who can run, and how voters behave. Empowering the individual over the party is a major goal I have. Individuals are left behind in favor of party priorities, and I don’t care which party it is — that’s not how representation works; I represent my constituents, first and foremost.

How long have you been in office? What do you consider to be your major accomplishments so far?
I’ve been in office for two years. I just wrapped up my first term! As a blue dot in a red state, my accomplishments perhaps look different than others’. We have 37 Democrats to their 88 Republicans in the Kansas House, which makes for an uphill battle in nearly every way. A lot of my work in Kansas is about piercing through the noise and amplifying the truth. Hopefully, this next election cycle brings in more Democrats and balances out the House.

I sit on the House Elections committee, and the chairman is an extremist, rightwing politician running for Secretary of State. One of his many claims to fame is a viral video in which he said young women “stole” an election in August 2022 (when Kansas was the first state to protect abortion after Roe v. Wade was overturned). It was very empowering to sit across from him as a dually elected official, because as a then-28-year old woman, I was one of the women he accused of stealing the election.

The committee was filled with antisemitic tropes and hateful, racist stereotypes. Speaking up as a freshman in that committee was tough, but I had an excellent team with me and we rose to the occasion. I regularly fought back, in committee and in floor debate. I drew on my experience as communications director and worked to keep his bills in the press so they wouldn’t pass without significant public scrutiny. He felt the pressure, and we did stop some of the worst legislation. Power comes in many different forms, even if you don’t have the numbers to “win.” Understanding this is important when you are in the superminority.

What do you feel are the most important issues right now, why, and how do you plan to tackle them?
I have spent this year focused on two opposing voter suppression and stopping data center growth.

For our system to work as designed, people need to vote, and in many pockets of rural Kansas, mail voting is the only way they can participate. I’ve introduced amendments to help protect their vote and save voting by mail.

I’ll also be cosponsoring bipartisan legislation in January to roll back a 20-year sales tax break for data centers (I loudly voted against it the first time, too). If nothing changes in Kansas, we’re expected to run out of water within 50 years. The data center fight is extremely important to the viability of my state’s future. Being an agricultural state means water is paramount to our largest industry. Data centers have no place here.

America is extremely divided these days. How would you hope to bridge that divide with your constituents to better unite Americans?
I’m always surprised to hear people say their lawmaker is unresponsive because they’re in opposing parties. I probably shouldn’t be so surprised, since I’ve experienced that sort of shortsighted dismissal firsthand.

My job isn’t to only represent the people I get along with — far from it! This is so simple, but I make sure my Republican constituents know my office is always available to them, even if they don’t vote for me. I believe restoring faith in each other’s good intentions is crucial to uniting us. When I took my oath, I took an oath to serve ALL people. Unlike some electeds, my service doesn’t end where tribalism begins.

How do you see your unique identity and background to be an asset to you in office?
Before getting elected, I was the communications director for the Kansas House Democratic Leader and Kansas House Democrats. For four years I wrote every talking point and press release, recruited and trained dozens of candidates, and met with countless organizations. This has translated directly into my work as a lawmaker. I know the process and its limitations, and I understand what needs to change for progress. This experience is a huge asset in my day to day work as a lawmaker because I haven’t had to start from the ground up.

I also have a master’s degree in American government from American University in DC. My formal education in government has come in handy more times than I can count, and was the perfect foundation to build my career on. I believe more than anything that a college education needs to be accessible for everyone who wants it.

What is your motto in life?
One of my favorite hobbies is fishkeeping! I absolutely love fish! I often think back to Dory in “Finding Nemo,” when she says, “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.” There are so many days in the legislature that make you want to give up. “Just keep swimming” has kept me putting one foot in front of the other.

Where can we find out more about you?
www.simmonsforkansas.org or on Facebook as State Representative Alexis Simmons
Instagram: alxssmmns

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Alexis Simmons, Kansas House of Representatives District 58