Two sitting legislators are vying to represent most of Lawrence in the Kansas Senate. They went into depth in this questionnaire about their unique perspectives, the experience they would bring to the office if elected and more.

Incumbent Sen. Marci Francisco and current Rep. Christina Haswood will face off in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, Aug. 6, and the winner will advance to the Nov. 5 general election.

We asked all candidates in races in which there are primary elections to participate. Candidates were given eight days to respond to these questions, and we sent two follow-up reminders to emphasize that taking the time to fill this out will help show our readers — thousands of their constituents in Lawrence and Douglas County — that they matter.

Republican candidate David Miller did not respond to this questionnaire.

We did not give candidates a word count limit but advised them to keep answers concise. Candidates’ answers appear below verbatim, minus minor typos edited for clarity.

In addition to this questionnaire, Francisco and Haswood participated in a candidate forum on July 13. Read about that at this link; see a video recording at this link. They also participated in a Women For Kansas Lawrence/Douglas County virtual forum on Tuesday. That can be viewed at this link.

Will this race be on my ballot? Check which legislative districts you’re in at myvoteinfo.voteks.org.

Early voting began Wednesday, July 17. Voters can request a ballot to vote early by mail through Tuesday, July 30 at KSVotes.org. See this article for key info on how to cast your ballot.

Look for more coverage and candidate questionnaires at lawrencekstimes.com/election2024. 

Jump to a topic:

• Meet the candidates
• Experience and qualifications
• Top 3 issues
• Legalizing cannabis
• Expanding Medicaid
• Public funds to private schools
• Local control
• Abortion regulations
• LGBTQ+ rights and transgender kids
• Top concerns heard from voters
• Question for opponents
• Free space
• Just for fun

This district

Senate District 2, shown in pink in this map, changed with redistricting in 2022.

It previously contained a large portion of Jefferson County but now includes only Douglas County: most of Lawrence and parts of the Grant and Wakarusa townships.

It includes most of North Lawrence and all of downtown, central, southeastern and eastern Lawrence. Some parts of its western boundaries extend as far as Wakarusa Drive in Lawrence, but it follows along Kasold Drive in other places.

Its southern boundary extends to Kansas Highway 10 west of Iowa Street and West 31st Street east of Iowa, and its easternmost boundary is East 1810 Road.

Click here for a PDF map of Senate District 2.

Meet the candidates

About you and your positions

A * indicates an answer was required to submit this questionnaire.

Q: What specific experience and qualifications do you possess that make you the best candidate for the seat you’re seeking?*

Francisco: I have the experience and relationships in the Kansas Senate to make a difference for my constituents in Lawrence and Douglas County. I have earned a reputation of reading the bills, paying attention to details, and having amendments adopted. Among those amendments were ones that recognized dispatchers as first responders and increased the distributions — not the fees — for dispatch centers including ours in Douglas County and another that added $5 million annual funding for the State Water Plan in the Senate to match the proposal from the House.

Haswood: I have served in the Kansas House for two terms, and for the past two years I’ve served as Policy Chair for the House Democratic Caucus. My legislative experience, combined with my lived experiences and my professional expertise make me the right leader for the future of Lawrence. I was born and raised here in Lawrence and am a proud product of our USD 497 school district. My parents utilized social services programs such as Section 8 Housing funding, WIC, and Tribal School clothing programs when I was growing up. These working class values are a reflection of our community. As a being Native American/Indigenous woman, my life experiences have taught me that policy at all levels impact our livelihood from access to health care (Indian Health Services) to funding that helps us in the classroom (Title VI).

I started my higher education at Haskell Indian Nations University where I earned my A.S. in Community Health, then I transferred to Arizona State University where I got my B.S. in Public Health, then came back home to go to the University of Kansas Medical Center and earned my Masters in Public Health. I have extensive experience in public health research and health policy regarding mental health, tobacco cessation, and access disparities.

In the statehouse, I serve on the House Federal & State Affairs, Health & Human Services, Taxation, and the Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations. I am proud of the work we have accomplished in just two terms from getting the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People’s state law enforcement training bill passed in 2021 to getting an Indian Child Welfare Act bill hearing this year. Being on these committees has put me on the front lines of protecting our right to abortion, advocating for common sense gun policy, and fighting to expand Medicaid.

Q: Please list the top three issues motivating you to run for this office. What concrete ideas do you have to make a difference on each issue if you are elected? Please be as specific as possible.*

Francisco: Kansas Voters and the State Supreme Court have consistently upheld the right to bodily autonomy and reproductive health care choices for Kansans. Nationally, however, the US Supreme Court has overturned Roe. Some individual states, guided by ALEC drafted legislation have begun placing new restrictions, not only on abortion care, but also IVF procedures and the right to contraception. After the August 2022 referendum and the earlier reversal of Roe, I reviewed statutes related to abortion care in Kansas which led to the introduction of SB 206. Senator Holland and I co-sponsored that bill to remove outdated statutes, allow insurance companies to cover abortion care, and provide equitable tax treatment of donations to groups like Planned Parenthood. If re-elected, I will begin work on an updated version of this bill that considers the recent Kansas Supreme Court rulings along with IVF care and contraception.

The legislature could do a much better job of funding public education. Although the funding required by the Gannon case was finally fully phased in last year, when that case was filed during the 2010-2011 school year, special education was being funded at the 92% statutory rate and therefore not included in the evidentiary record. Since then, general funding has been undermined by reductions in funding for special education which now only cover 64-65% of excess costs; USD 497 is transferring over $10 million of general funds to cover those special education costs. I want to be part of the discussions when the legislature considers a new finance plan for education next year. I will also continue to work on funding for early childhood education which could make a significant difference in outcomes.

Energy and environmental concerns. The legislature significantly increased funding for the State Water Plan — my amendment in the Senate committee to increase the annual funding by $5 million a year to match the House proposal passed — however oversight of those expenditures is needed to address both water quantity and quality concerns. A bill passed last year allows for an increase of the capacity limitation for facilities operating subject to net metering for an investor-owned utility from 1% to 5%; the regulations for electric cooperatives should also be reviewed. I want to encourage the expansion of the State Energy Office, now just a half-time position, to make the adoption of a State Energy Plan possible. Such plan could address the transition to increased use of renewables and requirements for a state-wide energy efficiency building code. If utilities are not affordable, housing will not be affordable.

Haswood: Medicaid Expansion is still my number one priority. It is the issue that got me curious about state government and when I was a grad student at KUMC, I was shocked to learn that Kansas had yet to expand. This policy failure has set us back from other states not only financially but also in mental and maternal and child health outcomes. Expanding Medicaid could save our local hospital and health care service organizations millions but unfortunately that burden is on the taxpayers. This session was the first in over four years where Medicaid Expansion received a hearing, and that’s because advocates, statewide partners, and our communities came together to hold extremist leadership accountable. I worked closely with the governor’s office to come up with a game plan for this critical opportunity, and now we know where my colleagues stand on the issue. The quickest way we can get Medicaid Expansion by next year is to elect candidates in November who support and will vote for Medicaid Expansion.

Funding our public education system and advocating for policies that support our educators and staff workplace should continue to be of top of mind for our state legislature. I am a proud product of our K-12, USD 497 district. I understand firsthand the value and opportunity public schools provide to kids — regardless of their background or zip code. Growing up, I knew that a good education would open doors. Our schools — and the teachers and staff who support students — change lives every day. That’s why I dedicate my time volunteering with the Indigenous Education Workgroup created by the Kansas State School Board, and being a product of public schools here in Lawrence. There is a variety of issues in the public school system we need to address but just to name a few is ensuring we fight tooth and nail for funding, support policies that improve the workforce, including opposing ridiculous bills that are not needed such as the “Parents Bill of Rights”, and we should pass policies that better retirement plans for those who are currently employed and look into cost-of-living adjustments (COLA).

Lastly, while many people don’t know this, the Kansas Legislature addresses Native policy at least once a session. I am the only Native American legislator in Kansas; there is zero Native representation in the Kansas Senate. My family has lived the realities created by state tribal policy, and I’ve spent my career studying and advising on tribal health policy. I have earned the respect of my colleagues on these issues, and it’s critical that Native voices continue to be represented in Topeka.

Q: Would you support legalizing cannabis in Kansas?*

Options given: Yes, for any use (medicinal, recreational, etc.); Yes, for medicinal use; No

Francisco: Yes, for any use (medicinal, recreational, etc.)

Haswood: Yes, for any use (medicinal, recreational, etc.)

Q: Would you support expansion of Medicaid in Kansas?*

(Only yes/no options given)

Francisco: Yes

Haswood: Yes

Q: Would you support initiatives to spend more public money on private schools, such as through vouchers, charter schools, tax credits and so forth?*

(Only yes/no options given)

Francisco: No

Haswood: No

Q: Please elaborate on any of your answers to the yes/no questions above if you’d like to.

Francisco: I think it is much more likely in the upcoming session that the Kansas Legislature would pass medical cannabis than recreational cannabis. I support those efforts; I believe cannabis should be available by prescription to address health concerns and it would allow the state to establish the regulations for production and sales to be fair and equitable manner. The legislature could also address banking regulations and expungement of past minor cannabis possession charges to set the stage for recreational use.

Public tax dollars should be for public schools only, PERIOD. I have not and will never support diverting any of these funds to private schools that are not required to follow the same rules of acceptance and accommodation as public schools.

Haswood: In my first term, I and several of my colleagues worked on and introduced Kansas’ first recreational cannabis bill. I was also appointed in 2022 to the Special Committee on Medical Marijuana and went to several hemp farms out in central Kansas and the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. This is an issue we hear from all corners of Kansas and folks are ready for us to pass some form of cannabis!

This past year, on the House Health and Human Services, I was on the front lines of the Medicaid Expansion hearing. I knew this was a rare opportunity and I knew I needed to be a team player. I worked with our Governor’s office, our statewide partners, and advocates across our state to get hundreds of pages of testimony submitted.

Public dollars should go to public schools. The Kansas Constitution is clear that our founders saw education as a public good, one that is critical for Kansans to develop the skills to be engaged, compassionate participants in our communities. We must continue to support our teachers and staff in our public schools to help them improve their work environments, their retention rates, and work towards better benefits such as retirement plans.

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Q: Please share your views on local control. Do you believe the Legislature should seek to enact state laws that affect municipalities’ ability to self-govern? If so, in what circumstances? If not, how will you stand up for local control?*

Context given to candidates: The Lawrence City Commission in 2022 stripped some protections of immigrants from local ordinances in response to changes in state laws. 
The city in 2023 passed a safe haven ordinance to create additional protections for transgender people in response to anti-trans legislation (SB 180 in particular). 
The city also approved a ban on single-use plastic bags, which legislators attempted to nullify with a new law that was vetoed this year.

Francisco: Kansas has been a “Home Rule state” since 1961 when a constitutional amendment was passed to allow local governments to make decisions for their communities: “Cities are hereby empowered to determine their local affairs and government.” This restricts the power of the state legislature to treat cities differently, recognizing the opportunity for local people to address local situations allowing them to preserve the community’s unique identity. I have consistently supported home rule in the Kansas Senate, testifying in the House against limitations on Lawrence’s ordinance recognizing rights based on sexual identity, sharing the concern that prohibiting a county from issuing identification cards eliminates the ability for our county clerk to provide voter identification cards (especially to the elderly in nursing homes), and speaking out against prohibiting Lawrence’s single-use plastic bag ban.

Haswood: I support local control and have the utmost respect for our local elected officials who were selected by voters to represent them. Here in Lawrence, we do things a little bit differently than the rest of the state and we hold our values to our chest. This has unfortunately put the City of Lawrence under a spotlight at the state level and upsets conservative leadership angling for statewide office, which has resulted in these examples of extreme governmental overreach preventing our local governments from taking this sort of policy action. These policies seek to control behavior these extremists disagree with; they don’t serve a legitimate public safety or health purpose, and I will continue to vocally oppose these efforts.

Q: Kansas voters in August 2022 soundly rejected a constitutional amendment that would have opened the door to extreme restrictions on abortion. Still, the Legislature has passed or attempted to pass more laws regulating abortion. Please share your stance on what actions the Legislature should or should not take regarding abortion.*

Francisco: The Kansas Supreme Court has found a constitutional right to bodily autonomy. The Voters of Kansas overwhelmingly affirmed this decision in August 2022. The Legislature should be listening to the will of voters across this state. Recent state Supreme Court decisions have found that some restrictions the Legislature passed (with my vehement opposition) are also unconstitutional. Women and their families, with advice from health care professionals, are best positioned to make these decisions. The regulations on abortion clinics should be the same as those of all hospitals and clinics: are they sanitary? are they following board of health guidelines? etc. I hope to reintroduce legislation like SB 206 which I co-sponsored with Senator Holland in 2023. That legislation would eliminate unconstitutional laws from our Kansas statutes, allow insurance companies to include coverage for abortion care, and provide tax deductible parity for donations to clinics like Planned Parenthood.

Haswood: The legislature should not be interfering with a person’s right to an abortion; my team and I knocked on hundreds of doors in 2022 and heard it straight from the voters, who rejected government interference into personal, private medical decisions. I have opposed all legislation that has attempted to make it difficult to seek reproductive care or reproductive care rooted in evidence-based practices. It is obvious that the intent of this legislation is to continue the efforts to ban abortion. I will continue to reject these attempts and call them out for what they are, whether that’s in committee or at the White House, amplifying our success in protecting these personal freedoms here in Kansas.

Q: In recent years, the Legislature has increasingly passed or attempted to pass legislation that could have potential negative outcomes for LGBTQ+ people. Please explain your stance on the rights of LGBTQ+ people — particularly transgender kids — and what the Legislature’s role in their lives and health care should be.*

Francisco: I demonstrated my support for members of the LGBTQ community when I served on the Lawrence City Commission in the early 1980s and the first non-discrimination ordinance based on sexual orientation was introduced. This commitment has continued every day I have served in the Kansas Senate. I am still proud to say, “Senate District 2 was the only senate district that voted against adopting the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in 2005.”

As a longtime ally of the LGBTQ+ community in Kansas I am deeply concerned how legislation like SB 233 would have affected Kansas families who are simply wanting to provide compassion, understanding and care for their children who want gender affirming treatment. I strongly support the rights for individuals, their families, and their doctors to determine their own health care choices without governmental overreach. Ideological demands on best parenting plans should have no place in Kansas. We should not judge people for being who they are but rather accept and applaud all our individualities.

Haswood: Frankly, I am pissed off every year when the legislature introduces and runs anti-trans bills. I support our LGBTQ+ folks 1000% and have done everything in my power to combat these bills in the House. It is disgusting that these bills are introduced in the first place, but when they are introduced, we fight them like heck to defeat them. As a legislator in the House, I have worked with statewide and local advocacy groups to ensure the affected communities’ voices are heard; that we amplify the voices that are impacted the most. The legislature should be creating and passing policies to improve the overall wellness and happiness for Kansans. To my trans Kansans and LGBTQ+ folks reading this, you are loved, and you have folks in the statehouse fighting tooth and nail for you. We love you all so much.

Optional questions

Q: What would you say is the top concern you’ve heard from voters as you’ve been campaigning, and what actions would you take to better that problem?

Francisco: Property Taxes. During the Special Session, Republican Leadership in the House and Senate were focused on including income tax cuts for the wealthy as part of the tax plan in Senate Bill 1. Senator Holland and I co-sponsored an alternative, Senate Bill 2. That alternative would have provided more than three times the residential property tax relief along with tax relief for agricultural and commercial properties. Supermajority control leaves us very little room to force negotiations, but if that control ends in November, we have the ideas and the legislation ready to begin delivering for the people of Kansas.

Haswood: I am hearing the most about needing to make healthcare more accessible. Folks at the door have shared their struggles around addressing the cost of health issues and how that has put a burden on their families. It seeps into other aspects of their life such as paying for extra curricular activities for their kids, or paying rent and the bills on time. These aren’t choices Kansans should have to make. While our failure to expand Medicaid has forced rural hospitals to close, it’s not just the rural parts of our state that are hurting. Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH) is impacted by patients who would qualify for Medicaid expansion and can’t pay for care; those costs don’t disappear, they fall on the hospitals and the taxpayers. We can also require insurance companies to cover things like diagnostic care, so dangerous diseases are caught earlier, leading to lower costs and improved health outcomes.

Q: Please share a question we didn’t ask that you’d like your fellow candidates to answer. How would you respond?

Francisco: How do your votes for the budgets and the tax bills in the 2024 session serve the needs of your constituents and align with the stated goals of your campaign?

I voted for the education budget bill that had eliminated the policy provisions included in the earlier bill from the House and added $75 million in special education funding. I did not vote for either of the general budget bills that were non-education related; they failed to provide the funding to expand Medicaid and added unnecessary targeted spending that eliminates opportunities for additional tax relief. I did not vote for the enacted tax bill that prioritized tax cuts for the highest income Kansans, over providing an earlier elimination of the state sales tax on food and property tax relief across the state and leaves little for future reductions.

Haswood: Are you team Kendrick or Drake? I am team Kendrick. On a serious note, what keeps you going?

My answer is anger. I am angry that our legislature wastes our time and potential on terrible bills that no one asks for and angry that we are missing some voices at the table. I have learned to direct this anger into a fiery passion of energy to be a voice of the working class Kansan. A voice for those who are unable to be civically engaged because they work multiple jobs just trying to survive.

Q: Free space: Please share anything you’d like voters to know about you and your stances that we haven’t asked here. 

Francisco: I’ve learned from my life experiences that it makes a difference to understand and appreciate the life experiences of others. The more inclusive we can be in governing ourselves, the better the outcomes for all of us.

Haswood: When I look at our state senate, I do not see anyone who looks like me or who shares the same life experiences as me. I was born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas, and the current district I am running for, this is where I grew up on social service programs, attended K-12 public schools, and started my higher education journey. I know firsthand my community’s values and the hardships that we go through. All of this personal experience, combined with my proven record of leadership in the Kansas House, will help me lead and represent my community in the Kansas Senate.

I am tired of watching out-of-touch politicians in Topeka waste our tax dollars, waste our time, and waste our potential. We deserve better from our leaders. Many young people and families are struggling to get by — the cost of everything from healthcare to housing, from child care to food is up. Instead of focusing on these challenges, extremists in Topeka are trying to take away our fundamental rights to personal autonomy, voting, public education, and economic opportunity.

So many Kansans have student loan debt, credit card debt, car payments; we are just trying to survive, paycheck to paycheck. And, we are one accident or health emergency away from financial ruin. Kansas can do better. We can make living in Kansas affordable. We need to make it possible for young people to buy a house and start a family — no matter what your family may look like!

I will fight for progress in Kansas and fight for a future that is more equitable. That means top-notch schools with respected and supported teachers and staff. It means an economy where hard work, innovation, and creativity is rewarded. It means affordable housing for families to live, work, and prosper. And it means communities where all Kansans feel welcome and safe, especially our LGBTQ+ community.

Just for fun

Candidates were not required to answer any of these questions, but we wanted to give our readers a chance to get to know them a little better and have some fun with this.

Francisco:

Favorite color? Green

Zodiac sign? Taurus

Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? Turtles

What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) If you are driving west on 23rd Street and turn onto Massachusetts without having to stop at a light — reducing the use of fossil fuels and traffic congestion — that was because a proposal I made when I was on the City Commission, along with the contra bicycle lane on Louisiana Street between 11th and 14th so bicyclists can go against traffic on that one way street and not have to go down a hill and then back up.

Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? I’m an avid reader so I’ll just give you three favorite books: The Oregon Trail – A New American Journey by Rinker Buck, The Desert Smells Like Rain, A naturalist in Papago Indian Country by Gary Paul Nabhan, and most recently, The Women by Kristin Hannah, reminding me of what was not said during the years of Vietnam War.

Haswood:

Favorite color? Bright turquoise blue!

Zodiac sign? Aries!

Do you have any pets, and/or what’s your favorite animal? Unfortunately, I have no pets but am looking into being a foster. I also am the pet auntie to my friends where I’ll watch their babies at any given chance when the owner is out of town! I do have a fun little garden and plants growing from my apartment balcony! My favorite animal is a penguin!

What’s a fun fact our readers may not know about you? (Have a hidden talent? Interesting hobby?) Fun fact, my first time being in front of a camera and in the paper was being a Lawrence Channel 6 Kid Caster at the age of 9 (Oct. 13, 2003). I begged my parents to put my name in the box at Checkers. I can’t remember if I loved it or was intimidated by it but it might have been the foundation that has helped me become a content creator on TikTok and I love sharing about being a Young Indigenous women in politics to the world!

Favorite book, TV show and/or movie? My favorite books are Michelle Obama’s “Becoming” and “The Light We Carry.” I learn so much from the lessons she learned and is a leader I look up to. Here are some of my favorite books by Indigenous authors and what I am currently reading, “There There” by Tommy Orange, “Native Presence and Sovereignty in College” by Amanda Tachine, and “Red Alert!: Saving the Plant with Indigenous Knowledge” by Dr. Daniel Wildcat.

This post is by the Lawrence Times news team.

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