KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The midterm election was a big night for women across the country, including in Kansas with a big win by Sharice Davids and Laura Kelly for Congress and governor.
"We are going to properly fund our schools this year... and next year... and every year after that and every year, every month, every day that I’m your governor,” said Kansas Governor-Elect Laura Kelly after defeating Kris Kobach Tuesday night.
Tuesday night was a big night for women in Kansas from Topeka to Capitol Hill in DC.
“We know there are so many of us, who welcome everyone. Who see everyone, who knows that everyone should have the opportunity to succeed and today we showed that,” said Congresswoman-elect Sharice Davids Tuesday night.
Some thought it would be an uphill battle for Laura Kelly to defeat Kris Kobach. But Kelly won all the major counties Tuesday.
"As we all know, we have faced challenges here over the last eight years like no other state. We've seen our schools devastated, and the opportunities for our children put at risk,” said Kelly.
The race that made national attention, political newcomer Sharice Davids, defeating a four-term Republican congressman, backed by President Trump.
“Hugging my mom for the first time when I found out that I won the race was a surreal moment,” said Davids in an interview with 41 Action News Wednesday. “Part of what we have seen this year is a dissatisfaction with the way that Congress has been functioning. It is too partisan.”
Davids is one of the first Native American women to be in Congress. She is also the first LGBT member from Kansas.
“I think a lot of people wanted to elect people who are going to be more open to including every person in our society,” said Davids.
The campaign is over, now the real work begins. Davids said she will focus on healthcare and getting money out of politics.
“People are just concerned about the fact that we had a representative that knew this community wants to make sure people with pre-existing conditions are protected and to bring down health care costs and they didn't feel heard,” said Davids. “The issue of special interests and large money coming into our system has drowned out the voice of the people. It has meant the people have suffered.”
One of her first and most important decision will be if she votes for Rep. Nancy Pelosi to be the Speaker of the House.
“I am going to try and keep an open mind as possible about who could be speaker of the house because we definitely need new leadership at the table.”
