September 15, 2026

Dear Friends,

As we move closer to the Nov. 3 General Election, decisions being made in Washington and here at home continue to have very real consequences for Kansans.

This week, we are looking at healthcare and medical debt, Kansas jobs and trade, rising costs for farmers, and the constitutional amendment voters will find on their November ballots.

Know Your District: Who Represents You?

Ever wonder exactly which legislative district you live in or why the candidates on your ballot may be different from someone who lives just a few miles away?

The Kansas Secretary of State provides official district maps showing how Kansas is divided for representation in the U.S. Congress, Kansas House of Representatives, Kansas Senate and State Board of Education. These are the district boundaries being used for elections from 2022 through 2030.

Why does that matter? Your address determines which districts you live in and, therefore, which candidates you can vote for and which elected officials represent you. District lines can sometimes divide cities, counties and even neighborhoods, so they may not always be where you expect them to be.

Take a few minutes to explore the maps and better understand where you fit into Kansas government. Knowing your district is an easy first step toward knowing who represents you and who will appear on your ballot.



Explore the official Kansas district maps:

https://www.sos.ks.gov/elections/district-maps.html

Diesel Prices Hit Kansas Farmers

Farmers are heading into fall fieldwork facing another significant expense: diesel fuel.

Brownfield Ag News spoke with farmers in Kansas and Nebraska who say sharply higher diesel prices are forcing them to reconsider how they operate equipment and manage their fields. Northeast Kansas farmer Scott Gigstad told Brownfield that filling a truck with diesel can now cost hundreds of dollars.

Farmers are also dealing with high fertilizer costs and other increasing expenses while commodity prices remain challenging for many producers.

For an agricultural state like Kansas, those pressures extend beyond individual farms, affecting farm profitability, rural economies and the broader food supply chain.

Read more:

https://www.brownfieldagnews.com/news/farmers-feel-the-impact-of-soaring-diesel-prices/

Trade Tensions Add Another Challenge for Agriculture

Fuel is not the only economic concern facing farmers. The trade dispute between the United States and Canada is creating additional uncertainty across agricultural communities.

Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods following new U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports. Farmers interviewed by NPR and High Plains Public Radio expressed concerns about equipment costs, access to Canadian-made machinery and agricultural trade between the two countries.

While the story focuses largely on Montana producers, the larger issue matters to Kansas agriculture as well. Farmers operate in global markets, buying equipment and inputs while depending on domestic and international markets for what they produce.



Changes in trade policy can ultimately reach all the way back to the farm.

Read more:

https://www.hppr.org/2026-09-08/farmers-fear-more-damage-from-u-s-canada-trade-fight

HCR 5004: What’s on Your November Ballot?

Kansas voters will decide on another proposed constitutional amendment during the Nov. 3 General Election.

HCR 5004 concerns the qualifications required to vote in Kansas. The Kansas Constitution currently states that every U.S. citizen who is at least 18 years old and resides in the appropriate voting area is a qualified elector.

The proposed amendment would restructure that language to state that no person shall be considered a qualified elector unless that person is a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old and, with certain exceptions, a resident of the voting area in which the person seeks to vote.

The official ballot explanation says the amendment would clarify that only a U.S. citizen is eligible to vote in Kansas. A vote against the proposition would leave the existing constitutional language unchanged.

Before voting, read both the current language and the proposed amendment so you understand exactly what would change.

Read a Kansas Reflector Op-Ed on the Amendment:

https://kansasreflector.com/2026/09/09/amendment-on-kansas-ballot-this-fall-would-provide-pretext-for-voter-suppression-laws/ 

Read the KSNT explainer:

https://www.ksnt.com/capitol-bureau/what-is-the-amendment-vote-coming-up-in-the-kansas-general-election/

Read HCR 5004:

https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/resolutions/HCR5004/

Before You Click: Who Is Actually Getting Your Donation?

Political fundraising texts can look remarkably similar. A message may prominently feature a candidate’s name or photo, but that does not necessarily mean your contribution is going directly to that candidate’s campaign.

Before donating, take an extra minute to find out who will actually receive your money.

For federal campaigns, look for the “Paid for by” or authorization disclaimer on the solicitation or donation page. If it names the candidate’s official campaign committee, you are giving it to that committee. If it names a PAC, party committee, joint fundraising committee or another organization, your contribution is going to that entity instead. The Federal Election Commission maintains a searchable database where you can look up federal candidates, campaign committees and PACs.

Also be cautious about unexpected texts. Rather than automatically clicking the link, find the candidate’s official website independently and use the donation link provided there. The Federal Trade Commission recommends independently verifying an organization before responding to an unexpected fundraising message.



A few seconds of research can answer the most important question: Who am I actually giving my money to?

Research federal campaigns and committees:

https://www.fec.gov/data/

Learn about campaign fundraising disclaimers:

https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/making-disbursements/fundraising-notices-campaigns/

Stay informed, ask questions and make a plan to vote on Nov. 3.

In solidarity,

Women for Kansas

COMING SOON!

Nonpartisan Tools

If you want reliable, nonpartisan tracking on bills tied to core W4K priorities (taxes and budget, elections, Medicaid expansion, judicial selection, school funding, separation of powers), check out these resources!