Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
Kansas voters in 2022 rejected the “Value Them Both” amendment that, if enacted, would have declared that the state constitution does not include a right to abortion. In the two legislative sessions since, lawmakers have tried to pass new restrictions on abortion, some of which have been blocked by judicial rulings. Are you satisfied with the current laws and restrictions on abortion in Kansas? Do you think access should be expanded in any way? Do you support new restrictions on abortion? And if so, what kind?
Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on the issue:
District 37
Sherry Giebler (Democratic)
The voices of the overwhelming majority of my constituents, as expressed during extensive canvassing efforts, unequivocally affirm their commitment to protecting a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions. The principle of bodily autonomy stands as a bedrock of individual liberty, a fundamental right that should not be compromised. As Judge McBurney of Fulton County, Georgia, eloquently declared, “Women are not some piece of collectively owned community property, the disposition of which is decided by majority vote.”
In August 2022, Kansans were called upon to decide the future of reproductive rights in our state with the Value Them Both Amendment. This proposed constitutional amendment sought to erode the Kansas Constitution’s protection of the right to abortion, granting unprecedented authority to the legislature to impose restrictive measures. Had it passed, the amendment would have empowered lawmakers to chip away at reproductive freedom, moving us closer to draconian limits on healthcare choices. But the voters of Kansas, in a resounding act of civic engagement, rejected this attempt to undermine our long-standing values. In doing so, they reaffirmed Kansas’ legacy as a state that champions personal freedom.
My constituents have made it clear: they are satisfied with the current laws governing abortion and see no need for further encroachments that would diminish their hard-fought rights. The August 2022 vote was not just a referendum on a single issue; it was a defining moment in the national discourse on reproductive rights. Kansas stood firm to its history as the Free State.
Doug Shane (Republican)
Did not provide the Post with a response.
