Our Campaign was featured in the Topeka Capitol-Journal March 12, 2026

Kansas Democrats running for Congress want to reclaim power from Trump

-Kansas Democrats say Congress must reclaim power from President Trump

Several Kansas Democratic congressional candidates expressed frustration with Congress and its perceived gridlock.

-Candidates want Congress to reclaim its constitutional powers from the executive branch.

-The candidates criticized the current administration's handling of tariffs, which they say have harmed Kansas farmers.

-Multiple candidates also voiced concerns over foreign policy decisions, including actions related to Iran.

-Several Kansas Democratic congressional candidates want Congress to reassert its power as a co-equal branch of the federal government.

"The common denominator here — we are all fed up," said Lauren Reinhold. "Fed up with a government that puts corporations first while our communities struggle, fed up with a system that makes us work harder for less, fed up with Congress accepting its own gridlock as the norm."

Reinhold was one of six candidates for two U.S. House seats plus five candidates for one U.S. Senate seat who participated in candidate forums on March 8. The forums in Topeka were hosted by the Kansas Democratic Party as part of Washington Days.

President Donald Trump's tariffs were a top area where the Democratic candidates want Congress to assert itself.

"Congress has completely capitulated its power to tariff to the executive branch, and we've got to reclaim that power," said Katy Tyndell, who is running in the 4th Congressional District.

She said tariffs have hurt farmers.

"Our president took their markets away," Tyndell said. "That is the power of Congress, to levy tariffs. It is not within the prerogative of the president, and we need to do something about these tariffs so that our farmers have their markets back again."

Reinhold, who is running in the 1st Congressional District, said, "Congress needs to take back its power and say ... tariffs are up to us, Trump."

She was also critical of the failure to pass a new farm bill.

"I think Congress is kicking this down the road, just like immigration, because they don't want solutions," Reinhold said. "They want regular people like us — regular farmers, regular ranchers — to live in chaos so they can control them."

Speaking on tariffs, 1st District candidate Colin McRoberts said it's about "restoring constitutional order, which is something that as a lawyer and a teacher I really prefer.

"But the other way we can support farmers by restoring constitutional order is ending the war in Iran, because the Straits of Hormuz are one of the major shipping points for fertilizers, and while those are closed or risky we're going to see input costs spike."

Former federal child sex crime prosecutor Jason Hart, who is running for U.S. Senate, alleged Trump attacked Iran to distract from the Epstein files.

"Every time it comes out, Trump hits the panic button and he does something stupid," Hart said. "Whether it's threats to invade Greenland, sending in the National Guard to U.S. cities, the Venezuelan boat strikes, sending CBP into Minneapolis, snatching (Venezuelan President Nicolás) Maduro, starting a war with Iran."

Chris Carmichael, who is running in the 4th District, served in the military. He said he worked for Central Command headquarters, specifically on wargaming an Iran plan. He said Trump "took that plan and threw it in the shredder."

"He's doing whatever is in his crazy head on what he thinks he's supposed to be doing with zero endgame strategy. I'll get in, I'll put a stop to all that."

Senate candidate Christy Davis said, "The responsibility of a U.S. senator is to use the power of the purse to help the people who need it and to hold the executive branch to account."

Sandy Spidel Neumann is another Democratic candidate wanting to challenge U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas.

"We need Congress to hold the executive accountable and stop the chaotic tariffs that are causing harm," she said. "We need to lower costs, of course across the board. One of the ways to do that is to end the war in Iran. It's a billion dollars a day right now for an issue that we shouldn't be in. That would also stabilize our oil prices.

"What we need to do for the Senate, we need someone to step up and do their damn job. We need to deliver results, not inverted food pyramids. And we definitely don't need a rubber stamp standing behind the president nodding like bobble Rodge does."

Reinhold said U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Kansas, "doesn't get anything done" in Congress.

"I have been a public servant," she said. "I've been in the trenches at two different agencies and at other organizations. I know what the red tape is, how to cut through it and how to get things done. Let's make things simple, get down to brass tacks and just demand that our Congress get things done."

Carmichael was similarly critical of U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kansas.

"He has done no substantive legislation at all, and he's sponsored multiple bills," Carmichael said. "I'm going to get into Congress and actually get things done and make things happen."

Tyndell criticized Estes for not "showing up" last year "when DOGE was decimating our federal government."

Ryan Gilbert is also running in the 4th District.

"I think we understand what it's like to watch somebody buy a position and be a talking point for the party," Gilbert said. "For far too long we played party politics, and I believe that Congress has lost the point. They think that they work for Donald Trump, they work for the executive branch, when they work for you and me. This is our House, and it's time that we take it back.

He alleged "corporation have run our entire country" and "big money has bought elections." He encouraged voters to get to know the candidates — and candidates to talk to people.

"What we have is just old money and lazy people who are holding onto a seat," he said. "They don't give a shit about you. I get so sick and tired of party politics. I think all of us can sit here, even as Democrats, and understand that they let us down. We shouldn't be in this spot right now if we had people working for you."

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.