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Chris' Story
Chris Tanner never expected to change political parties. He grew up in a conservative, faith-centered home where hard work, responsibility, and service to others were core values. His great grandfather was a pastor who supported Ronald Reagan, and Chris admired leaders who spoke about opportunity and accountability. As a young man, he volunteered on Republican campaigns because he believed that if people worked hard and did the right thing, the system would work for them.
Over time, experience led him to reflect. Through years of ministry and community service in Topeka and rural Kansas, Chris met families who were doing everything right but still struggling. He watched seniors forced out of retirement because costs kept rising. He saw small businesses close while larger corporations had advantages that local owners did not. Most personally, he watched his own mother struggle with health care expenses and insurance challenges. She worked hard, served others faithfully, and did everything she could to stay ahead of rising costs. Losing her, while knowing there were policy decisions that could have made care more affordable and accessible, changed him.
Chris did not leave the values he was raised with. He still believes in personal responsibility, faith, and hard work. What changed was his understanding that leadership also carries responsibility. Government should not control personal lives, but it should make sure the rules are fair and that families are not left without options when they need help most. When he looked at the challenges facing Kansas, especially the rising cost of health care, he felt called to support solutions that protect working families and seniors.
Today, Chris is running as a Democrat because he believes Kansas needs steady, practical leadership focused on fairness and opportunity. He is committed to lowering property taxes, supporting small businesses, making health care more affordable, strengthening rural communities, and protecting constitutional rights for every Kansan. His campaign is about putting people before party and ensuring that hard work once again leads to security and dignity.