Democrat Christy Davis says USDA leadership role prepared her to challenge Kansas Sen. Marshall
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From KCUR, this is Up to Date with guest host Brian Ellison and producer Elizabeth Ruiz. Kansas hasn't elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since the 1930s, but that's not stopping 11 candidates from trying to break the Republican stronghold this year by defeating incumbent Senator Roger Marshall. Last week on Up to Date, we spoke with local pastor Adam Hamilton. one of the last Democrats to get on the August 4th primary ballot. And today, we're continuing our conversation with candidates by speaking to one of the first to land her name on the ballot. Christy Davis is a fifth-generation Kansan who now lives in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, and she's joining Brian Ellison to speak about her candidacy for the U.S.
Senate. Let's listen.
Help us get to know you. For those who may not be familiar with you, tell us a little about your career and your family life.
All right, well i'm fifth generation cans and really proud to be a fifth generation cans and i've worked in every county in the state and I live in cottonwood falls population 900 and chase county and the beautiful flint hills. And but I've had an opportunity to work in all kinds of communities, rural, urban and suburban. And I feel strongly that Kansans deserve a U.S. senator who shows up and understands their communities and will work with them, not talk out them to solve their problems.
I think I'm hearing an implied criticism of the incumbent when you say that.
Perhaps.
I mean, is that your main critique of Roger Marshall, that you don't think he's shown up?
Well, I mean, it's the truth. You don't have to take it from me. I think it's really important that we have folks representing us who will show up and listen. We don't need a rubber stamp for the administration. We need somebody who's out working for what's best for Kansans.
This isn't your first run for politics. You ran for the United States House of Representatives back in 2020. You lost in the primary in that race. What
is
motivating you to seek office? I mean, there's a lot of ways you can achieve working for good in the community or in the nation without running for office.
I love Kansas, and I love Kansans, and I believe Kansans deserve someone who cares about their communities and understands Kansas well and will take them where they're at, start where they're at, and help them work to solve problems. It's what I've done over a long career. Elected office is one way of doing that, and there's an opportunity right now to be part of some major change.
You've worked in government jobs, not in elected office, but you did work during the Biden administration for the Department of Agriculture. Talk a little bit about that.
Sure, yeah,
I
was a White House appointee to USDA Rural Development. I was the state director for Kansas, which means I managed all the projects from that agency in Kansas. And we did about $1.3 billion in projects on hospitals, nursing homes, childcare, the kinds of projects that determine whether a community survives or not. And we've watched a lot of those programs get dismantled since, but proud to help with those projects and also sustainable energy projects, broadband, again, infrastructure projects, healthcare, education, the kinds of things that really make a difference in Kansas.
I mean, just as you know, as briefly as possible, what would you say are the top three issues that you would want to focus on as a member of the Senate?
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–4:32
2
Who is Christy Davis and what’s her background in Kansas politics?
4:32–9:25
3
Why does Davis say Senator Roger Marshall has failed Kansas voters?
9:25–12:37
4
How does Davis critique Marshall’s lack of presence in Kansas?
12:37–18:49
5
What federal experience does Davis bring from her USDA Rural Development role?
18:49–21:42
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from Up To Date
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