Multiple Democratic candidates at the state and federal levels were in Emporia for an opportunity to speak with voters Saturday afternoon.
The Lyon County chapter of the Democratic Party hosted a chili lunch event at the Mary Herbert Education Center, welcoming eight of those candidates, including Gubernatorial Hopefuls Ethan Corson and Cindy Holscher. Corson, currently a Kansas Senator serving the 7th District, was coming in from Pratt the night before as part of his statewide campaign tour.
When asked how the campaign was going, Corson stated he liked the feedback and reception he’s received thus far from both sides of the aisle.
Holscher, also a current Kansas Senator, tells KVOE News she feels “excellent” about her chances in the upcoming election based on discussions with constituents in recent months. Holscher, who has been a public servant since 2016, discussed an annual town hall tour she conducts each year during the summer months following the legislative session.
She says in recent years, the energy that she has felt at these town halls has “shifted” noticeably when it comes to policies at both the Federal and state levels.
Holscher also says she is seeing a higher level of involvement from voters all across the state as a result.
With the primary election coming up in August, KVOE News asked both Holscher and Corson, who will be facing one another, what they believe sets them apart from the rest of the field. Corson believes his lived experience, specifically in Western Kansas, his economic knowledge and backing from other notable figures send a strong message to voters.
For Holscher, several things differentiate them in terms of policy and personality, starting with her track record and cross-party appeal at the state level.
Other state candidates in attendance Saturday were Former Kansas House Representative and Secretary of State hopeful Jennifer Day and Attorney General Candidate Chris Mann. At the Federal Level, candidates invited included US Congressional Candidate Don Coover and US Senate hopefuls Anne Parelkar, Christy Davis, Noah Taylor and Erik Murray.
