Kleinman on Building a Stronger Kansas
by Matt Kleinmann, candidate for US Congress Second District
Hello Kansas, I'm Matt Kleinmann.
I'm running for the U.S. House of Representatives to build a stronger Kansas where every family thrives. You might remember me as the tall redhead from the 2008 National Championship KU men’s basketball team, but I've been supporting working-class families in Kansas for the last decade.
Why I'm Running
Matt Kleinmann, candidate in the Democratic primary for US Congress, 2nd District.
After studying architecture while playing basketball at KU, I thought I might someday build stadiums. But I realized that what communities really want are sidewalks for their kids to get to school safely, a grocery store nearby, safe parks, and good quality housing. That's what I've committed my career to doing. I'm not a career politician; I'm just someone who cares about my community. For the last ten years in Wyandotte County, I’ve worked in community development, tackling challenging issues like affordable housing, quality healthcare, and food access. I’ve seen working families' struggles firsthand and know we can do better. Our hospitals are struggling, rents and property taxes are rising, schools and teachers are under attack, and workers are left behind by laws that favor big corporations. It's time for common-sense solutions to the kitchen table issues that build up our communities, not tear them down.
How We're Going to Win
This is a winnable race. I’m proud to be endorsed by a broad coalition, including respected leaders like Anthony Hensley, Lynn Dixon Grant, and Dr. Barbara Bollier, among many other community leaders across the state. Together, we share a vision for a Kansas that works for everyone. But we must organize every corner of the (heavily gerrymandered) Second Congressional District, from our rural towns to city streets. If you are ready for a change, join me, and we can make it happen together.
What We Can Achieve:
1. Build Up Our Communities
Across the district, Kansas needs more federal investment. We must unlock homegrown entrepreneurship so that working families can create opportunities and find affordable housing, childcare, and good schools in their backyards. I will work to invest in infrastructure that connects us to our economy and raise the minimum wage so that everyone gets a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. We can build up our roads, bridges, sewers, internet, schools, and power grid to create good-paying jobs supporting working families and help the next generation stay in Kansas.
2. Improve Access to Care
Healthcare is a fundamental right. We need to ensure everyone has access to life-saving care without the fear of going broke. We must invest in working families who struggle with childcare expenses and support our seniors as they age with dignity. It's also crucial to provide mental health support for everyone, from farmers and youth to our first responders and unhoused population. We can build a stronger, more compassionate community while lowering the cost of living and loving our neighbors.
3. Protect Our Freedoms
As a Christian, I was raised to love God and my neighbor. I don’t believe big government or greedy corporations should take away our rights on who we love or how we care for the most vulnerable in our community. We must restore and protect reproductive freedoms, including the right to abortion, IVF, and contraception. We can also fix our broken immigration system while creating a pathway to citizenship for our neighbors. And we must restore our voting and civil rights so that we, the people, get to decide who we elect rather than politicians choosing the areas they want to represent.
Together
I’m running for Congress to champion working-class families. Together, we can create a better future for Kansas.
Note: For more information on Matt Kleinmann’s campaign, you can visit www.kleinmannforcongress.com
Editors Note: Mr. Kleinmann will face Nancy Boyda in the Democratic primary for the Second District. Voting in the primary ends Aug 6. By featuring this candidate profile, the Harvest Blue editorial team is not implying any endorsement. Candidate profiles are provided for the benefit of our readers, who will make their own decision. The Harvest Blue website is administered by the Food and Farm of KDP PAC who is solely responsible for publication of this candidate profile. This profile was not paid for by any campaign or campaign committee.