Principled Moderation
Moderation with a Backbone
Principles
Our approach is guided by Principled Moderation. It is moderation with a backbone. A practical, optimistic governing philosophy rooted in Kansas values and committed to thoughtful, common-sense leadership.
This is not a traditional platform. It does not attempt to write detailed policies or dictate solutions. Instead, it shows how our shared principles apply to real issues facing Kansans. Principles alone are not enough. Principled Moderation requires applying those principles while allowing candidates the flexibility to reflect their communities.
Kansas is not one-size-fits-all. A representative from rural western Kansas will have different priorities than one from an eastern suburban district. That is not a weakness of our system. It is the point.
Our candidates are grounded in a common set of principles and trusted to apply them with judgment, reflecting the needs of their communities. This approach provides both direction and flexibility and is how we build a collective voice for the broad political center.
Check out the full Principled Moderation Explainer.
What This Means in Practice
A firm commitment to the Constitution, the rule of law, and Kansas’s tradition of steady,
fair-minded leadership.
A governing approach grounded in common sense, care for neighbors, and practical solutions to real problems.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to build a political home for Kansans who believe in pragmatic, principled leadership. We are strengthening the political center and advancing a more practical, optimistic approach to governing in Kansas.
A Tradition of Principled Moderation
OUR PRINCIPLES
Principled Moderation isn’t just an idea. It guides how we approach decisions and gives moderation a clear, principled voice. It turns vague in-between positions into real, actionable stands based on lasting values. These principles provide direction and guardrails, keeping our party grounded and focused on achieving practical solutions.
Rooted in a proud Kansas tradition of steady, fair-minded leadership, our principles reflect a commitment to liberty balanced with responsibility, respect for diverse voices, and practical, common-sense government. Together, they define how we defend democracy, strengthen community, and pursue meaningful progress for all Kansans.
United Kansas Party Principles
I. Foundational Commitments
1. We recognize the inherent value of each person.
2. We embrace liberty, equality, fairness, and community as foundational.
3. We support and stand ready to defend the Constitution and the democratic republic it established.
4. We support the rule of law.
5. We support equality of all before the law.
6. We recognize the tension between liberty and equality, ensuring people can live freely while respecting the rights of others to do the same. A “you live your life, I’ll live mine” approach.
7. We are proud of America’s founding ideals and committed to renewing the march toward fully realizing them. We are patriotic, not nationalistic.
8. We honor Kansas’s tradition of helping one another. There are things we can accomplish together that we cannot do alone. A healthy sense of community includes stepping up for our neighbors.
II. Civic Ethics and Governing Leadership
9. Fiscal responsibility is fundamental to public trust. It means maintaining focus on priorities, making difficult decisions, and ensuring we live within our means.
10. Decency and respect are a mark of strength, not weakness.
11. Diversity of opinion, belief, and lifestyle is a core strength of our nation, not a threat.
12. Our opponents are not our enemies. They are the voices of other Kansans, deserving of respect even in disagreement.
13. We reject performative politics in favor of pragmatic, respectful, and results-oriented leadership. We recognize that today’s challenges are complex, and no one has all the answers.
Application of Our Principles
Direction and Guardrails
Issues (Last Updated 4.02.26)
Affordable Housing
Every Kansas family deserves a fair shot at homeownership. We support expanding affordable housing, with a focus on starter homes for first-time buyers. By working with communities and developers, we will reduce barriers to homeownership.
Childcare
Kansas families deserve access to affordable, reliable childcare. We support practical and fiscally responsible solutions to ease childcare costs and expand availability.
Economy
A strong economy fosters job creation, innovation, and financial stability. Government should be a partner by investing in educational and physical infrastructures needed for private industry and small businesses to thrive.
Education
Our youth are our future. Higher, technical, secondary, and elementary education need to be funded as the foundational structure that they are. Public education should remain a strong and central priority for state support.
Electoral Reform
Healthy democracy requires competition, accountability, and voter choice. Independent redistricting, ranked choice voting, and the restoration of fusion voting deserve serious consideration as tools to strengthen representation. The right to vote must be both secure and accessible.
Environment
We must be good stewards of the natural resources we have inherited, conserving them and preparing wisely for those who will come after. This includes protecting water access, maintaining productive land, and supporting the long-term sustainability of Kansas communities.
Our candidates approach environmental challenges by balancing economic vitality with the need to respond to changing conditions, including a changing climate.
Within these guardrails, candidates may differ in how they apply these principles based on the needs of their communities.
Equality
We believe in the American promise that everyone should be treated equally before the law. Every person deserves the freedom to live their own life, regardless of their identity.
Living together in a community can create conflicts. Our candidates approach these situations by upholding equal treatment under the law and applying their judgment to balance competing concerns in a fair and consistent way.
Fiscal Responsibility
We believe government has a responsibility to spend taxpayer dollars wisely and transparently. Strong communities depend on both effective public services and careful attention to the tax burden on Kansans.
Guns
The right of law-abiding Kansans to own firearms is protected by the Constitution. Like all constitutional rights, it carries responsibility.
Our candidates approach this issue by recognizing both the importance of that right and the need for public safety. Many believe that responsible gun ownership and reasonable safeguards can and should coexist.
Within these guardrails, candidates may differ in how they balance these considerations based on their judgment and the views of their communities.
Health Care
We believe health care should be accessible and affordable for all Kansans. The current system is often too complex, making it harder for people to get the care they need.
Our candidates approach health care with a focus on improving access, simplifying the system, and addressing gaps in coverage, while supporting providers across the state, including those serving rural communities.
Medicaid expansion can be an important part of addressing these many of these challenges.
Within these guardrails, candidates may differ in how they achieve these goals based on their judgment and the needs of their communities.
Immigration
Legal immigration is important to our state. We support a strong border with humane treatment of undocumented people, a clear path to citizenship for long-time residents, and an ample visa program for temporary workers while protecting their labor rights.
Partisan Election of Kansas Supreme Court Justices
We oppose the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. For nearly seven decades, our merit-based appointment system has protected judicial independence. Courts must remain impartial, free from partisan elections and special interest money.
Reproductive Rights
Abortion is a difficult and deeply personal issue, and reasonable people of good faith disagree. Most Kansans do not approach it in absolute terms.
Our candidates approach this issue by recognizing that complexity. Many believe abortion should be legally available, particularly in the early stages of pregnancy, while also recognizing that as a pregnancy progresses, there is a stronger case for limitations, with clear exceptions for the life and health of the mother.
We respect the decisive decision made by Kansas voters in 2022to preserve existing constitutional protections and believe this issue should continue to be addressed with moderation, honesty, and respect for differing views.
Taxes
Taxes support the services and infrastructure on which Kansans rely. Our candidates believe government must spend responsibly and maintain a tax system that is fair and sustainable over time.
Many Kansans are concerned about the burden of property taxes, and our candidates support efforts to ensure they do not become a barrier to homeownership or financial stability.
Candidates may differ in how they structure tax policy, but all approach it with a focus on fairness, growth, and fiscal responsibility.
Independence and Legislative Leadership
We will work with any party to address Kansas’s challenges, but we will maintain legislative independence rather than caucusing with either major party. This keeps our elected officials independent, free to negotiate on behalf of their voters, and focused on practical solutions.