An Economic Disaster
18k
fewer jobs
Kansas has recovered less than 80% of the 157,400 jobs Kelly destroyed during pandemic shutdowns.
44th
in job recovery
Kansas ranks 44th out of 50 states in pandemic job recovery according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
48th
in economic growth
Bureau of Economic Analysis data shows Kansas ranked 48th of 50 states in economic growth in 2021.
1 in 3
small businesses closed
Laura Kelly’s lockdowns shuttered 32.4% of Kansas small family businesses.
Among the worst
state economy
According to an independent analysis of state economic growth.
An Education Disaster
42% surge
in suicide-related hospital visits
In Lawrence-Douglas County alone, children in the middle school age range of 11 to 13 years old saw a 42% increase in the number of visits related to suicidal ideation in 2020.
1,400+
teacher jobs remain unfilled
The worst teacher shortage in Kansas state history.
A Constitutional Disaster
Blocked by Kansas Board of Education
Board members rebuked Kelly’s one-sized-fits-all solution as “problematic” and said Kelly should be “listening to the doctors, not the politicians” when making decisions about reopening.
Blocked by Kansas state legislature
Kelly later tried to keep extending statewide mask mandates, including in schools, until the state legislature stopped her.
Derek Schmidt and Katie Sawyer
Kansas Common Sense for Governor and Lt. Governor