U.S. Senate · Kansas

• YesConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — Senate passage · H.R. 7148 · Bill Passed 71–29 · 2026-01-30 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
• YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Motion Agreed to 77–20 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. This vote sent the House-Senate compromise version to the President, who signed it into law the next day.
• YesContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Bill Passed 60–40 · 2025-11-10 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. Eight members of the Democratic caucus joined nearly all Republicans to pass it.
• NoWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to discharge · S.J. Res. 90 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 49–51 · 2025-11-06 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 90 would have directed the President to end military hostilities within or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized, after U.S. strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the region. A motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed, blocking a vote on final passage.
• NoResolution to end the global tariff emergency · S.J. Res. 88 · Joint Resolution Passed 51–47 · 2025-10-30 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 88 terminates the national emergency the President used to impose broad tariffs on imports from most countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Unlike an earlier April 2025 attempt, this resolution passed the Senate, though it still required House and presidential action to take effect.
• YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passage · H.R. 1 · Bill Passed 50–50 · 2025-07-01 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and increases border security and defense spending. It reduces projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adds new work requirements; Vice President Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.
• NoWar Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to discharge · S.J. Res. 59 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 47–53 · 2025-06-27 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 59 would have directed the President to end U.S. military hostilities against Iran that Congress had not authorized, following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier that month. A motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed, preventing a vote on final passage.
• YesGENIUS Act — Senate passage · S. 1582 · Bill Passed 68–30 · 2025-06-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation to clear Congress.
• NoResolution to end the global tariff emergency · S.J. Res. 49 · Joint Resolution Defeated 49–49 · 2025-04-30 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 49 would have terminated the national emergency the President declared in April 2025 to impose broad tariffs on imports from most U.S. trading partners. The resolution failed on a tied 49-49 vote.
• YesFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 — Senate passage · H.R. 1968 · Bill Passed 54–46 · 2025-03-14 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
• YesConfirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary · PN Kennedy · Nomination Confirmed 52–48 · 2025-02-13 roll call ↗The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services, overseeing federal health, food-safety, and drug-regulatory agencies. Senator Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote against the nomination.
• YesConfirmation of Pamela Bondi as Attorney General · PN Bondi · Nomination Confirmed 54–46 · 2025-02-04 roll call ↗The Senate confirmed Pamela Bondi, Florida's former attorney general, to serve as U.S. Attorney General, leading the Justice Department. The vote fell largely along party lines.
• YesConfirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense · PN Hegseth · Nomination Confirmed 50–50 · 2025-01-24 roll call ↗The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard officer, to serve as Secretary of Defense. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote after three Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting against the nomination.
• YesLaken Riley Act — Senate passage · S. 5 · Bill Passed 64–35 · 2025-01-20 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
• NoRaise the Wage Act — House passage · H.R. 582 · Passed 231–199 · 2019-07-18 roll call ↗Would have raised the federal minimum wage in steps from $7.25 to $15 an hour by 2025.
• NoAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 237–187 · 2019-06-04 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.
• NoBipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · H.R. 8 · Passed 240–190 · 2019-02-27 roll call ↗Would have required background checks for most firearm transfers between private parties.
• YesTax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 224–201 · 2017-12-20 roll call ↗Cut the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% and lowered individual rates, including the top rate from 39.6% to 37% (individual provisions set to expire after 2025).
• YesConcealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · H.R. 38 · Passed 231–198 · 2017-12-06 roll call ↗Would have required states to recognize concealed-carry permits issued by other states.
• YesPain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · H.R. 36 · Passed 237–189 · 2017-10-03 roll call ↗Would have banned most abortions after 20 weeks post-fertilization, with limited exceptions.
• YesAmerican Health Care Act — House passage · H.R. 1628 · Passed 217–213 · 2017-05-04 roll call ↗Would have repealed the ACA individual mandate penalty, converted federal Medicaid funding to per-capita caps, and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.

• actionServes on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.[2]

• ✓SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-20). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted no on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04).[4][5][6][7]

• ✓SupportsBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

  Voted no on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 49, 2025-04-30). Voted no on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 88, 2025-10-30).[8][9]

• ✕OpposesExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628, 2017-05-04), which would have capped federal Medicaid funding and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.[5][6][10]

• ✕OpposesFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[5][6]

• ✕OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01; 2017-12-20), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[5][6][11]

• ✕OpposesStricter gun lawsFrom recorded votes

  Voted no on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27). Voted yes on Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38, 2017-12-06).[12][13]

• ✕OpposesRaise the minimum wageFrom recorded votes

  Voted no on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).[14]

• ✕OpposesProtect legal access to abortionFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36, 2017-10-03).[15]

• Born in El Dorado, Kansas, in 1960.[2]
• Earned an A.S. from Butler Community College (1980), a B.S. in biochemistry from Kansas State University, and an M.D. from the University of Kansas School of Medicine (1987).[2]
• Served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1984 to 1991.[2]
• Worked as a physician (obstetrician) and business owner before entering politics.[2]
• Represented Kansas's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House from 2017 to 2021 before being elected to the Senate in 2020.[2]

Raised $4.0M · spent $326K · $5.4M cash on hand (through 2026-07-15) FEC filing ↗

• ✓SupportsExpand public health coverage

  Wants to reverse Medicaid cuts, restore ACA premium tax credits, and expand Medicare drug-price negotiation.[1]

  “We must reverse the disastrous cuts to Medicaid that threaten our rural hospitals. We should restore the ACA premium credits whose expiration raised the typical Kansan's premium by more than half.”

• ✕OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goods

  Opposes current broad tariffs, describing them as a self-destructive policy raising costs for Kansas families.[1]

  “end the self destructive policies coming out of Washington like tariffs and war”

• Affordability: wants to end tariffs, crack down on price-gouging, expand housing construction, and pursue trade and tax policy he says would help Kansas families, farmers and small businesses.[1]
• Health care: wants to reverse Medicaid cuts he says threaten rural hospitals, restore expired ACA premium tax credits, and let Medicare negotiate more drug prices.[1]
• Government reform: supports term limits and age limits for federal officeholders, a ban on members of Congress trading individual stocks, halting congressional pay during shutdowns, and says his campaign takes no corporate PAC money.[1]

• Describes himself as a fifth-generation Kansan whose family settled in Dickinson County in the 1870s.[1]
• Says he and his wife LaVon started a church with four people 36 years ago that has become the largest United Methodist church in the country.[1]
• Says the church has become the largest source of donated food in Kansas City after the regional food bank, and runs a mobile dental clinic and school-support programs.[1]

Raised $4.2M · spent $2.4M · $1.7M cash on hand (through 2026-07-15) FEC filing ↗

• Serves as Libertarian Party of Kansas Vice Chair.[3]
• Was the Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate in Kansas in 2022, receiving 29,766 votes (about 3.0% of the total) in a race won by Jerry Moran.[3]