(Updated to add Warren comment; corrects Thurlow’s law school)
A Johnson County lawyer and insurance executive on Thursday morning filed to run against Republican state Sen. Kellie Warren of Leawood.
Karen Thurlow filed to challenge Warren in Senate District 11. Warren is seeking a second term in the Senate after being elected in 2020. She also served a term in the House.
“I’m running because I’m very passionate about our public schools,” the Democratic candidate said in a brief interview at the secretary of state’s office when she filed.
“In Blue Valley, my kids both had the privilege of a world-class education, and I want to make sure our schools are funded for all students, including students in special ed programs,” Thurlow said, alluding to efforts to fund special education in the Legislature.
Thurlow said she supports expanding Medicaid, opposes redirecting public funds to private schools and backs “common sense gun reform,” which she described as safe-storage laws and background checks.
She opposes moving the state to a single tax-rate as well as a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors.
She also opposed the Value Them Both amendment, which would have removed the right to an abortion from the state constitution.
“I think there is a danger of extremists coming back trying to infringe on reproductive rights, and I stand with people of Kansas who overwhelming voted against that amendment,” she said.
“I think abortion should be safe, legal and rare,” she said.
Warren is well positioned to seek reelection after losing a bid for attorney general in 2022.
She raised $102,971 last year and had about $107,653 in cash on hand going into this year’s election season.
“In the Kansas Senate, I’ve been focused on independent solutions to the real challenges Kansans face – standing with law enforcement to reduce crime, protecting your rights, cutting property taxes, which impact so many homeowners in my district,” Warren said.
“During my first term in the House we reached a bi-partisan compromise that solved years of school funding litigation in Kansas,” she said in a statement.
“We have accomplished great things for Johnson County while I have been in office and by working together we will continue to do so.”
Thurlow said she was undaunted by Warren’s fundraising numbers.
“I’m new. I’m a political novice. But I’m a real Kansan. I plan to seek support from people like me who value our public schools, public safety and want commonsense for our state.”
Thurlow graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia with a bachelor’s in business administration and economics.
She received her law degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia.
She has an extensive background in the insurance industry, including work as a senior claims consultant and a claims director for several insurance companies.
Senate District 11 voted in favor of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in 2022.
The governor won 55% of the vote in this district two years ago, while Republican Derek Schmidt received about 44% of the vote.
About 67% of the voters in this district opposed the Value Them Both amendment in 2022.
Warren defeated Democrat Joy Koesten in 2020 with about 53% of the vote as well as incumbent Republican Sen. John Skubal in the primary with 64% of the vote.
Warren was elected to the House in 2018 when she defeated Democrat Brian Clausen with 56% of the vote.
