(Developing: Will be updated as warranted)
Republican state Sen. Carolyn McGinn of Sedgwick announced Tuesday that this would be her last term in the Kansas Senate after 20 years.
McGinn gave her farewell address on the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon, announcing that that this would be her last term after first taking office in 2005.
“I’ve been doing it for 20 years, and I have things to do back home. I want to do it while I still can,” McGinn said in an interview. “I want to go home.”
McGinn’s retirement marks the end of a 26-year career in public service, including six as a Sedgwick County commissioner.
McGinn said she wants to return home to tend to her 1,000-acre farm where her family grows grain, soy beans and wheat. She is now looking to expand into agritourism opportunities.
McGinn’s departure leaves an opening for Republican state Rep. Stephen Owens of Hesston, who announced last summer that he was running for the Senate District 31 seat.
During her term, McGinn chaired the Senate natural resources committee and the influential Ways and Means Committee where state spending decisions are made.
She chaired Ways and Means twice, once in 2011-2012 and again from 2017 to 2020.
She is now chair of the Senate Local Government committee.
During her tenure, McGinn worked to bring a discount air carrier to Wichita, extend passenger rail service from Wichita to Oklahoma City and conserve water.
Four years ago, McGinn helped craft a new multiyear transportation program for Kansas.
During her little more than five-minute address on the Senate floor, McGinn said when she started in the Senate in 2005 she planned to only stay eight years.
“Here we are, 20 years later,” she said.
McGinn expressed gratitude to the legislative staff and the support she received from her family during her time in the Legislature.
“My husband has been my strength when I come home on the weekends, and he has certainly been there to help guide some of the challenges that I have in front of me.
“I’m just super blessed as many of you are that have people back home that support you,” she said.
Senate President Ty Masterson praised McGinn as a conscientious and diligent lawmaker.
“She understands the importance of the work we do here and is a passionate advocate for her constituents,” Masterson said in a statement.
“I always appreciate her candor and her being part of the team on the major topics we have tackled during the past four years,” he said.
“I appreciated her words today and I look forward to these remaining weeks as we get things done on behalf of all Kansans.”
McGinn reflected on her parting words as a Sedgwick County commissioner years ago as she closed her comments on the Senate floor.
“I know I am going on this journey to be a senator. I’m not quite sure what I’m getting into, but I believe I will probably look back and say, ‘You know what, the closest thing to my heart has been local government,'” she said.
“With that, I want to thank all of you who have helped me over the years work on bills and different things, but I also want to thank you for what you do to help your folks back home.”
