Democratic state Rep. Lindsay Vaughn of Overland Park announced Monday she would not seek a fourth term to the Kansas House representing a swath of northeast Johnson County.
“The past six years serving as your state representative has been an enormous honor and privilege,” Vaughn said in an email to supporters Monday.
“It is with deep gratitude that I thank you for that honor and share that I have decided to not seek re-election,” she said in the email.
Reed Krewson, the president of Kansas Young Democrats, has filed to run for Vaughn’s seat.
Krewson has a bachelor’s in political science and Spanish from Kansas State University and a master’s in public administration from the University of Kansas.
He works as an administrative services manager for the city of Overland Park in the Parks and Recreation Department.
Elected in 2020 to replace Democratic state Rep. Nancy Lusk in the 22nd House District, Vaughn wrote passionately in her farewell email about her commitment to protecting the state’s water supply.
She noted that during her tenure, the water committee passed a bill that, for the first time, would require the establishment of “meaningful” conservation plans for the Ogallala aquifer.
She also said the Legislature increased funding for state water after decades of chronic underfunding, paid off millions of dollars in unfunded liability for state reservoirs and initiated a first-of-its-kind water injection dredge project in the Tuttle Creek reservoir to reduce the siltation of dams.
“More than anything, I have had the incredible privilege of being part of a community of people from all over the state and on both sides of the aisle, who share this common goal, and who give me hope for a better water future and a better political future, too,” she said.
Vaughn also reflected on the coalition of young lawmakers in the House.
“There were things we disagreed on, but there was also a lot we had in common,” Vaughn said.
“Many of us were the most vocal supporters of raising legislative salaries, so more everyday Kansans — not just retired and independently wealthy ones — can now serve and be represented in our legislature.
“We also fought for and passed a bill this year to start tackling the affordable housing crisis. And we have continued to push for the legalization of marijuana,” she said.
Rep. Brandon Woodard of Lenexa, the top Democrat in the Kansas House, praised Vaughn’s contributions to the Democratic House caucus.
“She was an invaluable member of the caucus,” Woodard said.
“It’s tough to lose a young person who is really skilled at this job, but at the same time I’ve got to support my friends and she was a friend long before we were ever political colleagues,” he said.
“You have to support people focusing on their personal lives much more so than asking them to step and run for office again,” he said.
Vaughn raised $2,160 last year and had $17,367 in cash on hand at the end of the cycle.
The district is decidedly Democratic.
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris won 61.7% of the vote in this district. President Donald Trump won 36.4%.
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won 67% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Republican Derek Schmidt won 30% of the vote here.
Vaughn is the latest member of the House not to seek reelection this year.
Republican state Rep. Angel Roeser announced last week she would not run again in House District 67.
Brenda Bandy, co-founder and executive director of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, filed as a Democrat for the House District 67 seat.
Meanwhile, Stacy Kohlmeier, a recently retired business leader from the Florence Corp., has filed to run as a Republican for the District 67 seat as well.
Republican state Rep. Paul Waggoner of Hutchison also announced that he would not seek reelection.
Among those also leaving the House are Speaker Dan Hawkins of Wichita, who is running for insurance commissioner, as well as Reps. Pat Proctor of Leavenworth and Ken Rahjes of Agra, who are running for secretary of state.
Other lawmakers leaving the House include Will Carpenter of El Dorado, Dan Goddard of Parsons, Doug Blex of Independence, Rick Wilborn of McPherson and Ron Ellis of Meriden.
