There’s a classic sports saying that goes, “You are who you are when the coach isn’t watching.”
Well, when
@GovTimWalz
came to meet
#Kansas
voters this March, I was watching and taking pictures.
Below is my 📸 🧵with notes:
The Supreme Court ended affirmative action. The *how* of it is not very interesting: They killed it because they could.
But why? Well, because affirmative action was the only policy where the whiteness card got revoked.
My latest in
@thenation
My favorite
#kubball
story:
As the game was ending, I ran on the court to celebrate early.
I knew there would be photos, so I took my warmups off early, so my name and number would be shown.
Because of this, got to see my name on the cover of USA Today.
Didn’t play a minute.
A funny
#kubball
moment:
Sitting behind the bench when
#PaulRudd
was introduced during a timeout. Udoka couldn't find him so a manager had to help point him out.
Udoka: "Where's
#AntMan
?"
Manager: "That guy, with the hat."
Dok: "That ain't him…Are you lying to me?!?"
When I played at
#KUbball
, we played for family over everything.
We played for our community. We played for
#Kansas
.
With every vote he takes, Roger Marshall stands against everything we played for.
I hope he enjoyed the game. But we never played for seditionists.
The desertification of Kansas is a terrifying prospect.
Farms. Jobs. Families.
Too many will be displaced if we don’t work together to address it.
This is what
#KSleg
should have been focusing on this legislative session.
Instead, they focused on bathroom and book bans.
I write all this because, on the eve of my
#KS02
election, I’m reminded that he may be
@KamalaHarris
pick for the next VP.
Maybe he won’t be.
But his demeanor, his earnestness, his desire to be human and relatable and good… that directly shaped my approach to our
Burlington born.
3 Kansas state championships.
1 National Championship for Kansas.
Has a breakout season as a rookie.
En route to an NBA championship.
We’re getting close to seeing Christian Braun become the greatest KANSAS basketball player.
Not KU (Wilt), but Kansas? Yeah.
Hello,
#Kansas
!
I am running for Congress to represent
#KS02
.
Join me, and we can build a stronger Kansas together!
Follow
@VoteKleinmann
for more information about my campaign.
I hitched a ride on the Coconut Express from KCMO to Chicago for the
#DNCConvention
.
🌴🚂
The train included some of the
@KansasDems
Delegates who will elect
@KamalaHarris
as the nominee for President.
@stepville
I knew when I made eye contact. I expected her to be brilliant and beautiful, but not so tall (6’ & 6’9”).
I wrote a letter to her after each of our first 3 dates & I proposed a year later with those 3 letters. We recreated those first dates in our engagement & wedding photos:
Not that people care much what I think, but on the upcoming
#Kansas
election:
#VOTE
No on both amendments. They’re power grabs by rightwing elements who want to change our constitution, just like the abortion amendment.
Retain ALL judges EXCEPT Stegall.
Dems down the ballot.
First thing I noticed, was
@GovTimWalz
is an excellent listener. Here he is meeting with Ethel Edwards, a legendary community leader from
#Topeka
whom I’m honored to consider a friend.
A
#KUbball
comparison:
A loss late in the season at OSU.
Senior-lead team.
Stacked backcourt, and a freshman big man growing before our eyes.
Big 12 Regular Season & Tourney Champs.
NCAA one seed.
2008 or 2018?
I also noticed that
@GovTimWalz
was gregarious. He had a big personality but it never felt like he was making it about him. People felt welcome around him.
And I’m sure being a governor is a difficult and at times lonely job. So it was fun to see how much mutual respect and admiration
@GovLauraKelly
and
@GovTimWalz
had for each other. It was a genuine support from one colleague to another.
@baddestmamajama
Read a great
@KCStar
story 7 years ago. Author was gorgeous. Invited her to a dinner
@KCLibrary
. She's also tall! Walked her to her car. She asked for my number. Knew I'd marry her and wrote her a letter that night. A year later, I proposed by letting her finally read the letter.
When it came time for
@GovTimWalz
speech, I became convinced that he was the real deal.
He was passionate and authentic. He told stories about our values.
He talked about being a father, a coach, and his time in ROTC.
He also shared that he had just granted
#LandBack
to the
I also appreciated how
@GovTimWalz
greeted other candidates and elected officials. He was quick to support them and share words of wisdom that resonated.
@HouseGOP
@GOP
controls the House, Senate, and White House, and passed a tax scam into law, but somehow can't muster enough votes to give children health insurance?
Who's playing games now?
Fund
#CHIP
permanently.
Protect
#Dreamers
/
#DACA
.
Stop stripping
#ACA
and
#Medicare
to pay for it.
@GovTimWalz
also did something that I’ve come to realize is a little rare. Rather than have an entourage of bodyguards and handlers escort him out, he walked the crowd and posed for photos. He chatted with young people. He took selfies. He was with us and was one of us, not a
Tonight’s message reaffirmed that Democrats in
#Kansas
can WIN — when they run as Democrats.
We are the party of freedom.
We are the party of working families.
We are the party of democracy and patriotism.
We should never run away from that.
Here’s to those who knocked on doors, called strangers, wrote postcards, donated, made signs, marched together, protested on corners, rallied, and put everything they had into preventing Republicans in Kansas from denying human rights.
Organizing works. Thank you
#Kansas
.
I can tell you that after 9 years of marriage, I am a far better person today than I was the day I married Sangeeta.
People ask often why I’m running for Congress in
#KS02
.
It’s because I’ve learned that the world I lived in wasn’t the only one that existed. And that while I
“Obviously she’s not a white person…but I love Usha, she’s such a good mom.”
Honestly this is such a weird way to respond to white supremacist attacks on your Indian American wife. Pathetic.
Proud of the
#KUbball
family.
Fourteen years is an incredible run, and the legacy left behind is one to be proud of.
Brings back a lot of great memories. Rock Chalk.
True Story:
After a bipartisan candidate forum in Basehor, Kansas, last week, I was told by a staffer on another
#KS02
candidate's campaign, "Don't talk about
#Project2025
. It's not going to work. It has nothing to do with DJT."
A hit dog hollers, folks.
I don’t usually comment on such things, but given the truly horrific nature of what is being implied up and down my timeline today, I wanted to respond publicly with
@elonmusk
’s permission. However, I speak only for myself.
What an awesome
#KUfootball
season.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a team *win* a game they lost more convincingly than the
#LibertyBowl
.
Awesome comeback. Amazing will to win. Exciting game to watch. Great for the program and it’s new foundation.
Lost the game, won the season.
Not one.
Not two.
But THREE labor union endorsements in
#KS02
in the last week!
I'm the only
#KS02
who will champion working families in Washington.
#VoteInKleinmann
on Tuesday, August 6th!
Kansas committed $232,000,000 to a building that was used for 8 years.
To put that in real numbers,
#Kansas
gave
@Cerner
about $55 per second.
Maybe, just maybe, we'll someday find a way to fix our sidewalks, improve our parks, and build grocery stores.
Speaking of family, my sister is a frontline worker in a hospital battling
#COVID19
.
If you have a N95 mask or any extra PPE please get them to our frontline healthcare workers. They need our support right now.
Please stay safe, stay at home, and take care of your neighbors.
Thank you,
@KCStar
, for the endorsement!
“We believe Kleinmann is the best choice for 2nd District Democrats. It’s not just Kleinmann’s youth and freshness that earn our recommendation — it’s a sharply drawn agenda that prioritizes the bread-and-butter needs of his district.”
…
This is what 600,000 gallons of tarsands and toxic chemicals like benzene looks like. The black area is not a shadow, that’s tarsands that then spills into water. The number will go⬆️ It will take years + millions to clean up. We need stronger laws. Also, thx
@POTUS
for
#NoKXL
.
While many have thoughts on convicted felon Donald Trump, I am committed to serving the people of Kansas by focusing on better healthcare access and lowering the cost of living.
#KS02
deserves leaders who will prioritize the issues that affect our daily lives.
📢 This is HUGE news!
The
@KansasAFLCIO
voted to endorse our campaign in the
#KS02
Primary!
The Kansas AFL-CIO is the state federation of labor, representing over 85,000 members of 300 unions throughout
#Kansas
.
I'm deeply honored to receive their support because we share the
I am proud to stand with
@KansasDems
's DNC Delegates to endorse
@KamalaHarris
for President:
"The Kansans representing our state at the National Convention are proudly endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for President.
I stand with them.
In this pivotal moment, Kamala
The Kansas Democratic Party's delegation to the DNC Presidential Convention was proud to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris tonight to be our Democratic Presidential Nominee. We are excited about the future for our country and unified in our endorsement!
On the plane ride back the next day,
@CoachBillSelf
called me over and I thought I was in trouble.
Apparently I was on court 3 seconds before it ended.
Coach teased me that should’ve been a technical. Memphis would've hit two, then ball back and hit a 3. We could've lost.
😅
"Ad Astra per Aspera"
To the stars through difficulty
Written in 1861, it symbolized that Kansas might one day see equality and an end to oppression
166 years ago today, John Brown sparked "Bleeding Kansas"
Today, the struggle for equality continues thanks to the
#KSleg
Sen. Mark Steffen showed disregard for his constituents' religious beliefs.
He may have also violated the Establishment Clause.
That's worthy of censure and/or expulsion from the
#KSleg
.
If nothing else, it is worthy of an ethics investigation, especially if he lied about it.
When a Muslim woman asked Sen. Mark Steffen how he planned to represent non-Christian constituents, he told her: "I would be happy to try and convert you." Steffen denied making the comment, which was verified by an audio recording
#ksleg
via
@RachelMipro
When I launched my campaign for Congress in
#KS02
, I knew two things:
1. I would be a candidate that would work hard for working families.
2. I'd need support from everyday Kansans who are tired of the extremism and want a government that works for them.
Last night, journalists kept Kansans safe by reporting on the tornado, minimizing loss of life.
Today,
#ksleg
Republicans kicked journalists out of covering
#kancare
expansion, which would minimize the loss of life.
One is a destructive force, while the other is the weather.
A
#LovingDay
story:
In June, 1958, two residents of Virginia, Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a white man, were married in the District of Columbia according to its laws. Shortly after their marriage, the Lovings moved to Virginia. They were arrested and
One more from the archives: we won the 5th of
#14Straight
on my Senior Night, so Grandma was in town to celebrate. The guys also came out to celebrate winning the Big 12 at the Eldridge, which lead to one of my favorite
#KUbball
family photos ever:
The way you know Kamala won the debate is by looking up your conservative friends on social media.
They are claiming “she got the questions in advance,” or “ABC is helping her,” because they can’t turn down their own cognitive dissonance.
The LIES that
#ValueThemBoth
are telling people.
I just received an unsolicited text message on the upcoming Constitutional Amendment that is 100% false.
“You will know them by the fruits of their labor” is right!
Lies and more lies.
At a
#KansasCity
#Kansas
election forum today, a few candidates expressed Christian Nationalist views and rhetoric.
An audience member texted me afterwards that they were scared to see fascism in person.
We need to wake our neighbors up so that they realize
#Project2025
is a
Masked white supremacists carried flags with swastikas on them as they marched through Nashville and chanted "Deportation saves the nation" and "Sieg Heil” today.
I am so grateful for all the love and support I've received from friends, both old and new, and from places near and far. It means so much to me to have your trust and encouragement as I run for Congress in
#KS02
.
But there is one person whose love and support stand above the
@benjaminealexa1
@stuartpstevens
Yep. And the murder of Fred Hampton. I’m aware the FBI & most local/state/fed governments have an ugly history with repressing civil rights.
It doesn’t change the fact that this attack is aimed at Mueller for digging into WH corruption, or that agents today are doing their jobs.
Congressman, let’s have an honest conversation about inflation.
The people living in
#KS02
deserve accurate information.
1) Inflation today is at 3.0%
2) Inflation peaked at 9.1%
3) Who is to blame? Trump printed money for stimulus checks, Trump jacked up tariffs that
❗️Remember when President Biden lied about not inheriting low inflation and a thriving economy?
Since he took office, inflation has risen by 20.1% - and Kansans are feeling the sting.
I'm honored to have
@BarbaraBollier
’s endorsement in our race for the
@KansasDems
primary and
#KS02
general election!
Barbara is an incredible advocate for Kansas values, and I was proud to vote for her in the 2020 U.S. Senate race.
I am grateful for her support in our race to
I say this without hesitation:
@JeannaRepass
is a champion for
#Kansas
and I can’t wait until more people get to know her.
I’m honored to consider her a friend and can’t wait for her to take the national stage to represent us at the
#DNC
tonight!
This photo is from the final roll call run through Sunday.
Cannot wait to present our delegation’s choice for President tonight on behalf of the great state of Kansas for keeps this time!
Rep
@Lindsay4KS22
and I are currently driving up to see the Keystone Pipeline spill and see what is being done. Will update y’all as we are able.
As always, she’s doing her homework
#ksleg
Let’s talk about infrastructure: not just infrastructure week — which
@PeteButtigieg
does so well — but also local elections and getting shit done in communities to help everyone.
#DNCConvention2024
is about building a stronger America where working families thrive.
There are excellent democratic candidates running for the
#KSleg
that you should vote for.
They may not be on the national stage (yet), but they will make
#Kansas
a better place to live right now.
The KS GOP has a supermajority in Topeka, and until we have a fair legislature
Introducing 10 Democrats running in competitive elections for the Kansas legislature whose races give us the best shot at breaking the GOP’s supermajority and restoring Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s full veto power.
Meet our champions: 🧵
KC lost a great leader yesterday.
Broderick Crawford passed away after a yearlong illness that left him in a coma.
His passing hurts.
But his enthusiasm and leadership inspired so many, and won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Here are just a few examples:
A Trump-appointed federal judge just refused to block a
@JoeBiden
rule that gun-shows must do background checks in
#Kansas
.
Good. We shouldn’t allow gangs, cartels, or domestic terrorists to exploit loopholes to illegally buy firearms.
Common sense gun reform will keep our
Since Roe was overturned, reproductive freedom has won in every election where it was on the ballot.
From Kansas to Ohio, the people of America have overwhelmingly voted in favor of freedom.
Momentum is on our side.
I'm left seriously wondering if the ineptness of Kobach's legal team is intentional, so that he will lose
#acluvkobach
and can rally Kansans GOP, blaming "activist judges", "political elites", and the "communist ACLU, et al.", just to raise more campaign support & donations.
Did you know that
#Kansas
will hold the FIRST vote on
#ReproductiveRights
in the nation if Roe falls?
If you think victims of sexual violence should have access to safe healthcare, and the government shouldn���t regulate our bodies, VOTE NO AUGUST 2nd!
Laura Kelly, Sharice Davids, and NO on Amendment
#1
were probably the three biggest prizes for Kansas, and Democrats got all three.
Schwab, Kobach, and Amendment
#2
show that we still have a purple state.
But purple is good in “Deep Red Kansas”
Final update for tonight: Gov. Laura Kelly, clinging to a slim lead late Tuesday, told cheering supporters she expects to be declared the winner over Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt after the few remaining votes have been counted
#ksleg
I LOVE this energy.
I also know voters need doors knocked, text messages, & advanced ballots.
We can’t take ANY election for granted.
Look up your local candidates & share that energy (and $) with them.
We can have a
#KSleg
that works For The People if we organize together.
#ACLUvkobach
in a nutshell:
KK designed a system that has occasional clerical errors.
Clerical errors can look like illegal voting.
Turns out they're just 99% errors.
KK then uses bad math to get huge number, using errors as evidence.
It's all BS, being called out in court now.
Dear
#ksleg
,
@SteffenSenate
and
@RogerMarshallMD
:
Please read this:
And please convey to your constituents more accurate public health information.
The lives of many Kansans may be at risk because your medical misinformation.
My statement on today's Kansas Supreme Court ruling:
"In 2022, Kansans voted overwhelmingly to protect the right to choose, rejecting efforts to amend our state constitution to strip away reproductive rights. Today’s Kansas Supreme Court ruling further solidifies this victory,
It isn’t lost on me that my first project coming off the campaign is finishing the Jersey Creek Basketball court project.
This project is years in the making, and was originally led by Broderick Crawford, a legendary community leader in KCK who passed on a couple of years ago.
This is the language that
#Kansas
is trying to pass on
#abortionrights
.
Notice how the “for” vote tries to pretend that they’re giving rights to people, while against is pretending that it restricting rights.
Don’t be fooled by
#KSleg
, Vote No on August 2nd.
Expanding
#KanCare
is one of the most popular bipartisan agenda items in our state.
It would save
#Kansas
money, help keep rural hospitals open, and keep Kansans healthier.
It would literally save lives if the
#ksleg
would pass it.
Let’s go,
@MOREsquared
!!!
Did you know
@MOREsquared
leaders are organizing African American clergy across Kansas? AND...you can support their efforts to expand access to healthcare!
Young people are our future.
That’s why I’m proud to be supported by the
@KansasYoungDems
!
We need to build a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
We’re building a stronger
#Kansas
.
Will you join us?
KYD is proud to announce our endorsement of Matt Kleinmann for Kansas’ 2nd CD. Matt is a former KU basketball player and community developer with over a decade of experience fighting for better neighborhoods and access to care with working-class families in KCK.
#ksleg
#vote
Last 10 seconds of the
#KUBball
first half was perfection.
Udeh baited the layup and then went straight vertical to avoid the foul and force a turnover.
Then 4 passes without the ball hitting the ground for a corner three at the buzzer.
Perfect execution.
Just Say No to
#DefundingOurSchools
#KSleg
.
The future of Kansas relies upon public education. Not billionaire welfare.
The moment we strip funding away from public schools under the cover of lies about choice & greed for vouchers, we foreclose on all of our childrens’ future.
Division vote on SB 83 vouchers, 61-59. The bill will need 63 votes on final action to be approved. Thank you to legislators who voted "No." This is bad for students & taxpayers & is un-Kansas in holding special ed funding hostage
#ksleg
#ksed
This is a dystopian nightmare. Imagine a city filled with nothing but temporary visitors. No commitment to a place or its people, just a short-lived experience for the gram.
There must be sensible regulations for short term rentals. We can’t let capitalism choke communities.
@AdrianCJax
My family wouldn’t be complete without Tobi (German Shepherd mix) — and as of this week — Nola (Black Lab mix).
Both are a joy, and it’s fun watching the big brother teach his new little sister.
Tips: Adopt, don’t shop. Indestructible toys. Harness. r/puppy101 is a lifesaver.
This is why GOP candidates in
#KS02
primary repeated
#Project2025
talking points.
They want to abolish the Department of Education so they can strip the civil rights of students.
NEW: School officials in Southlake, Texas, are refusing to negotiate w/ the feds to resolve four student civil rights violations.
The district argues, in part, that the Supreme Court's overturning of Chevron limits the Education Department's power to enforce civil rights laws.
In the “schools as monopolies” rhetoric, it’s never extended to other government expenses.
Police and Fire aren’t called monopolies.
Utility services that actually ARE monopolies aren’t called monopolies.
But when it’s schools… we’re suddenly lacking in choice.
Strange, that