Eli Woody - Kansas House District 31 - Full Conversation
Eli Woody is running for Kansas House District 31 in the August 4 Democratic primary. District 31, located in Kansas City, Kansas, includes the Rosedale and Argentine neighborhoods. Woody described the district as “solidly Kansas City, Kansas,” differentiating it from districts that span multiple cities, counties, or rural areas. Although not originally from the district, Woody and his wife intentionally moved to Wyandotte County. He hails from Topeka, and his wife is from Baldwin City. He cited their shared roots in northeast Kansas and his father’s family’s historical ties to Wyandotte County, which he characterized as “diverse, working-class, genuine, down-to-earth, and full of history.”
Woody highlighted how Wyandotte County is often overlooked or underestimated, drawing a parallel to how places like Kansas City, Kansas, and Topeka are sometimes discussed by those who do not truly understand them. Woody’s campaign is founded on the belief that communities like his deserve direct representation, free from outside assumptions. Community emerged as an early theme. Woody spoke about living in a neighborhood where several nearby homes, including his own, have young children. He emphasized the value of families supporting each other and building community with neighbors, immediately connecting this to politics.
For Woody, politics is inseparable from daily life. He used sidewalks as an example: if children walk to elementary school and there are no sidewalks, that constitutes a political issue impacting their safety and whether basic needs are met. He noted that even those who claim not to follow politics are affected by political decisions daily. This idea permeated the rest of the conversation. Issues were consistently linked to real life: sidewalks, schools, rent, groceries, property taxes, healthcare, safety, and whose voices are heard in Topeka.
A core tenet of Woody’s message is representation. He argued that the most effective way to protect working-class people, marginalized communities, Black Kansans, queer Kansans, and other groups losing rights is to elect more individuals who genuinely come from those communities. He stated that working-class people have waited “forever” for wealthy and privileged politicians to advocate for them, to no avail. Similarly, he noted that Black Kansans and queer Kansans have also waited for sufficient political representation.
Woody, who is Black and queer, is the only person of color remaining in the race for District 31. He finds this significant because the district is diverse, with a large Latino population. The current representative, a Latino man, is retiring after over 20 years. Woody argues that representatives should reflect the district’s demographics and lived experiences for people to see themselves reflected in government.
He connected this to the phrase “for the people, by the people,” stating that “by the people” should mean representatives genuinely come from their communities, not just that voters cast a ballot. Woody believes Kansans should be led by people who understand them, not solely by wealthy or insulated politicians. Woody is running to win and, upon reaching the State House, wants to continue fighting for working-class people and champion the retiring representative’s causes. He described himself as loud, direct, and committed to working-class Kansans.
As a high school English and public speaking teacher, communication is a key promise. He believes communication is about relationships, not just polished speeches, which has driven him to knock on over 1,500 doors. He plans to listen to constituents, bring their concerns to the State House, and then explain the outcomes. Woody’s ideal role when the Legislature is not in session is to be back on people’s porches, discussing legislative outcomes, his voting record, and whether constituents feel well-represented. He plans to use mail, social media, door-knocking, and in-person conversations to maintain communication after the election, arguing that effective representation requires staying in touch long after votes are counted.
Regarding winning, Woody acknowledged District 31 is heavily Democratic, with Republicans often losing by significant margins or not running. However, he emphasizes meeting voters face-to-face, noting that some voters told him he was the only candidate they had seen at their door, which he believes makes a difference. The discussion explored the rise of unaffiliated voters and the potential exodus of Democrats and marginalized Kansans from the state. Woody highlighted that state laws making people feel unsafe could prompt them to leave Kansas, particularly marginalized individuals seeking safer areas.
This led to a broader conversation about the stakes in Kansas politics for those considering departure if the government becomes more hostile towards queer, disabled, neurodivergent, and other marginalized communities. Woody agreed that many are currently assessing Kansas’s viability as a safe place to live. Participants introduced the August 4 amendment concerning elections for Kansas Supreme Court justices as part of this political context. They emphasized informing unaffiliated voters of their eligibility to vote on this crucial amendment, urging participation even from those disillusioned or disinclined to vote in every race.
Woody expressed readiness for the political fight. The conversation then shifted to the Kansas House supermajority and how candidates should explain its significance to the public. Woody noted that while political insiders understand its implications, many voters do not. He stressed the need to simplify this concept, linking it to the common understanding that political dysfunction arises when one side holds enough power to act unilaterally, bypassing debate or compromise. Woody asserted that true debate is absent because the controlling party is not compelled to listen. In Kansas, he argued, the Republican supermajority allows uncompromising Republicans to pass legislation without engaging Democrats. He suggested that removing some unyielding Republicans is necessary to restore genuine debate.
The discussion then focused on making the supermajority’s impact tangible for voters. The central point was that if the Legislature could pass bills targeting transgender Kansans, it also had the power to address critical issues like property taxes, prescription costs, healthcare, and housing. Woody advised candidates engaging Republican and unaffiliated voters to ask if their representatives are actively working to make prescriptions or property taxes more affordable. If costs are spiraling, especially for those on fixed incomes, voters should question their representatives’ priorities.
Woody argued that the message should directly address people’s financial struggles. He believed that soaring costs for essentials like insulin, asthma medication, housing, healthcare, rent, groceries, and property taxes should be the starting point of any conversation. He contended that these problems persist because the supermajority faces no pressure to negotiate. Losing Republican unchecked control would force them to engage with the opposition and account for spiraling costs.
The topic of working-class representation arose again when Woody pointed out that many Republican representatives do not personally struggle with grocery bills or property taxes. He argued that numerous lawmakers lack the lived experience of constituents facing economic hardship, making them less likely to champion working-class causes.
The discussion also explored party control. Woody stated that Republican lawmakers can face internal party punishment for not adhering to leadership’s voting preferences, including losing privileges like parking passes. This led to a broader conversation about balance. The ultimate goal was not to replace one unchecked supermajority with another, but to achieve a Legislature that truly reflects Kansas.
Kansas was characterized as more purple than red, with Republicans, Democrats, and unaffiliated voters all constituting significant portions of the electorate. The conversation emphasized that Topeka should mirror this diverse mix. The participants discussed representation not only in terms of political party but also race, class, ethnicity, and lived experience. Woody agreed that Kansas needs greater representation from currently underrepresented communities in the State House.
Toward the end, the conversation shifted to public speaking, active listening, and the sacrifices inherent in campaigning. The participants highlighted Woody’s background in speech and debate as a strength, describing him as someone who actively listens, processes information thoroughly, and responds directly to the conversation rather than simply reciting pre-prepared answers. Woody championed speech and debate as an invaluable skill.
The conversation also acknowledged the inherent challenges of public speaking and the extensive demands placed on candidates. Campaigning, door-knocking, attending events, answering questions, fundraising, and maintaining constant availability can consume a candidate’s life. Woody was on summer break from teaching during the campaign, but he clarified that summer is not simply leisure time for teachers; it is time they reclaim after dedicating far more hours than typically assumed during the school year.
This naturally transitioned into a discussion about teacher workload and compensation. Teachers often work well over 40 hours a week, dedicate time outside the classroom to preparation, communicate extensively with parents, and may still require second jobs or additional work during breaks. The conversation underscored the illogical disparity, pointing out that teachers with degrees and years of experience might earn a similar income to legislators, despite teaching being a full-time and emotionally demanding profession.
Woody plans to teach in the fall and take leave during the spring legislative session, believing active teachers are crucial in the State House. He argues that active public school teachers offer a distinct perspective due to their current immersion in the system.
He emphasized this point, noting he teaches five out of seven periods, with approximately 30 students per class, totaling around 150 students each semester. He communicates with many parents and guardians, joking he already has “constituents.” This comparison highlights how teaching—through constant communication, listening, negotiation, explanation, and collaboration—has prepared him for representation.
Woody stated that public education has prepared him to work in one “broken system” because he already works in another. This aligns with his campaign message: he is not an outsider but someone working within stretched, underfunded, and difficult-to-navigate systems.
The conversation presented Woody as a working-class candidate, a teacher, a person of color, a queer Kansan, and someone who views representation as more than a title. His core argument is that those experiencing problems firsthand should be present during decision-making. He wants District 31 to have a representative who remains engaged long after election season.
His closing message announced his candidacy for Kansas House District 31 in KCK (Rosedale and Argentine). He directed people to woodyforkansas.com and mentioned he is actively knocking on doors. Acknowledging his dislike for campaign “money games,” he stressed that small donations help cover literature, thank-you cards, yard signs, and voter communication.
The central theme was that Kansas politics should be more connected to its people. Woody discussed issues like sidewalks, public schools, prescriptions, property taxes, healthcare, housing, marginalized people leaving Kansas, and working-class individuals being ignored by lawmakers who don’t share their struggles. His campaign is built on the belief that District 31 deserves a present, communicative, and community-rooted representative.
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