Garden City native Kali Barnett, 34, told voters Sept. 26 she would fight for policies that help farmers and teachers if she is elected to represent the Kansas First Congressional District in the U.S. House in 2020.

Barnett shared how her priorities in Congress were inspired by her own experiences during an event organized by the Ellsworth County Democrats at the High Jinks Rec Club in Ellsworth. Sixteen people, including former Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Josh Svaty, attended the event.

Nancy Boyda, a Manhattan Democrat who is running for the U.S. Senate seat now filled by Republican Pat Roberts, planned to attend, but had to cancel because of a scheduling conflict.

Barnett is running in the Democratic primary against Brandon Williams, of Hutchinson. Former Lt. Gov. Tracy Mann, of Salina; Finney County Commissioner Bill Clifford, of Garden City; and Michaël Söetaert, of Council Grove, are running in the Republican primary.

Roger Marshall, a Great Bend Republican, currently represents the Kansas First Congressional District. Marshall is running for Pat Roberts’ Senate seat.

Farmer’s Daughter

Barnett grew up in a farming family. When she was a teenager, her family had to sell most of their farm and declare bankruptcy. One night, Barnett and her dad sang, “A Time for Us,” together at a wedding.

“He just looked at me with tears in his eyes and said,‘Kali, you sang really beautiful today,’” she said.“I had no idea a few hours later my dad would pass away. He died from a massive heart attack. At 17, it was horrific for me and my family.”

Barnett said her family’s financial difficulties lead to her father’s death in 2002.

“I know it was that experience that killed my dad,” she said.“It was all that stress. He was 49 years old, so strong, healthy, and full of life. I have been through a lot in my life, and I have worked very hard to work through those things and fuel it into a positive change.”

“I know our farmers are going through a lot right now,” Barnett continued.“The trade war, the tariffs, it’s criminal in so many ways what is happening to our communities, and I am fighting for them.”

Barnett said she is discussing agriculture policy with professors, farmers, and community members to learn how Congress could better serve America’s farmers.

Elementary music teacher

Barnett worked as a teacher, primarily teaching elementary school music, for 12 years from 2007 to 2019. She said she enjoyed sharing her love of music with children.

“Most of my career was giving maracas and noisemakers to 5-year-olds,” she said. “Sometimes it’s noise and sometimes it is beautiful music.”

But Barnett said working as a teacher in Kansas, particularly under Gov. Sam Brownback, had its challenges.

“Every single year that I worked in Wichita, I wasn’t allowed to get a raise, even though I was getting my Masters and all these trainings,” she said. “Every year, I had to pay more and more for my benefits.“

After seven years teaching in Wichita, Barnett ultimately moved to New York City in 2014 to continue her teaching career. Last year, she was particularly struck by the teacher’s strikes in West Virginia and Oklahoma.

“I had no idea I would come home one day last September after talking to my therapist about the teacher strikes and how I just knew Kansas was next, and what could I do,” she said. “I said out loud, ‘There needs to be more teachers in Congress like me who have been in it for 12 years and are ready to fight.’ Little did I know, I was going to come home to my fiancé Steven and say,‘Hey, I figured out the next step in my life, I am going to run for Congress.’”

Barnett, who moved back to Kansas this year, would like Congress to establish a federal base salary for teachers based on the local cost of living at the state and local levels. The policy would mandate states and school districts pay a specific salary that would be supported by federal funds.

“Gone are the days when we can’t give a teacher a raise eight years in a row, 10 years in a row, and then those teachers strike and get a 3.5 percent raise on a salary that frankly should have been twice as much as what it was,” she said.

Barnett also said the federal government should help schools and teachers better meet their students’ social and emotional needs.

Healthcare

Barnett also said she would support policies that make medical care more affordable in the United States. She said parents shouldn’t have to decide between buying food for their children and being able to afford taking them to see a doctor.

Barnett plans to tour high schools and colleges to discuss climate change and how to improve local communities.