By Sherman Smith | editor-in-chief
Good morning! I hope to see some of you Tuesday night at Washburn University in Topeka, where I am leading a panel discussion with former Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nuss, former Gov. John Carlin, and Natalie Haag, whose extensive resume includes eight years on the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission.
This is the first of three discussions I am leading this month on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Details are in the calendar at the bottom of these daily emails.
Emma Davis/Maine Morning Star
OPINION
Kansas Democrats suffer from a reverse Maine problem. Too many are running for U.S. Senate!
By Clay Wirestone
Kansas Democrats face a big challenge heading into the August primaries.
They have too many people running for U.S. Senate and too few running for other critical offices, notably governor. At present, a staggering 11 Democrats have signed up to unseat Republican Sen. Roger Marshall. Only three Democrats are running in the governor’s race. Only one for attorney general. Only two for secretary of state. And so on.
This pileup reminds me of the recent freakout in Maine after allegations of sexting and other problematic behavior emerged against U.S. Senate Democratic frontrunner Graham Platner. His only real competition for the party’s nomination in that race was Gov. Janet Mills, who suspended her campaign in April.
John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout
Nearly half of adults struggled to afford healthcare last year, survey finds
Forty-six percent of U.S. adults — regardless of insurance type — reported struggling to afford healthcare last year, according to a report released Wednesday by the Urban Institute, a nonprofit research think tank.
The report analyzed findings from a December 2025 survey of 10,000 working-age adults across the nation. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the research comes at a time of U.S. cost-of-living concerns and economic woes.
Uninsured adults were most likely — 60% — to report at least one affordability problem.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kansas Reflector staff will participate in the following free public forums.
5:30 p.m. June 16, Bradbury Alumni Center at Washburn University in Topeka. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
6 p.m. June 24, Groover Labs in Wichita. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
6 p.m. June 25, Clint Bowyer Community Building in Emporia. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
7 p.m. June 27, Park City Senior Center. Host: Park City Community Pride.
1 p.m. July 11, South Branch Library in Kansas City, Kansas. Opinion editor Clay Wirestone joins a panel discussion: "Elected vs Appointed: Inform Your Choice." Hosts: Voter Rights Network of Wyandotte County, Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation, the League of Women Voters of Johnson County, and El Centro.
2 p.m. Sept. 27, Red Rocks Visitor Center in Emporia. Host: Red Rocks.
If you're interested in having us talk in your town, email Sherman Smith at [email protected].
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