The west front of the U.S. Capitol is photographed near dusk Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Britani Potter, a Democrat from Ottawa, tells her life story on her campaign website, saying she came to Kansas at age 13 when she left her home in Arizona to care for her aging grandfather. She had her first child while still in high school, but eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Baker University and is currently working on a master’s degree in family financial planning.

She operates her own financial consulting business and serves on the Ottawa school board. This year, she is attempting a huge political leap by challenging Republican Lynn Jenkins in the 2nd District congressional race.

Potter said the Affordable Care Act has had some positive results but that it has done little to control the rising cost of health care.

“We need to shorten pharmaceutical patents and create competition in the prescription drug arena to drive prices down,” she said.

“We need to raise wages, and fund projects, such as infrastructure improvements, that will truly create more jobs for Americans,” she said. “We also need to implement a fair tax structure, where those living paycheck to paycheck aren’t burdened with funding the government.”

In response to a Journal-World questionnaire, Potter said the 529 savings plans that Jenkins champions do little to help lower-income families afford college education.

“I propose we move to a model where children in families earning less than $150,000 per year are allowed free tuition to in-state public schools,” she said. “The expense could be covered by placing a nominal tax on Wall Street transactions. The result would be a more educated populace, capable of greater innovation, higher earning potential, and a thriving middle class.”

She also said she opposes the immigration policies advanced by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying, “I absolutely oppose the construction of massive border walls, and restricting immigration based on religious beliefs.

Potter said foreign and domestic terrorism are the biggest threats to national security. And while she supports continuing air strikes at enemy targets, she opposes sending large numbers of U.S. troops to fight there.