The Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University has released the report from their 2025 Kansas Speaks public opinion survey. This survey, conducted each fall since 2009, covers questions from satisfaction with political officials and institutions to attitudes on public policy issues like water conservation.

Kansas Speaks data is weighted — statistical adjustments used to ensure that the pool of respondents better resembles the state population — proportionally to mirror Kansans on gender, age, education, geographic location (rural-urban) and partisan identity. This weighting is especially important because the average respondent is more likely to be female, older, more educated, whiter than the average voter.

Since 2016, the average respondent is also statistically less likely to be conservative or Republican. For the first time, this year Kansas Speaks adjusted their methodology and weighted for partisan identity. As a result, the 2025 Kansas Speaks data should closely track Kansans’ attitudes.

Some of the results were striking.

Despite Kansas’ reputation as a reliably red state in presidential elections, the 2025 Kansas Speaks survey reveals a remarkable divergence between national partisan preferences and state-level approval. Gov. Laura Kelly stands out as the most popular political figure or institution among Kansans, outperforming not only the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature, but also President Donald Trump and Congress.

This year’s survey — methodologically refined to better reflect the state’s partisan composition — shows that Kelly’s approval rating sits right at 47%, while Trump’s sits at 43.5%, the Kansas Legislature at 34%, and Congress even lower at 21.4%. These numbers suggest that Kansans are not simply voting along party lines; they are evaluating leaders based on performance, pragmatism and responsiveness to state needs.

Kelly’s popularity is especially notable given the political headwinds she faces. As a Democrat governing a state with a Republican supermajority in the Legislature, she has frequently used her veto power to block legislation she views as fiscally irresponsible or ideologically extreme. Yet rather than alienating voters, this assertiveness appears to have bolstered her reputation as a steady, principled leader.

Moreover, the survey shows that Kansans support a range of policy positions that align with Kelly’s platform, including:

l Medicaid expansion (70.1%)

l Legalization of medical (70.4%) and recreational (58.8%) marijuana

l Access to abortion procedures (59.5%)

These findings suggest that Kelly’s policy priorities are broadly popular, even in a state where Republican identity remains strong.

In an era of deep national polarization, Kelly’s leadership offers a compelling case study in how state-level governance can transcend partisan divides. Her success underscores a critical lesson for next year’s governor’s race: Kansans are not just red or blue; they are pragmatic, policy-minded and willing to reward leaders who reflect their values and deliver results.

— Alexandra Middlewood is an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.