Susan Ruiz

Drug Policy

Several states across the nation have taken the bold step to legalize marijuana, which in turn boosted their economy, reduced crime, and improved accessibility for people who need it for medical reasons. I will support legislative efforts to legalize cannabis for all adult Kansans over the age of 21. Learn more

Education

One of the best investments we can make in our state’s future is to provide 3- and 4-year-old Kansans the opportunity to receive early childhood education. There are many benefits of early childhood education. Pre-K lays the foundation for brain development and future learning and children develop important social and self-regulation skills. Learn more

Every child should have a clear path to quality education. We must invest in our children and give them every opportunity to succeed. Kansas’s issues with school funding are well known and while we have worked in the legislature to reverse the damage, we need to do more to invest in our children, our teachers, and provide them with the tools they need to succeed. Learn more

Environment / Energy

Kansas CO2 emissions are at their lowest level in 40 years. We must continue to invest in wind and solar energy resources. Children in Kansas deserve our attention to climate change. Their future — and ours — depends on it. Learn more

Government Reform

I will continue to focus on changing the laws to make it easier to vote. We must stop every attempt to lead us back to the days of paying a poll tax. Learn more

Healthcare

Needless to say, that the mental health of our communities has long been neglected. We are now living in a time when people are actively seeking the help they need, but cannot access that help for various reasons. We need mental health services to be easily accessible for families and individuals. Medicaid expansion will go a long way in meeting this goal. However, we must require all health insurance policies to cover mental health services, from addictions to trauma. Everyone deserves a chance to heal. Learn more

As a social worker who has worked in the healthcare field for many years, I know the myriad of problems in our current healthcare system. Expanding KanCare will bring federal tax dollars back to Kansas. Many hard-working Kansans can’t afford healthcare, and often have to decide between seeing a doctor or putting food on the table. That’s why I’m a proponent of universal healthcare for all. But as a good first step, we must focus on Medicaid expansion in Kansas. Learn more

Legislation

Not all people in Kansas are able to get an equal chance at succeeding due to their race, socio-economic status, health diagnosis, gender identity, immigration status, or sexual orientation. I have, and will continue to work on legislative measures that will put an end to discriminatory practices in our state and invest in the advancement and safety of our communities. Learn more