David Haley, a long-serving Democratic state senator from Kansas City, KS, is seeking re-election to represent District 4 in the Kansas Senate. With nearly 30 years of legislative experience under his belt, Haley touts his track record of championing criminal justice reform, economic development, and tax relief for his constituents.
Haley, an attorney by trade, has deep roots in Kansas City. His father, George W. Haley, was the first Black person elected to the Kansas Senate, and Haley proudly follows in those footsteps as an advocate for his community.
“I am of Wyandotte County,” says Haley. “I know my community,I love my community and they know me.”
Haley is a graduate of Morehouse College and Howard University School of Law. After college, he served as a Wyandotte County assistant district attorney. Haley was elected to the Kansas House in 1995 and served until he was elected to the state Senate in 2001. Haley is now seeking his seventh term and faces a primary challenger for the first time this year.
Looking ahead, Haley outlined his main priorities if re-elected:
- Tax Relief: Haley wants to evaluate all options to ease property tax, sales tax and income tax burdens for his constituents. He voted against a state flat tax, but says he considered it because while it “would have helped people at the top” he thought it may have helped residents in Wyandotte County.
- Economic Development: “We have tools in the chest to assist with the development of Wyandotte County, both large and small.” This includes championing incentives like STAR bonds for large projects (like a Chiefs or Royals stadium) and supporting small business development.
- Law & Criminal Justice Reform: Haley plans to continue pushing for “balanced” reforms. He highlighted past legislation he sponsored to make shooters financially responsible for supporting minor children of homicide victims and to enhance sentences for shooting into occupied buildings and cars.
- Law Enforcement Accountability: Haley wants to reform certain police practices and tactics like chokeholds and no-knock warrants. Haley also wants to reform civil asset forfeiture laws that allow law enforcement to seize property without a criminal conviction.
- Addressing Disparate Racial Impacts: “I think more than anything else, my service over the last almost 30 years total, has been to help ensure equal application of the law to all Kansans.”
Haley also noted he brings valuable experience and institutional knowledge to the legislature. Haley points to his long record of legislative accomplishments, including being an early advocate for marriage equality and marijuana decriminalization in Kansas. He sponsored legislation to create felony penalties for extreme animal cruelty and worked to equalize sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine offenses.
Haley says he’s accumulated a number of legislative victories that he is proud of over the years, but that the overarching theme is ensuring that all Kansans are treated equally. He points to his efforts against police profiling, for women’s rights, and against discriminatory language and practices.
“We do not have a neutral society in Kansas or America at large,” says Haley. “Oftentimes laws have a disparate impact depending on social, economic, and racial conditions.”
On taxes, Haley said he would “continue to evaluate what options are on the table” to ease property tax, sales tax and income tax burdens, with an emphasis on benefiting the people he represents. He noted his willingness to consider various tax proposals has drawn criticism from some, but he defends his analytical approach.
“If I’m re-elected, whatever measures — no matter how popular or unpopular they might be — come before me for evaluation … I’m going to consider them,” says Haley. “I’m going to look critically and analytically at any measures that can make the quality of life better for the people I represent.”
When asked why voters should support him, Haley pointed to what he calls the “HALEY” acronym – Helpful Accessible Leadership Every Year. He says he will be just that for his voters.
“I have a good working relationship with the voters as an elected public servant,” says Haley. “I also have a good track record to show who I’ll continue to be if re-elected.”
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While welcoming a primary challenger, Haley suggests that his opponent needs more time living in and experiencing the district.
“I’m not opposed to him or what he can represent,” says Haley. “I think he needs more life experience and needs to pay taxes and to spend some more time not in the cocoon of suburbia but in the very urban district he wants to represent.”
As he makes his case for another term, Haley is reflecting on his legislative legacy while still looking ahead to future priorities. He maintains his commitment to independent analysis of issues facing his constituents and the state.
“Do we want representation that will just follow leadership loyally without asking critical questions,” asked Haley, “or do we have independent evaluation based on an assessment of all of the district’s needs before a vote is cast?”
