By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kali Barnett, a teacher originally from Garden City, is the Democratic candidate that won her primary for the Kansas First District seat in Congress on Tuesday. She believes the key was listening.
"We ran a really strong campaign," Barnett said. "We worked really hard to go around to all 63 counties before COVID-19 hit and even through the pandemic, we made sure that we did a lot of listening, a lot of connecting."
COVID-19 has made campaigning more difficult, but Barnett is optimistic.
"It's a lot of digital outreach," Barnett said. "I'm confident that we can still build the bridges that we need to, to connect with people and ultimately earn votes."
Barnett grew up in agriculture, but her family lost their farm when she was seventeen. She understands that it is still a primary economic driver in the Big First.
"We know that agriculture and food and farm issues are something that are incredibly important to our Kansas economy here in the First," Barnett said. "I would make sure that I can have that seat at the table and that voice. I know from going around, we've been campaigning for over a year now. I've had many, many conversations with farmers around the district. There's many ways that I know that I can support and uplift those voices and the challenges that our farmers are facing."
Barnett will face Republican Tracey Mann in November.