Today we continue our profiles of 2024 progressive candidates! These candidates are working hard to bring change to their communities, states, and country to ensure all citizens are represented in government.

This week we are profiling Christina Haswood (she/her/hers) is a Diné (Navajo) millennial who is the only Native American serving in the Kansas state legislature. In her first year in office, she helped pass Kansas’ first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) bill. A public health advocate, Christina is a champion of reproductive rights and the right to abortion. Christina also stands out for using social media more than her colleagues to inform her constituents with updates from the legislature. Though she currently represents District 10 in the Kansas House of Representatives, Christina is now running for the State Senate.

Where are you based?
Lawrence, Kansas.

What is your position/what position are you running for?
I am currently the Legislator for the Kansas House of Representatives House District 10. I am running for the Kansas State Senate District 2.

How would you briefly summarize your platform?
Continue to fight for the rights and issues that impact working class folks and marginalized communities. Issues such as affordable housing, protecting our rights to an abortion, Medicaid Expansion, Climate Change and supporting our public schools, are just a few of many the issues I feel passionate about.

As a renter, I know the issue of affordable housing at that level as I see my rent increase year by year. The thought of being a homeowner is practically a joke with my student loan debt as someone who has a masters degree. The district has two universities where we have a large young folk population so the access to abortion services that are non-bias is important to protect in our state. I have had the privilege of fighting for our abortions rights in our state house, the White House, and shed light on how this issue impacts Native American folks, whose healthcare systems are different with Indian Health Services (IHS). Our community’s health care systems, like many others across the state, have a stress without Medicaid Expansion. Such as, emergency room (ER) reimbursements, mental health services, and access to a pregnant person to have health care during their pregnancy journey. It is estimated if Kansas expanded Medicaid, we would close a coverage gap of about 150,000 Kansans.

We are in a climate crisis, where the planet's climate is constantly changing and our infrastructure can’t readily adapt. We are feeling the public health implications in Lawrence, from mortalities during our excessive heat and cold days, particular in our population who are experiencing homelessness. Public schools are the backbone of communities and they are constantly attacked at the state level. Our teachers and education staff need the state to do their job, fully fund public education and special education.

What inspired you to run?
The lack of representation in our state legislature from being an Indigenous woman to being a young adult who is 29, has student loan debt, and who knows our community values as I was born and raised in Lawrence. At the end of the day, I hope my presence alone inspires others to get civically engaged and that we belong and are needed in these spaces that once wanted to get rid of us, or are still trying to.

What change are you hoping to bring to your district, state, and country?
A fresh progressive voice rooted in personally experiencing a lot of the issues we need to address. I come from a working class family where my parents used social services such as WIC, Section 8 Housing funding, reduced-fee school lunches, and Tribal Clothing Programs to help us get on our feet. I am a proud product of our K-12 public school system and very active in the Native American community where I stay closely tied to my cultural values as a Navajo woman. When I am out of session, I work multiple jobs just to make it by and at times, have to utilize our food pantry services when I have been short on funds. In my volunteer time, I sit on our Governing Board at Bert Nash, our main behavioral health center and have served on our local homeless shelter board for over two years, to learn and engage at these issues at a local level. Our state senate does not have that current mix of representation or livid experience, I hope to bring to perspective and influence our state policy in that way.

How long have you been in office? What do you consider to be your major accomplishments so far?
I have been in office for four years, two terms in the House. I have two major accomplishments, the first would be, when I helped pass Kansans’ first Missing and Murdered Indigenous People’s Bill with former state legislator Ponka-We Victors-Cozad. Second, would be most recently, I was able to introduce and get a hearing on the Kansas’ first Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).

What do you feel are the most important issues right now, why, and how do you plan to tackle them?
With the Kansas State Legislature session coming to a close in a few months, it is too late to introduce anything new. My main priority is to watch for the anti-gender affirming care legislation, in hopes for our Governor to veto that legislation and we can hopefully sustain that veto. Our House tax plan was a great compromise bill but was later derailed by the Senate. I hope to keep my eye out for the next attempt and ensure the legislation gives relief to working class folks.

In my race for state Senate, I see issues such as affordable housing as a top issue, Medicaid Expansion, protecting our rights to an abortion, climate change, public education, preventing gun violence, childcare and welfare, and property tax relief are just a handful of issues I hear from my community that we need to focus on in the state.

America is extremely divided these days. How would you hope to bridge that divide with your constituents to better unite Americans?
As a current elected official, I have always made it a priority to assist all constituents, regardless of party affiliation. I have called back folks who may leave a not so pleasant email, and just listen to them, hear them out, and try to understand where they are coming from. I have taken in-person meetings with similar folks, who have called me on the phone yelling to me about an issue or vote I may have taken. I think my role here is to represent everyone but also give that respect to listen and do what I can in my power to help. Bridging that divide in our country is a part we can all play, small acts of kindness from each of us, paired with empathy, are all small changes that can lead to bigger outcomes.

How do you see your unique identity and background to be an asset to you in office?
My background as a Native American/Indigenous person in the U.S. carries so much history of our country and political history that is often not told. From the name of our state to why Native American elected officials are so few, all has a historical and political story of discrimination, assimilation, and resiliency. We are a political status of people, where treaty rights and promises from the U.S. government impacts my life differently then my colleagues.

What is your motto in life?
“When they go low, we go high” - Michelle Obama

Where can we find out more about you?
You can check out my website at haswoodforkansas.com or following along my journey at @haswoodforks on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Christina Haswood, Kansas State Senate, District 2