Candace L. Ayars
Democrat | Kansas
Candidate Profile
Liberal (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Candace L. Ayars
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
State Senator, Dist. 20
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, PhD, 2000
University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, MS, 1986
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, BS, 1977
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Kansas Democratic Party, Executive Committee Member, Kansas Federation of Democratic Women
President; District 2 Director, Capital Area Democratic Women, President; Auditor
Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition, Executive Board Member, A. T. Still University (ATSU) Faculty Senate
Senator, ATSU College of Graduate Health Studies Faculty Council, Chair
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Precinct Committee Woman, 2012 - Present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Kansas State Senate District 20, 2016
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (3)
Every Town For Gun Safety
Center for Freethought Equality
Cannabis Justice Coalition
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Center for Free Thought Equality
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
State Democratic Party Organizations (2024)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
Contributions and expenditures from 2024.
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
This issue has already been decided by Kansas voters. There are no restrictions on elective abortion up to 21 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. Minors need parental permission. I support this.
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Disagree
I do not support requiring reporting of reactions and outcomes to the state. The state has no legitimate interest in this. Drug safety is under the jurisdiction of the FDA which has deemed these drugs safe for direct access without an in-person consultation with a physician. This has been demonstrated through studies of women during COVID 19 restrictions.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
Planned Parenthood does so much more for women in addition to providing abortions. For many women, this is their only source of health care during family planning and pregnancy. They rely on Planned Parenthood for accurate educational information related to reproductive health. For that reason, taxpayer funds are justified.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Neutral
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Agree
What is your position on the minimum wage?
I support raising the minimum wage to $10.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
Yes
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
I generally would never support this. However, if the church is officially engaging in subversive activities that would lead to public harm or the overthrow of the government, such action might be necessary to protect public safety and democracy.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
If a person or business is offering services to the public, then that means all the public. If service providers are allowed to pick and choose to whom they provide those services, then a de facto condition of segregation has been created. I believe this is unethical.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Schools and employers should be allowed to require vaccinations unless a medical waiver is presented to protect pubic health. Government, unless as an employer, should not be allowed to require general vaccination.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
The relationship is important, but not to the point of condoning obvious human rights violations—as with any other country.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Agree
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Strongly Disagree
Taxpayers should only be required to support public schools since these are the only schools with publicly elected oversight.
VALUES
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Agree
Unless, of course, these decisions constitute child abuse.
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Strongly Disagree
This is a personal medical expense.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Disagree
State-sanctioned marriages are a separate condition from religious-sanctioned marriages. Many individuals never are married by clergy.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Methodist Christian who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Agree
Gender ideology is not abuse. This is a function of a child's identity and usually manifest directly from the child. I do believe that anything that permanently mars a child physically is a form of abuse. These decisions should be made by the child when the child comes of age.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Agree
Other forms of ID should be acceptable.
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Strongly Agree
The Electoral College is an obsolete concept now.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
When a group of people is systematically marginalized, there is always a possibility of a revolt that could threaten domestic security.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Agree
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Neutral
There are so few of these individuals that I believe this is a nonissue. However, this can be handled on a case-by-case basis by local jurisdictions. I do not believe this is a state-level concern.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.
D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Solar and wind sources are the most reliable as well as being renewable.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
I believe this is spelled out in the preamble to the Constitution: establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty for ourselves and our posterity.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Moderate
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Raise the minimum age to but semiautomatic weapons; ban high-capacity magazines, pass safe storage laws, require risk insurance, and strengthen background checks to prevent anyone convicted of a crime using a gun from ownership and prevent those with a mental health diagnosis from owning a gun.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
Unfortunately, given the current situation with minimal gun control, teachers should not be restricted from carrying firearms to school.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Strongly Agree
