Several Democratic candidates, including Sen. Cindy Holscher, Democratic gubernatorial candidate, addressed Manhattan residents during the Rally for Democracy on Sept. 26 at the City Hall Peace Auditorium. Indivisible MHK — a pro-democracy grassroots progressive organization founded in Manhattan — and the Manhattan branch of the NAACP co-organized the event. 

The candidates and members of the NAACP and Indivisible MHK gave speeches covering various topics, but above all, the speakers emphasized a message of community, voting and hope. There was also a subsequent protest with the primary goal of communicating the importance of bringing change through voting.

Holscher said the upcoming midterms may very well be the most vital and impactful of many voters’ lifetimes. 

“I want them [the people] to know that what happens in November is going to impact generations to come in terms of what direction we’re going,” Holscher said. “[Republican Candidate Ty Masterson] has been endorsed by President Trump, and he seeks to bring more of that agenda to the state level. Additionally, he was a champion and architect of the Brownback experiment that devastated our state.”

Sam Brownback, former governor of Kansas, pushed the controversial 2012 tax-cutting agenda during his tenure. The “Brownback Experiment,” as Holscher calls it, also known as the Kansas Experiment, caused state revenues to fall significantly, reducing spending on public services such as roads and education.

Elaborating on her emphasis on the urgency of the coming election, Holscher said the future would see significant regression if Masterson were elected. 

“If Masterson wins this spot, we lose our schools,” Holscher said. “He’s been trying to defund public education for years, and he would be able to do that because he would have the numbers in the legislature. … Additionally, he would work to make redistricting happen as he was pushing last year. So, not only would he take us backward on the state level but also the federal level.”

Masterson was part of a Republican group in the state senate pushing for congressional redistricting in late 2025. The plan, which was ultimately rejected, would have primarily redrawn the 3rd District with the aim of being more favorable to the Republican Party. It also went against the traditional 10-year redistricting cycle.

Holscher said a key difference between her focus and Masterson’s was that she aimed to serve the people above all else.

“I want people to realize that I am working for the people,” Holscher said. “Masterson is focused on serving corporations, billionaires and his donors. I’m fighting for the people; Masterson is looking out for himself and his donors. … I know who I work for. I work for you.”

Holscher commented on Masterson’s performance during his tenure as a senator, saying Kansans deserve a governor who will show up and show effort toward making life better for them.

“He has benefited from a no-show job over the past several years, taking in over a million dollars while a lot of us are working two or three jobs just to get by,” Holscher said. “At the same time, he has stopped efforts to raise the minimum wage. … You want somebody willing to be accountable for their record. … He has had control of the legislative body for the past six years and could have addressed many issues, but he hasn’t.”

Holscher said her campaign and policies appeal to public university students particularly, saying she seeks to make college and many common life goals more attainable for the average Kansan.

“I want us to get to the point where you don’t have to go into debt just to get a college degree,” Holscher said. “I want to make sure there are good jobs out there, and that we’re attracting and investing in businesses. I want to create an environment that is good for generations to come. … You shouldn’t have to wait until 40 years old to buy a house.”

Terrell Campbell, president of the Manhattan branch of the NAACP, said in his speech that citizens need to hold politicians accountable for their words and actions.

“It is our job not to tell you who to vote for, but to tell you to look at the facts,” Campbell said. “A lot of politicians in these last few years have not been transparent. It is your due diligence as a citizen to look at the specific policies that our politicians are voting for. Ask yourself: Is this particular policy benefiting me, or is it just another filler to waste time?”

In her speech, Jennifer Lloyd, Democratic candidate for the 1st District of the Kansas Board of Education, said public education needs more support and less interference from politics.

“Public education needs to be funded,” Lloyd said. “Teachers need to be supported, and kids need to be provided the resources they need in a classroom to be successful. The other thing I believe is that we need to get politics out of our schools. Let the teachers do what they need to be doing. All the outside noise is hurting our kids.”

Lauren Reinhold, Democratic candidate for Kansas’ 1st District of the U.S. House, said the people deserve a representative who makes a connection with and serves them.

“What’s funny now is incumbent Tracey Mann is now hiding from his constituents,” Holscher said. “Tracey Mann has not had a town hall in 18 months, and the people who voted for him and this president are now being hurt by his policies, or really Tracey’s lack of policies and action.”

Philip Nel, Indivisible MHK board member and K-State university distinguished professor, was a primary organizer of the event. He said his aim for the rally was that it would give hope to the people.

“We hope to communicate hope, because hope motivates you to act and to get involved with and engaged with our democracy,” Nel said. “Democracy is currently under threat here in Kansas and America. But not all hope is lost. It just requires us to get involved and support candidates who support our right to vote. … It’s the Rally for Democracy to call us to defend our democracy and build a better democracy.”

Nel also said he and Indivisible MHK hope to inform people on how they can make a difference through voting and encouraging others to do the same.

“We aspire to provide hope and direct people to what they can do,” Nel said. “It can be something as small as making sure you are registered to vote, and maybe helping a friend make sure they’re registered to vote. Help someone go and vote if they’re new to it. … If you show up, your voice has power, and even more so in midterms. Now is the time to dream big and believe in a better future for all of us.”

Additional speakers included Amber Starling, Indivisible MHK board member; Sydney Carlin and Brenda Bandy, candidates for Kansas House; and Rob Voelker, candidate for county commission.