Skoog and McKenney unveil THRIVE Kansas plan

Mayor Curt Skoog and Dr. Jennifer Bacani McKenney are rolling out a Kansas gubernatorial campaign plan centered on housing, schools, health care, rural development and democracy reforms. The pair says the proposal reflects their experience in Overland Park and Fredonia as they prepare for appearances in Wichita this week.

Why it matters: - Curt Skoog and Jennifer Bacani McKenney are trying to frame their campaign around practical state priorities instead of partisan fights. - The THRIVE Kansas plan targets issues that affect daily life across the state, including housing costs, health care access, public schools, jobs and property taxes. - The proposal also puts a spotlight on rural Kansas, where hospital stability, farm economics and school funding are central concerns.

What happened: - Skoog, the mayor of Overland Park, and McKenney, a physician and businesswoman from Fredonia, announced the THRIVE Kansas plan as they enter the early weeks of their campaign for governor and lieutenant governor. - The campaign said the plan would be released to the media Wednesday. - The candidates planned to appear in Wichita Thursday for the Kansas Chamber of Commerce candidate event and be available to media in person or by phone that afternoon.

The details: - The THRIVE Kansas plan calls for more attainable housing, stronger public schools, better access to health care, more job and business creation, and lower property taxes. - The health care section calls for expanding Medicaid to reduce the risk of hospital closures and widen coverage. - The plan also calls for more medical training and incentives to attract medical professionals to every part of Kansas. - The campaign says biomedical innovation should be supported in mid-size and major cities while rural communities keep hospitals and full-service care. - The rural development section focuses on economic development, agro-business and water policy across all regions. - The plan says family farms should be stabilized, entrepreneurship encouraged and sustainable farming supported. - The education section calls for a fair school funding formula and support for teachers. - The economic section says Kansas should address water and education funding challenges while creating a business-friendly environment for new jobs, industry, tech start-ups and aerospace. - The plan says small businesses should get new chances to start and grow through incentives or streamlined regulation where feasible. - The democracy section calls for reforms to protect every Kansan’s equal voice and equal vote and to modernize elections so they are secure and accessible regardless of zip code. - The final section says the campaign wants to build community around shared values and welcomes people of all backgrounds, immigration stories, beliefs, appearances and income levels.

Between the lines: - Skoog is leaning on Overland Park’s economic profile as proof of his governing approach. - Overland Park has 208,000 residents, which the campaign notes is about three times larger than state senate districts. - The city has a 3.2% unemployment rate, a median salary of $60,000 and more than 5,000 major employers. - The campaign says Overland Park has the lowest property taxes in Kansas. - McKenney is using her background in Fredonia, her medical practice, her businesses, school board service and community involvement to argue she understands small-town life. - McKenney said she launched an annual cultural festival, Sausage Fest, with the next event set for August 29, 2026. - The messaging suggests the ticket is trying to bridge metro and rural Kansas, while also appealing to voters frustrated by partisan conflict.

What's next: - The campaign is set to keep promoting the THRIVE Kansas plan during its Wichita media stop and Chamber event. - The rollout signals that Skoog and McKenney plan to make affordability, health care, education and rural investment central themes of the race. - The campaign’s next challenge is turning the broad agenda into a clear case for voters statewide.