Republican Candidate for Kansas House District 102 Tyson Thrall kicked off his campaign Tuesday at Westside Baptist Church.
Thrall spoke with supporters and outlined campaign issues that he is passionate about.
“I am a constitutional conservative seeking to bring back biblical, historical and constitutional perspective back to the seat,” Thrall said. “That is the platform I am running on.”
Thrall faces Republican opponent Kyler Sweely in the Aug. 6 primary. The winner between Thrall and Sweely will challenge Democratic incumbent Rep. Jason Probst.
As for issues Thrall discussed, he said he believes biological males should not be allowed to participate in female sports.
“I would be against biological males in female sports, definitely in the bathrooms as well,” Thrall said. “That is not a useful thing for anybody, and it's not right, it's not good. I would be fighting against that, making sure that girls stay with girls and boys stay with boys.”
Thrall also said he would oppose Medicaid expansion because it would add abled-bodied adults to the program and has been financially difficult in states like Oklahoma.
“I don't think that’s helpful at all,” Thrall said. “It's designed for people with disabilities, pregnant women, people like that. It's designed for that, and you're just taking from that.”
Thrall then quoted President James Garfield, the nation’s 20th president who served from March 1881 until his assassination six months later.
“He says ‘now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress,’” Thrall said. “‘If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the legislature.’”
Thrall said the people of Kansas should get back to “demanding the intelligent, brave and pure.”