Kansas
Opinion: This idea could bring middle back to Kansas politics and temper extremes
I can’t wait until Election Day is behind us. Politics has gotten so nasty. Whichever party you support, we’ve forgotten that the people on the other side are Americans, too.
Democrats are not an “enemy” worse than our actual adversaries overseas. And Republicans are not “fascists” if they simply disagree with Democrats about the issues. This level of hostility is not the Kansas way.
I’ve been a Republican my entire life and I don’t plan on changing. But let’s face it. The reason things have gotten so polarized is because of the two-party system itself. Instead of listening to the public, both major parties have become captive, to varying degrees, to their worst extremes.
We weren’t so badly divided a generation ago. But with the rise of talk-radio and then the internet, it’s become easy to become popular and make money simply by stoking more and more political rage among society’s different silos. And in a system with only two parties, both are incentivized to keep fighting each other.
But history and experience teach us that America has only progressed when both parties have worked through their differences on hard issues, gotten to reasonable compromises and passed bipartisan legislation with broad public support. And that doesn’t happen much anymore thanks to our hyper-polarized two-party system. The center has been abandoned.
What we desperately need is a way to give people in the middle — moderates who understand that working together to solve problems is more important than bludgeoning your enemies — a bigger voice in the process.
That’s why I am so intrigued by the new United Kansas Party, which was started earlier this year by a group of moderate Republicans, Democrats and independents. Even more interesting to me is its effort to revive fusion voting. The basic idea is simple. With fusion, two or more parties can each nominate the same candidate. Each party gets its own line but in effect they “fuse” their support.
If the candidate welcomes each party’s nomination, voters can support the candidate on the ballot line of the party that best reflects their values.
If you’re a centrist Republican like me, and the United Kansas Party cross-nominates a Republican candidate, you could vote for that candidate on the United Kansas line. If that candidate gets, say, 10% of the vote on that line, you can bet they’re going to pay more attention to what United Kansas stands for: values like moderation, problem-solving, and respect for the rule of law.
It would work the same way on the opposite side. If Republicans nominate someone really extreme and the Democrats back someone more moderate, United Kansas could endorse the more moderate choice, and someone like me could vote for them on that line, rather than having to back them as a Democrat.
With fusion, people in the abandoned center could really improve things. Fusion makes it possible for smaller parties to form and maintain their identities distinct from the major parties, without forcing them to be spoilers. (In our two-party system, third-party candidates very rarely win, but do often inadvertently help to elect the least preferred candidates.) It also has the merit of strengthening our constitutional rights to free speech and free association.
Since achieving legal party status, United Kansas has nominated candidates from both major parties. Not surprisingly, there has been resistance from entities which have sought to preserve laws passed more than a century ago that took away fusion voting. The party intends to continue pursuing their right to freely associate with the candidates of their choice. As legal challenges take shape, let’s hope the Kansas courts recognize this important right.
With fusion voting, we’d probably end up with a multiparty system with the two major parties buttressed by a couple of additional fusion parties. We’d have more competition, and voters would have more choices. The major parties would become more responsive to the will of the people.
Most importantly, we’d break the spiral that the two-party system has caught us in, which is making this fall election so ugly. And that would be good for all of us.
Don Hineman served 12 years in the Kansas House, including two as majority leader, before retiring in 2020. He is the chairman of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund.
Kansas State football’s transfer portal needs, what to know
K-State reporter Wyatt Wheeler breaks down the Wildcats’ needs and key information ahead of the transfer portal window opening.
MANHATTAN — Right when you thought Kansas State football might be done for the day, the Wildcats landed a seventh commitment from the transfer portal on Monday, Jan. 5.
Gardner-Webb defensive tackle De’Arieun Hicks committed to K-State, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder has three years of eligibility and totaled 21 tackles, with 4.5 being for a loss in 2025.
Hicks reportedly had a visit to Iowa State on Monday, after spending Jan. 3 with the Wildcats, and he chose to play football in Manhattan.
Hicks was a standout for the FCS program out of the Big South, playing 373 snaps and making four starts on the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ defensive line. He was the Big South’s sixth-highest graded defensive lineman, according to Pro Football Focus, with the league’s 12th-best pass rush grade.
Hicks totaled 10 pressures, with seven quarterback hurries and a pair of sacks across 12 games.
Out of high school in Richmond, Indiana, Hicks wasn’t given a grade by 247Sports.
Kansas State was in desperate need of defensive linemen from the transfer portal following the departures of Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder and Andy Burburija, the latter of whom reopened his recruitment after initially signing with the Wildcats. The Wildcats also signed Adrian Bekibele, Kingston Hall and Carnell Jackson Jr. during December’s signing period.
Hicks’ size is certainly appealing, giving the Wildcats a solid prospect to develop. Given the Wildcats’ need at the position, Hicks could have an opportunity to get on the field quickly.
Hicks joins Oklahoma State running back Rodney Fields Jr., Texas A&M receiver Izaiah Williams, Illinois corner Kaleb Patterson, Oklahoma State linebacker Jacobi Oliphant, Miami (Ohio) safety Koy Beasley and Missouri offensive lineman Keiton Jones as those who committed to the Wildcats on Monday.
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com
An intruder was fatally shot by an armed city employee inside Lawrence City Hall in Kansas on Monday morning, officials said.
The 28-year-old man “forced his way into the building then broke through a door” on the fourth floor and into a secured area about 8 a.m., according to a police statement.
This led to an altercation with an armed city employee, Police Chief Rich Lockhart told reporters outside City Hall, about two miles north of the University of Kansas campus.
“During that altercation, the 28-year-old subject was shot and killed by the city employee,” the chief added.
The intruder wasn’t immediately identified, and it wasn’t clear if he was armed.
Authorities didn’t immediately name the city employee or his job. But police did characterize the civil servant as “trained and authorized to carry a firearm.”
The fourth floor is home to the city manager, city attorney and budget manager.
Officials said they did not know why the man went to the fourth floor, and “it’s not someone that’s known to us,” Lockhart said.
City Hall was closed and should reopen Tuesday. A municipal court in the building won’t open again until Thursday.
City Manager Craig Owens said he was grateful no city employees were hurt.
“I want to express my gratitude to the Lawrence, Kansas, Police Department work during the disturbing incident,” he said.
Indiana’s portal haul continued to grow Sunday as multiple outlets reported the addition of Kansas State edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi.
Osunsanmi has played in 36 games over the last four years and has 8.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. Most of that production came over the last two seasons. He has a total of 47 QB pressures during his college career.
In 2025 he played in six games and had 20 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. He suffered a season-ending injury in October.
He saw action in all 13 games in 2024 as a reserve defensive end and on special teams, recording 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble over 303 defensive snaps and 31 special teams plays.
In 2023 he saw time in all 13 games as a reserve linebacker, a rush end on passing downs and on special teams. He was tied for team-high honors with five tackles on kickoff coverage.
He played in four games in 2022 and preserved his redshirt.
The 6-foot-3 and 250-pound Osunsanmi has one year of eligibility remaining.
The Wichita, Kan. product (Wichita East H.S.) was regarded as the 232nd-best overall player in the nation for the Class of 2022 by 247Sports.
Osunsanmi will help fill the void left by outgoing edge rushers Mikail Kamara, Kellan Wyatt and Stephen Daley.
More transfer portal information:
For complete coverage of IU football recruiting, GO HERE.
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