Michael "Mike" Soetaert
Democratic · KS
Michael "Mike" Soetaert was until recently a city council member in Wellington, Kansas, and grew up in Spring Hill. A former Republican, he supported the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022 and says he changed his position on abortion after Kansans voted for bodily autonomy.
Where Michael "Mike" Soetaert stands, based on their records
Supports
Women's Reproductive Rights (1 record), Civil Rights (1 record)
Track record
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 1 support
Reversed the anti-abortion position he held as a candidate in 2019, saying he changed his mind after Kansas voters rejected the 2022 state constitutional amendment and voted for bodily autonomy.
December 30, 2025Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: kcur.org · researched July 30, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 support
Backed the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022, the federal law that shored up recognition of same-sex marriages against a reversal of the Supreme Court's 2015 decision.
July 9, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: johnsoncountypost.com · researched July 30, 2026
Track record — General
General · 2 records
Submitted a protest resignation from the Wellington City Council by text message to the city, several council members and Sumner Newscow, attaching a ten-paragraph essay of grievances that included the publication of what he called a bogus email in his name on the city website and the governing body's resistance to change.
December 10, 2025
Source: sumnernewscow.com · researched July 30, 2026
Won a four-year at-large seat on the Wellington, Kansas City Council with 962 votes in the November 4, 2025 city general election, finishing third of three winners.
November 4, 2025
Source: sumnernewscow.com · researched July 30, 2026
Past race Michael "Mike" Soetaert ran in:
- United States Senator · August 4, 2026 · Kansas
Profile last researched August 7, 2026.