Bonita Gooch
Democratic · KS
Bonita Gooch is publisher and owner of The Community Voice newspaper in Wichita and a founder of the Kansas Black Leadership Council, with a public administration master's from KU. Her priorities include Medicaid expansion and growing the healthcare workforce.
Where Bonita Gooch stands, based on their records
Supports
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (1 record), Civil Rights (4 records)
Track record
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 1 support
Urged a Kansas House committee to advance HB 2629, arguing its reduced jail term and fine for driving while suspended would ease unequal burdens on poor and Black Kansans.
February 17, 2022Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: kslegislature.gov
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 4 support
Discussed racial profiling in Wichita traffic stops in a Kansas Reflector interview about discrimination in policing.
April 22, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: kansasreflector.com
Opposed the original HB 2056 proposal to remove the three-day grace period for mail ballots, citing votes mailed on time. The bill was later replaced with different subject matter.
January 26, 2023Supports Civil Rights
Source: kslegislature.gov
Published an opinion column criticizing a proposed Kansas congressional map for weakening Black voters’ influence.
January 20, 2022Supports Civil Rights
Source: communityvoiceks.com
Submitted written testimony supporting Kansas SB 43, a proposal for election-day voter registration.
February 19, 2019Supports Civil Rights
Source: kslegislature.gov
Track record — General
General · 13 records
Was listed as an endorsed 2026 candidate by the Cannabis Justice Coalition.
September 24, 2026
Source: cannabisjusticecoalition.org
Was listed as an endorsed 2026 candidate by the Kansas AFL-CIO’s I’m Voting Union campaign.
September 24, 2026
Source: imvotingunion.com
Received the Wichita Regional Chamber political action committee’s endorsement for the 2026 general election.
September 21, 2026
Source: wichitachamber.org
Participated in a Wichita Foundation forum on local news, describing The Community Voice’s coverage of Black communities.
June 27, 2024
Source: wichitafoundation.org
Submitted written opponent testimony on Kansas SB 555, a limited medical cannabis pilot bill.
March 28, 2024
Source: kslegislature.gov
Was selected for the Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame after decades leading The Community Voice.
July 30, 2023
Source: communityvoiceks.com
Gave neutral testimony on Kansas SB 135, a medical cannabis bill, as a Kansas Black Leadership Council representative.
March 15, 2023
Source: kslegislature.gov
Submitted written proponent testimony to a Kansas legislative committee studying medical marijuana.
October 19, 2022
Source: kslegislature.gov
Submitted written testimony supporting HB 2193, a proposal to limit license reinstatement fees and extra suspension periods.
February 11, 2021
Source: kslegislature.gov
Submitted written testimony supporting Kansas SB 5, which addressed restricted driving privileges for people with suspended licenses.
January 19, 2017
Source: kslegislature.gov
Asked the Wichita City Council to put a marijuana decriminalization measure before voters.
August 12, 2014
Source: wichitaks.granicus.com
Joined Rep. Gail Finney at a Wichita district advisory board meeting to urge a public vote on reducing penalties for marijuana possession.
August 4, 2014
Source: wichita.gov
Was named by Wichita as an appointed member of its Commission of Electors, which reviewed City Council district boundaries.
August 10, 2012
Source: golfwichita.com
Past race Bonita Gooch ran in:
- Kansas State Representative District 84 · November 3, 2026 · State House District 84; Kansas