Read and Watch Free Candidate Airtime

Eyewitness News offered each candidate in his or her party's primary 2 minutes to make their case to voters. Read what they said below:

U.S. House, District 1, Republicans

Jim Barnett

Hi, my name is Jim Barnett.

It is exciting for me, a fourth generation Kansas farm kid, to tell you why I am running for the United States Congress.

I grew up on a farm near Reading, Kansas. I enjoyed farming, but had asthma a kid and decided I shouldn't farm. 

I became a doctor to help take care of people, and make a difference in people's lives.

Many of you first met me when I challenged then Governor Kathleen Sebelius and her liberal agenda.

When I ran for Governor in 2006 I proposed a 4 year balanced budget that funded schools, cut taxes for middle income families and would have provided a 10% investment tax credit for businesses.

These are the type of common sense solutions I bring to the table. The kind of solutions Washington is in dire need of now more than ever.

As a State Senator, I have a proven conservative track record which is why I have a 100% pro-life voting record and "A" ratings from the NRA.

With a national debt that now exceeds $13 trillion, Washington has also shown that they are out-of-touch and have a spending addiction. I will say no to their reckless policies and yes to sensible conservative solutions.

My focus is to cut spending, reduce the debt, help the private sector create jobs and repeal and replace Obama-care.

I want our government to work better for families and taxpayers, and as your Congressman, I will lead the fight to repeal Obama-care.

On Tuesday, August 3rd, I ask for your vote so I can work for and serve you in Congress.

Thank you.

Sue Boldra

Are you satisfied with the economic situation of the state right now?

Are you happy with the federal government? Are you better off today than you were 10 or 15 years ago? 

Well, I'm not either. 

Are you frustrated with the political system and tired of politics as usual?

So am I.

If you are tired of the elitist environment that has become our nation's capital, then join me.

If you are tired of the frivolous spending, the backroom deals, the cronyism, then join me.

If you want to return to Constitutional principles to secure the rights of all Americans, then join me for Term limits, a balanced budget and tax reform.

Is Kansas for sale? 

Does the office have to go to the highest bidder?

Kansas wasn't built on the backs of politicians. 

She was built by the sweat of farmers, ranchers, small business owners, transportation, and energy. 

I am the citizen legislator that the founding fathers envisioned - not a politician nor Washington insider.

I am a lifetime resident of Kansas - born, raised, and educated right here at home.

I have been up every day for the last 40 years working for Kansas as a farmer, business owner, and educator. 

Join me. When Sue wins, you win.

I am Sue Boldra, the best man for the job and the only woman.

Marck Cobb

I am Marck Cobb, Republican candidate for Congress.

As the only candidate that has served to defend the principles of our country for 20 years and as the only candidate who is not taking "out-of-district" funds or "special interest" money,
I can give the people of the First Congressional District 100% representation.

I have served the nation for 20 years in the Air Force. I served 20 years as a licensed attorney from the state of Kansas. I spent one year teaching business law. 

For the past ten years I have been taking care of the family farm and doing legal mediation.

I have three priorities to take to Washington. 

First, we must secure our borders against both terrorists and illegal immigrants. We must bring our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan. This will be the first step in improving our economic situation. 

Our farm economy is the second priority. Government assistance for conservation is an excellent use of our tax money and preserves our land for future generations. We need to expand the markets for wheat and beef. This is not only good for Kansas, but good for the nation.

And, we must stop the Cap and Trade Bill. The third important priority is to amend the health care bill to avoid bankrupting the economy. 

My education at the Air Force Academy, my master's degree in National Security, and my law degree from Washburn University provide me with the skills to ask the tough questions
to solve the problems confronting our communities.

We must find efficient and effective solutions. My campaign is not about "politics as usual". 

It's not about throwing money out there to solve problems.

It's about representing you 100%. It's your choice-your vote.

Tim Huelskamp

Hi, I'm Tim Huelskamp.

I'm running for Congress because when I look at what's going on in Washington, I see a federal government that's out-of-touch and out-of-control.

On every issue of the day, the liberals in Washington are moving in the wrong direction.

And for us, that means higher taxes and bigger government, more regulation and more debt, and less liberty. 

Our very way of life is under attack.

I'm a farmer from western Kansas.

I've been married to my wife Angela for 15 years and we have four wonderful children.

And I believe that our way of life in rural America is worth fighting for.

As your Congressman, I'll be an advocate for farmers and ranchers and all businesses, and I'll make certain that we have a strong, conservative voice in Congress.

There are a lot of candidates in this race, but what makes me different is this - I am the ONLY candidate with a proven record of fighting for the principles you and I believe in.

In the state Senate, I've fought against reckless spending and Obamacare, and I've never voted for a tax increase…ever.

I've always been a strong defender of the 2nd amendment, the sanctity of life, traditional marriage and free enterprise.

And this is just not talk.

You can check out my proven conservative record on our website at Huelskamp.org. 

If you think we need to send someone to Washington who will go along to get along, then I'm not your guy.

But if you want someone who will fight tirelessly for your family and freedoms, then I ask for your support.

Vote for me - Tim Huelskamp - on August 3rd, and I will never stop fighting for you. 

Thank you.

Tracey Mann

Hi, I'm Tracey Mann, a conservative Republican running for Congress in the Big First District of Kansas.

I grew up on our family farm in Quinter, where my family has fed cattle and farmed for more than 100 years.

My parents still live there. My wife and I live in Salina, where I sell commercial real estate to small start up businesses and larger companies.

Career politicians are killing the American dream. I am the only candidate in this race who does not have a background in politics; my background is in small business and agriculture.

We need new leaders with business experience to get control of the Obama-Pelosi spending addiction, create jobs, secure our borders, pay down the national debt, and repeal Obamacare and replace it with common sense free-market solutions.

As your next Congressman, I will defend Kansas agriculture, stand up for rights of the unborn, guard our Second amendment, and protect traditional marriage.

With my business experience, I will protect Social Security and Medicare for our seniors and the benefits we owe our military veterans.

I encourage you to visit my website, MannforCongress.com and read the "Mann Plan" which is my plan to get our country and Congress back on track.

This is the only written plan from any of the candidates in this race. 

Together, we can stop the liberal Obama-Pelosi agenda, take our Kansas Common Sense values to Washington, and work to Restore the American Dream.

Won't you join me?

I'm Tracey Mann, conservative Republican candidate for Congress in the 1st District.

My roots run deep in Kansas, not politics and I'm asking for your vote on August 3rd.

Thank you.

I'm Rob Wasinger.

I'm a Republican running for Congress in the First District of Kansas and a fourth generation native of Hays, Kansas.

After graduating from college, I went to work for Governor Bill Graves and then Jerry Moran and then U.S. Senator Sam Brownback where I worked for his Chief of Staff.

Our values and our way of life are under assault by the politicians and the bureaucrats in Washington D.C. and I'm a conservative that can take the battle to Washington and win.

And one of the first things we need to do is start tackling the problem of out-migration right here at home.

Every time somebody moves out of the First District, we lose our voice in Washington.

I have a plan, it's something I worked on during my time with Senator Sam Brownback. It's called the New Homestead Act. 

What the New Homestead Act would do is help repopulate out-migration counties. Right now, here in Kansas, we export a lot of beef, a lot of wheat, we're also exporting too many of our children.

We need incentives to keep them right here in Kansas.

Good, high paying jobs that will make it worth their while to come back after college.

The New Homestead Act will put incentives in place for our out-migration counties, incentives like tax cuts for the start up of new business, loan forgiveness programs for students that want to move back and first time home purchases credits.

These things would do a lot to incentivize growth in the rural parts of our state and would revitalize our rural economy.

I'm the jobs candidate in this race and economic growth is my number one priority.

It's what I'll fight for in Washington and it's what I've been fighting for. 

I'm Rob Wasinger, Republican for Congress. 

I'd love your vote on August 3rd. 

U.S. House, District 1, Democrats

Alan Jilka

U.S. House, District 4, Republicans

Jim Anderson

Hello, my name is Jim Anderson and I'm a Republican running for U.S. Congress in the 4th district of Kansas.

I have been married to my lovely wife Liz for 18 years, we have 3 beautiful children and I'm a parishioner at the Church of the Magdalen.

Not long ago I was sitting right where you are.

A concerned citizen, husband, father and business owner watching the destructive policies in Washington damage our nation and jeopardize our freedom and liberty. 

We must stand up and fight for our country just like our founding fathers did.

The Constitution begins with we the people, not we the government.

The Declaration of Independence states "that among our rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness but nowhere does it state: the federal government has the right to seize our income, dictate our morals, decide our healthcare and undermine the sovereignty of our country.

People and principles must be put ahead of party and politics.

Our government must return to the Constitution and return the power of this great nation back to you.

As Ronald Reagan once said, freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.

We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.

It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same or we will spend our sunset years talking about what it was like to be free.

Above all, it comes down to trust.

Trust that our government will not govern over the people, but will govern by the people just as our Constitution states.

Ladies and gentlemen, now is the time to support a candidate of the people, by the people and for the people.

My name is Jim Anderson, I am that candidate.

I want to be your representative and i'm not just asking for your vote on August 3, I'm going to earn it.

Thank you, God bless you and god bless America!

Wink Hartman

Hi, I'm Wink Hartman.

At this point in the campaign season you've seen all the ads.

The ads from my DC insider opponent, Mr. Pompeo, attacking me and my family, questioning my history in Wichita; and you've seen my ads challenging

Mr. Pompeo for sending jobs meant for Kansans to Mexico.   

You've seen the ads and all the claims - but make no mistake, these are serious times.

Families are hurting across Kansas, especially right here in Sedgwick County and the 4th District. 

We cannot afford to keep making the same mistakes in Washington that keep hurting our workers, businesses and families.     

We have to change it up - we have to send someone to Washington who has done it before, not just talked about it. 

I'm Wink Hartman, native Kansan, born and raised right here in Wichita - went to South East high school and like many of you, I'm a Wichita State Shocker. 

This is my home, where I raised my family and where I built my businesses.

So it means that much more when I see the struggles folks are going through these days looking for work, trying to raise their kids to be honest citizens. 

It's tough, but this is America, and this is Kansas, and we can do it.
But we can't if we keep sending the same politicians to Washington because we'll just get the same results: more bailouts, more spending, and more outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries like Mexico. 

It's got to stop - and with me, it will.

I am not a career-politician or Washington insider like my opponent, Mr. Pompeo.

I'm a businessman, pro-life, Republican and Kansan. 

I'm running for the United States Congress and I'd appreciate your vote on

August 3rd. 

Thank you.

Mike Pompeo

I'm Mike Pompeo.  I want to take this time to get past the 30 second commercials and speak straight with you about why I am running for Congress.

I want to be your congressman because I believe our federal government has fundamentally lost its way.

This not about slowing down government, this is about stopping it.
Politicians - Democrats and Republicans alike - have succumbed to the power of the office,
and have taken us on a path that violates our Constitution.

We need to stop earmarks. 

We need to reduce the outrageous number of federal employees and eliminate entire agencies.

We need to secure our borders. 

This is serious business. And, while we're at it, let pass term limits on congress and force our leaders to live under the laws they pass.

As proof that I can be an effective leader from day 1, I offer my track record as a soldier who graduated from West Point, as a family man and church leader, and as a businessman who created more than 400 jobs here in Kansas. 

I believe America's best days can still be ahead of us - decline is not our destiny. But decline is a choice we will be making if we do not elect leaders prepared to fight for our nation.

Personal responsibility and individual freedom will spur job creation, and allow American - and Kansan - ingenuity to once again make our country the greatest place to live, work and raise a family, that the world has ever known.

I'm Mike Pompeo. I'm a pro-life conservative.

During this campaign and as your congressman, I promise to always speak the truth, and I humbly ask for your vote.

Paij Rutschman

I'm Paij Rutschman, Candidate for U. S. Congress.

We are facing the most complex problems in our nation's history:  trillion dollar debt, devastated economy, ineffective border security, and terrorist threats. 

Increased polarization as well as federal gridlocks are paralyzing our ability to solve problems.

If we remain on our present course, our nation will split resulting in the loss of our unity, stability and global respect.

In this weakened state we will be open to attack.  As Lincoln said in 1858, "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

To avoid this national tragedy we need representatives who can work together. Based on my experience as a businesswoman in industry, I have successfully worked with the federal government in solving complex problems, breaking gridlock, and bringing opposing views to the negotiating table.

Let's elect representatives who can work together for the good of our nation and Kansas.  I would appreciate your vote on August 3rd.

Thank you.

I'm Jean Schodorf and I'm running for Congress.

As many of you know, I have served on the School Board and in the Kansas Senate.

With this experience I am prepared and eager to go to Washington to represent Kansas and work to find solutions for the tough problems we face.

Experience matters and I know how to get things done for Kansas.

My passion to serve is driven by community service and consensus building.

I am an effective lawmaker and leader -- I know how to reach common ground for the common good.

In Washington I will work to solve problems that affect us:
- to help end this recession that has hurt so many of us, 
- to bring jobs and business to Wichita,
- to get the Tanker contract for Kansas,
-and to help small towns and farmers.

I was raised in southeast Kansas and have lived in Wichita for 37 years.

Now, I want to fight for you in Washington D.C.

My background, my experience and most importantly, my love for Kansas will help me hit the ground running to work for you in Washington, D.C.

No on-the-job training.

I ask for your vote Aug. 3.

U.S. House, District 4, Democrats

Raj Goyle

Robert Tillman

I am Robert Tillman, a life-long democrat and a candidate for the United States Representative for the State of Kansas District 4.

This is a congressional seat in Washington, DC. I want to go to Washington, DC to support President Barack Obama's efforts to get us out of this recession.

I support the recent health care reform bill, improving the economy, improving job opportunities, regulating financial industry, reducing the federal deficit and immigration reform.

I support ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by July 2011.

I support the aircraft industry and blue collar workers. I will work to get small business government loans to start or continue a business.

I strongly support education and would support paying our unemployed workers, to attend technical, community or four year colleges.

I believe that it is time of a "Taxpayer Bailout" to help the underemployed, the unemployed, those people who have bill collectors calling, that are in foreclosure or in bankruptcy.

I need your vote in this congressional election on August 3, 2010 and again on November 2, 2010.

Remember: if I don't win this election, you lose.

I am Robert Tillman and I support this message.

Thank you.