Anne Parelkar

Anne Parelkar's career experience includes working as an attorney.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a mother, a wife, a community volunteer, and an Immigration lawyer. I believe that every mother's main concern is the long-term well-being of her children. My kids are the reason I'm running for US Senate. I want them to live in a world that's safe, where if they fall on hard times the supports exist to help them stand back up and succeed. Most importantly, I want to know that, when I'm gone and my children are worried about their children, that they can confidently tell my future grandbabies they can expect a better life with more opportunities to thrive.

As the wife of an immigrant from India and an immigration lawyer, I've seen first hand how difficult the process of becoming a naturalized citizen (or green card holder) is to navigate. I've worked with clients who are just trying to make their best lives and contribute positively to society. I believe that our immigration process and policies need a full revision, but I also understand the fear ICE has brought to all communities. That fear is shared as the wife of an immigrant and mother to two mixed children, but I'm here to fight against that fear for all Americans to feel safe and secure in this country.

Finally, I'm a community volunteer. As an immigration lawyer, I've helped lay the foundation for providing assistance and aide against ICE for those living legally in our country. I believe that loving others - regardless of the person - is what God calls us to do.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Return the power in Washington back to We the People, making government work for the people of America not corporations.Kansans farmers/ranchers have long been the backbone of Kansas' economy and culture. Yet, the promise of "America First" is broken: needless wars have increased input costs, and big corporations now seek more and more control over farms (and all facets of Americans' lives). I believe a servant of the people must listen to the people and put people's needs above corporations. I believe a Senator should work for the people not the enrichment of the Epstein class. Kansas needs a leader whose actions prove Kansans are the priority. We must come together and get government working for us.Affordability

I feel like I could leave just the one word; everyone understands that life isn't affordable for most Americans anymore. Years of corporate greed, taxes for the wealthy at the lowest rates ever in our country, workers rights being taken away, property taxes skyrocketing, and tax dollars being wasted on handouts to entitled billionaires instead of bettering the lives of all Americans.

We have to end handouts to the wealthy. We need a balanced tax policy that encourages growth. We need a grant system that benefits small businesses/farms above big business. Ultimately, we need someone (like me) who has actually struggled and understands what life is like for most Americans: I live that life; I understand; We are the People.A path to Medicare for All beginning with Medicare for All Kids.

My children's future is my biggest concern. We value children in the womb, now it's time to value the mother and born child. Medicare for all kids will cover medical and behavioral costs from birth to 18 years of age for the child and the pregnancy/post-partum coverage for the mother/carrier. This guarantee of coverage will be a financial relief to families, uses an already successful program, and doesn't rely on greedy health insurance companies. The program will provide a demonstration period to allow changes to the program to maximize effectiveness and efficiency; then, we expand the program further to eventually cover all Americans, because health is a human right.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education - as a former teacher (prior to becoming an Immigration Lawyer), the state of our education system requires significant attention. The US has never upheld its promise for funding of Special Education. Education costs have increased across the board; yet, federal tax dollars continue being diverted to wars, weapons, and pet projects over our children's future. Funding isn't enough, though. We need to empower our teachers to actually teach our children. We need to stop having teachers teach to an assessment test and get back to educating. We need politics kept out of our schools. We need to fund teachers in Kansas at a starting wage of at least $60,000, and we need to provide those teachers resources and supports.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The ability to listen; the ability to remove ego and self from the equation.

What Kansans have seen over the last six years are politicians who don't want to hear from the People. Scripted questions, reduced visibility, and a dearth of public meetings. I believe there should only be one constituency a Kansas Senator should listen to: the People of Kansas.

What we've seen from many elected officials is self-preservation and self-serving egos driving policies and stances. Why do we not have term limits? Why is there no ability to hold elected officials accountable to the People aside from an election every 6 years that is funded by a select few billionaires with their own self-centered demands. An elected official must be willing to accept that the needs of the People outweigh any personal needs. When I'm your Senator, I pledge to work to pass term limits and need you to hold me accountable when I come to your county and ask for your feedback. I'm running to be the Kansans' Senator, not the Senator "from Kansas".

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Honesty. If you follow my campaign, you know that I say what I mean. I'm going to tell you my thoughts, I'm going to be honest with you about what I see going on behind the scenes that holds up progress. A politician has a duty to the people being represented to build trust through an open, honest relationship. That, to me, is the minimum Kansans deserve from their elected Senator.

Commitment to the Promise of America. When America was founded, a promise was made. The promise of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". The obligation an elected official has is to ensure that any American has equal opportunity under this promise. Unfortunately, this promise has been broken. Between claw backs to safety-net systems under misdirected allegations of fraud, government surveillance of US Citizens (Flock, FISA, using of personal data to target/track), and corporations killing the American Dream it is no wonder the Promise of America feels further away now than ever. I'm committed to restoring the Promise of America to all - not the wealthy or people who believe exactly as I do, because that's the obligation of a Senator.

Do no harm. Just as a Doctor/"Doc" takes an oath to do no harm, the same obligation applies to an elected official. When elected officials take food from children, cancel life-saving programs, and allow corporations to take advantage of their employees, those elected officials fail to protect their people from harm. While I recognize some actions result in harm, the action should still help more than it hurts, and any elected official who causes harm should, like Doctors losing their medical license, not be allowed to continue.

What legacy would you like to leave?

When my children are grown, I want to be able to look them in the eyes and tell them honestly that I did everything I could to make sure they could live a better, safer, more secure life. That's the only legacy that really matters to me.

Campaign websiteParelkar's campaign website stated the following:BUILD A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE AND PROVIDES MEDICARE FOR ALLAccess to healthcare is a human right. Healthcare must be dependable, available, and built step by step for the people. Cover every child first. Guarantee Medicare for all children as the first incremental step toward a universal system that puts families ahead of insurance company profits. Chart the path to universal care. A clear, responsible plan to ensure every American can afford healthcare without fear of bankruptcy, debt, or delayed treatment. End surprise billing. Eliminate out-of-network penalties so patients are never punished for emergencies or forced to navigate insurance fine print while seeking care. Require real price transparency. Hospitals, insurers, and drug companies must publish clear, comparable costs so families can make informed decisions and competition lowers prices. Prioritize prevention and stability. Invest in healthy lifestyles, reproductive care, early care, family support, and long-term condition management to reduce costs and improve quality of life, and protect women's right to choose.STAND WITH FARMERSFamily farmers should be able to make a living without being squeezed out by consolidation. Break up monopolies controlling farm inputs and processing. Strengthen and enforce antitrust laws against dominant seed, fertilizer, meatpacking, and equipment corporations that squeeze farmers with high costs and limited market access. Guarantee fair competition so farmers receive fair prices. Strengthen enforcement of market rules and transparency so processors and buyers cannot manipulate prices paid to producers. Protect farmers from abusive contracts and retaliation. Establish clear rights and legal safeguards so corporations cannot trap producers in unfair agreements or punish those who speak out. Support independent producers and local food systems. Invest in local processing, distribution, and markets so farmers have alternatives to consolidated supply chains and can keep more value local. Ensure farmers have access to fair credit and disaster support. Expand low-interest loans, crop insurance, and emergency relief so family farms can survive downturns, disasters, and volatile markets without selling out.FIX IMMIGRATION, PROTECT WORKERS, DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITYAmerica should have an immigration system that protects citizens and non-citizens alike while upholding the law. Secure the border with humane, orderly enforcement. Establish clear rules, modern processing, and lawful pathways so border security protects human dignity and national stability. Launch an independent investigation of ICE operations. Conduct a full review of misconduct and failures of ICE and hold those found guilty of illegal activity accountable. Abolish ICE if it cannot meet lawful standards and create a safer and more dignified approach to enforcing immigration and customs policies. Tie funding to training and oversight. Require strict standards, independent investigations, and consequences for misconduct before any new enforcement funding is approved. Reform work visas to protect American workers. Require employers to pay local wages and recruit domestically first so visas cannot be used to drive down pay. Stop outsourcing abuse and prioritize real shortages. Focus visas on critical needs like rural healthcare while preventing corporations from replacing American workers with cheaper labor. Hold employers accountable for hiring undocumented workers. Locate and prosecute businesses and corporations who hire undocumented workers, rather than locking up workers who are just trying to make better lives for their families, or are already in the process of becoming citizens. Streamline the immigration process and stop it from being an "issue". Fix the immigration process to make it more efficient. Reduce the amount of time it takes and the number of resources needed to approved applications and swear in new citizens.PUT POWER BACK WHERE IT BELONGSWashington should work for We the People, not oligarchs and corporations. Break up modern monopolies and restore competition. Strengthen and enforce antitrust laws against multinational corporations that control markets, raise prices, crush small businesses, and limit choices for consumers and workers. End government corruption. Ban officials from cashing in as lobbyists or trading stocks so government decisions serve the public interest. Stop rigging the rules for multinational corporations. Rewrite tax, trade, and procurement policies so government supports American workers, small businesses, and local communities instead of global monopolies. Return tariff authority to Congress where it belongs. Require major trade actions to be approved by elected representatives so no president can impose sweeping tariffs alone. Reform federal elections to empower ordinary Americans. Overturn Citizens United and create public financing and small donor matching programs so candidates can run without relying on wealthy donors or corporate money. Expand the House of Representatives and restore fair representation. End the artificial cap on House seats so representation can grow with the population, ensuring every American's voice carries equal weight, reducing the influence of money in politics, and making our democracy more responsive to the people it serves.EMPOWER WORKERSWorkers should have real power and strong protections in the workplace. Pass the PRO Act. Guarantee the right to organize and bargain collectively without intimidation, retaliation, or union-busting tactics that silence workers and tilt power toward corporations. Crack down on wage theft. Enforce strong penalties for stolen pay, worker misclassification, and unsafe conditions so employers can't boost profits by breaking labor laws. Hold corporations to the same rules. End special loopholes for multinational companies and enforce labor standards so American workers aren't undercut by unfair global practices. Rebuild pathways to good jobs. Restore funding for Job Corps and retraining programs so workers can gain skills, transition careers, and fill critical shortages in growing industries. Create a path to work. Launch transportation support for people without reliable access, including unhoused individuals, so they can reach jobs, earn income, and regain stability.RESPECT TEACHERS IMPROVE EDUCATIONTeachers should be supported, trusted, and treated like professionals. Provide competitive pay and benefits to retain teachers. Increase salaries, protect pensions, stop vouchers, and improve healthcare so educators can afford to stay in the classroom and schools can attract talent. Reduce class sizes and expand support staff. Hire more teachers, aides, counselors, nurses, and specialists so students receive attention and educators can focus on teaching. Cut excessive testing and paperwork requirements. Streamline mandates so teachers spend more time on instruction and student support instead of standardized tests and administrative tasks. Protect academic freedom and classroom independence. Safeguard educators from political interference and respect collective bargaining so teachers have a professional voice in decisions. Fully fund special education at the promised federal level. Meet the 40 percent IDEA commitment so districts are not forced to cut general education programs to cover legally required services.END PRICE MANIPULATIONWhen you shop, you should be able to expect one clear price. Require one clear and universal price. Mandate transparent pricing, with no surprise after-purchase add-ons, so everyone pays the same amount for the same good or service. Ban data-driven price discrimination using personal information. Prohibit companies from using browsing history, location, income estimates, or device type to secretly change prices. Protect consumers when companies change what they sold. Require refunds or cancellation options if services lose major features or content that customers originally signed up to receive. Strengthen laws that stop big retailers from manipulating the market. Strengthen Robinson-Patman protections so small businesses pay fair wholesale prices and can compete on equal terms. Pause subscriptions after inactivity or a declined payment. Require companies to stop billing after months of nonuse or a single failed charge and notify customers before charges resume.RESTORE REAL OWNERSHIPIf you buy something, you should own it and be able to fix it. Guarantee a national right to repair. Require manufacturers to provide parts, tools, and manuals so owners and independent shops can fix products they purchased. Require clear, simple user agreements and subscription terms. Mandate plain language disclosures so people understand ownership rights, ongoing fees, and conditions before buying. Prohibit locking basic product functions behind subscriptions. Ban practices that disable core features unless customers pay ongoing fees after purchase. Protect ownership rights for digital purchases. Ensure buyers can keep, transfer, or resell digital goods instead of losing access when companies change terms. Ban planned obsolescence that forces early replacement. Prohibit designing products to fail prematurely or lose support quickly to push consumers into buying new ones.SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITIESWashington should help communities thrive and support local solutions. Ensure fair competition so local businesses can survive. Use antitrust enforcement, tax reform, and fair regulations so small businesses are not undercut by monopolies and corporate giants. Fix federal grant processes so every community can compete. Simplify applications and provide technical help so every community, even those with limited staff, can access funding. Launch a comprehensive revitalization program for struggling areas. Invest in infrastructure, workforce development, and small business support to rebuild local economies and opportunity. Support local media through cooperative grants. Fund local and community owned news organizations so local reporting survives, and residents stay informed about issues impacting their communities. Return decision-making power to local communities. Give towns and counties more flexibility in federal programs so solutions can reflect local needs instead of one-size-fits all rules.PROTECT THE LAND AND SAFEGUARD THE FUTUREClean air, clean water, and safe land should be guaranteed for every community. Clean up the mess. Launch a national program to remediate abandoned mines, toxic industrial sites, and polluted waterways with rural communities first in line. Make polluters pay up front. Require cleanup bonds before companies drill, mine, or dump, so taxpayers aren't left holding the bag when they walk away. Pay farmers to rebuild the land. Expand conservation payments for cover crops, topsoil rebuilding, and runoff reduction. Support real stewardship that boosts yields and protects water. Build for the weather we actually have now. Flood control, drought resilience, wildfire prevention, and grid hardening, designed locally, not copy-pasted from D.C. Make clean energy here. Invest in domestic manufacturing of components so we're not dependent on foreign supply chains for the next generation of power. Support the Green New Deal. Fight climate change while advancing economic growth, social equity, and good jobs through strong climate and environmental justice legislation.RESPONSIBLE FOREIGN POLICY NOT MORE FOREVER WARSAmerican foreign policy should lead with the head and the heart, not the fist. End the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force. Repeal outdated war authorizations that have been stretched far beyond their original purpose and restore congressional oversight over new military conflicts and counterterrorism operations. Put working Kansans first in trade deals. Negotiate trade agreements that serve working Kansans, farmers, and small businesses, not corporate interests. Strengthen American supply chain sovereignty. Invest in domestic manufacturing, energy and fertilizer security, and critical supply chains so American families are less vulnerable to global instability and foreign coercion. Strengthen democratic alliances and cooperation. Strengthen alliances with democratic allies and reaffirm commitments to NATO, AUKUS, and other key partnerships that preserve stability, deter aggression, and protect democracy abroad. End unconditional military aid. Condition any military aid or assistance on respecting human rights and international law. Ensure American weapons are not used in war crimes or acts of aggression. End U.S. complicity in genocide. Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Palestine, block all U.S. weapons transfers to Israel, and ensure the safe passage of humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip. End sanctions as a tool of collective punishment. Use targeted sanctions against corrupt leaders and human rights abusers, not broad economic punishments that harm ordinary civilians, increase suffering, and fuel instability abroad. Rebuild American diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and soft power. Restore America's global leadership through diplomacy, disaster relief, cultural exchange, development assistance, and humanitarian partnerships that build stability and goodwill without endless military intervention.— Anne Parelkar's campaign website (July 29, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.