Chris Tanner

Chris Tanner earned a high school diploma from Mountain View High School and a bachelor's degree from Messenger College. His career experience includes working as a property manager.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Chris Tanner is a lifelong Kansan running for Kansas House District 54 because he believes government should work for everyday people, not political insiders. A 30-year Topeka resident, former pastor, and Kansas Historical Society employee, Chris is focused on the issues that directly affect District 54 families: lower property taxes, affordable healthcare, strong public schools, and support for the workers, small businesses, and rural communities that are the backbone of this district. While his opponent has spent 13 years in office, property taxes keep rising and too many families are one medical bill away from a crisis. Chris Tanner is running to change that.

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?

Lower Property Taxes, Stronger Small Businesses, Better Jobs:

Rising property taxes are putting pressure on families, seniors, and small business owners across Kansas. Chris Tanner believes people who work hard should be able to stay in their homes and invest in their communities without being priced out.​

Chris supports lowering the property tax burden and strengthening locally owned businesses that create stable, good-paying jobs. His focus is on building an economy that rewards work, keeps dollars local, and supports long-term community growth.Strong Public Schools and Quality Education:

A strong education system is the foundation of a strong community. Chris Tanner believes every child in District 54 deserves access to quality public schools, well-supported teachers, and the tools they need to succeed — whether that path leads to college, a trade, or starting a business right here in Kansas.

Chris supports fully funding public education, investing in workforce and technical training programs, and keeping curriculum decisions where they belong — with local educators, parents, and communities. His focus is on preparing Kansas kids for the opportunities ahead while keeping schools accountable to the families they serve.Support for Workers, Small Business, and Rural Communities:

Rural Kansas is the backbone of this state, and Chris Tanner believes working families — whether they run a small business on Main Street, farm the land, or punch a clock every day — deserve a representative who fights for them, not political connections or corporate interests.

Chris supports fair wages, workers' rights, and policies that level the playing field for small businesses and independent farmers. He believes rural communities deserve real investment, fair markets, and a voice that actually gets heard in Topeka — not empty promises. His vision is a Kansas where hard work is rewarded and rural towns can thrive without losing their identity or values.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Affordable Health Care That Works for Kansans:

Kansas families are paying too much for health care, and the state consistently ranks near the bottom nationally for affordability. Chris believes this is unacceptable and preventable.

He supports expanding access to affordable care, including Medicaid expansion, lowering out-of-pocket costs, and protecting rural health care access. Chris’s goal is to move Kansas from #49 to #1 in health care affordability by putting patients and families first.