Isaiah Harris

Isaiah Harris earned a high school diploma from Pittsburg High School and a bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State University in 2023.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Isaiah Harris, and I am a lifelong resident of Kansas House District 3. I work full-time at a grocery store, am a proud member of UFCW Local 2, and help support my wife's in-home daycare. I know firsthand the challenges working families face because I've lived them.

I was raised by a single mother who worked multiple jobs to support our family. Growing up, we experienced housing insecurity and relied on organizations like Wesley House and SEK-CAP to help us get through difficult times. Those experiences taught me the value of community and showed me how important it is to have leaders who understand what ordinary people are going through.

I put myself through college while working and earned a degree from Pittsburg State University. Like many people in Southeast Kansas, I chose to stay here because this community is my home. I believe that anyone who works hard should be able to afford healthcare, housing, childcare, and a decent standard of living.

I'm running for the Kansas House because working people deserve a voice in Topeka. For too long, our state government has listened to corporate lobbyists and special interests instead of the families who keep our communities running. I want to fight for affordable healthcare, higher wages, stronger unions, quality public schools, and an economy that works for working people, not just the wealthy and well-connected.

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?

Making Kansas More Affordable

Working people are being squeezed by rising costs while politicians in Topeka do little to help. I support expanding KanCare to lower healthcare costs, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, protecting Social Security and retirement security, and making childcare more affordable. If you work hard, you should be able to afford a decent life.A Working-Class Voice for District 3

I am not a career politician. I work full-time at a grocery store, belong to UFCW Local 2, and help support my wife's in-home daycare. I know what it's like to worry about paying bills, affording healthcare, and making ends meet because I live those struggles myself. District 3 deserves a representative who understands working families and will fight for them in Topeka.Taking on the Topeka Establishment

For too long, powerful interests and lobbyists have had a louder voice in our state government than ordinary Kansans. I am running a grassroots campaign funded by supporters, not corporate PACs. I will fight for stronger unions, better schools, and policies that put working families ahead of wealthy special interests. Government should work for the people, not the politically connected.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am particularly passionate about making life more affordable for working Kansans. Kansas has kept its minimum wage at $7.25 an hour for nearly two decades while the cost of housing, groceries, healthcare, and childcare has continued to rise. I believe that anyone who works full-time should be able to afford a decent standard of living.

I am also passionate about healthcare. Kansas is one of the few states that has refused to expand KanCare, leaving thousands without affordable coverage while our federal tax dollars are sent to other states. I support expanding KanCare to lower healthcare costs, increase access to care, and help keep rural hospitals open.