Rep. Emil Bergquist, a Park City Republican, has held his seat since 2018. He now faces a challenge from a 10-year mental health therapist and community activist. 

Republicans have won this seat the last five elections. Keisha McClish Couts is the second Democratic challenger since 2014. 

Election Day is Nov. 5. Oct. 15 is the last day to register to vote. Early voting starts Oct. 16. You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here.

Who are the candidates in Kansas House District 91?

Republican Emil Bergquist (Incumbent) 

Bergquist was first elected in 2018. He’s also spent 16 years as mayor and a council member in Park City. 

Bergquist retired after spending his entire career at Beechcraft, or Textron Aviation. 

Bergquist is the chair of the Local Government committee and serves on the Elections, Insurance, Health and Human Services, and Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications committees. He has four children with his wife. 

“I believe that responsible governance is structured around our state and federal constitutions. That is reflected in our oath of office,” he said on his campaign website. “Restricting the growth of government and protecting your freedoms is my focus.”

Bergquist is endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life and the Kansas Rifle Association. 

His campaign website is here. 

Democrat Keisha McClish Couts

McClish Couts is a mental health therapist. She has a master’s degree in therapy from Friends University and a bachelor’s in international business from InterContinental University. 

McClish Couts also works with Sunflower Community Action, a Wichita-based group trying to get equality and justice for all. 

“Keisha has devoted years to advocating for mental health services, especially for underserved populations,” according to her campaign website, “and addressing food deserts through her work with Common Ground Producers and Growers Inc.”

She is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, the Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas, the Kansas National Education Association and Game On for Kansas Schools. 

Her campaign website is here. 

Neither candidate replied to the questionnaire. The Beacon has compiled information from campaign websites, voting histories and public statements to provide the most information to voters.

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why? 

Bergquist: Bergquist sponsored the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. This law requires doctors to give medical care to babies delivered alive after an abortion. Supporters pushed for this law because they believe medical providers leave children to die if they survive an abortion. It is a felony for doctors to not provide care to these infants. 

McClish Couts: McClish Couts wants marijuana legalized and is pushing for Medicaid expansion. 

What are your priorities if elected? 

Bergquist: Bergquist regularly supports conservative priorities like a flat tax on income, bans on transgender athletes, bans on gender-affirming care for transgender minors and eliminating the grace period on mail ballots. 

His campaign website pushes for small government, individual liberty and responsible use of tax dollars. 

McClish Couts: McClish Couts wants to address homelessness, strengthen mental health services and eliminate disparities in the education system. 

She wants to prevent farmer suicides. McClish Couts said federal lawmakers don’t understand the needs of “farmers, small business owners, their families, suppliers, end customers, and the whole of American society.” She said she’ll advocate for additional support on a state level.