Kevin Latz, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon from Mission Hills, Kansas, is running for U.S. Senate on a platform centered on gun policy, health care reform, and social media restrictions for minors. Latz filed for office in late March and is among 12 Democrats seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall in the August 4 primary.
Why It Matters
Kansas remains a reliably Republican state at the federal level, but the unusually large Democratic primary field signals some grassroots interest in fielding a credible challenger. Whoever emerges from the August primary will face an uphill general election battle in a state that has not sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in decades.
Latz brings more than 30 years of surgical experience to a race where health care policy is shaping up as a central fault line, particularly as Congress debates potential changes to Medicaid and other federal assistance programs. The Social Security trust fund is now projected to run dry by 2032, adding further urgency to debates over entitlement spending that candidates across the country are navigating.
What Happened
Latz entered the Senate race in late March, becoming one of a dozen Democrats competing for the chance to challenge Marshall. A surgeon by profession and a father raising three children, Latz said his medical background shapes his approach to policy — particularly on gun violence and public health.
On firearms, Latz supports a federal waiting period for gun purchases, mandatory firearm safety training, and a moratorium on weapons purchases at gun shows. “Those seem to be very commonsense regulations that could go a long way towards making gun ownership safer,” he said.
Latz described his surgical career as preparation for the demands of public office. “My role, I think, as a surgeon, even more so than a physician, is to work in, frankly, very demanding, exacting environments,” he said.
Policy Positions
On health care, Latz favors a hybrid single-payer model that would retain a role for private insurance. He has spoken out against cuts to Medicaid and federal nutrition assistance programs, arguing that reductions in those programs would harm vulnerable populations.
Latz also supports restoring funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has seen significant budget reductions under the current administration. He backs abortion access and has framed reproductive rights as a health care issue.
On technology and youth, Latz has called for stricter federal guidelines governing how social media platforms interact with adolescents, and he favors prohibiting social media use for anyone under age 16. He has tied this position to broader concerns about mental health outcomes for children and teenagers.
Additionally, Latz has argued in favor of mandatory national service, a position that places him outside the mainstream of either party’s current platform but reflects what he describes as a civic obligation framework.
By the Numbers
- 12 — Democrats seeking the Senate nomination to face Marshall
- Aug. 4 — Date of the Kansas Democratic primary
- 30+ — Years Latz has practiced as a surgeon
- 16 — Minimum age Latz would set for social media access
- Late March — When Latz formally filed his candidacy
Zoom Out
Latz’s candidacy reflects a broader pattern of medical professionals entering politics, particularly on health care and gun-related issues. Physicians have run in competitive races in multiple states in recent cycles, often emphasizing clinical experience as a credential for navigating complex policy debates.
The gun policy measures Latz endorses — waiting periods and training requirements — have gained traction in some states but have stalled repeatedly at the federal level. Meanwhile, congressional debates over Medicaid funding remain active, with the Senate recently passing a $70 billion immigration enforcement package as part of a broader federal spending negotiation that has put domestic program funding under scrutiny.
What’s Next
The Kansas primary is scheduled for August 4. The winner of the Democratic field will advance to face Sen. Marshall in the November general election. With 12 candidates splitting the primary vote, the outcome remains difficult to predict, and Latz will need to distinguish himself from a crowded field in the coming weeks.