Editing Kansas (section)

=== 19th-century state politics ===
Kansas was founded as a free-state by anti-slavery advocates from New England. During its early history, it faced political turmoil from politicians trying to sway the newly founded state towards pro-slavery or pro-abolition sentiment. Ultimately, upon achieving statehood in 1861, Kansas became a Republican stronghold due to the Republican party's establishment as the anti-slavery party. The state's first officials, including Governor Charles Robinson and Senators James Lane and Samuel Pomeroy, were Republicans. From 1861 to 1888, Republicans dominated Kansas politics, winning the majority of congressional and gubernatorial races. This era saw the implementation of progressive policies, including the adoption of prohibition in 1881 and early support for women's suffrage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charles Robinson - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society |url=https://www.kansashistory.gov:443/kansapedia/charles-robinson/12205%E2%80%8B:contentReference |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=www.kansashistory.gov}}</ref>

Starting in 1887 Kansas women could vote in city elections and [[List of first women mayors in the United States#Kansas|hold certain offices]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Society |first=Kansas State Historical |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QJJFAQAAMAAJ&q=%22women+the+right+to+vote%22&pg=PA400 |title=Collections of the Kansas State Historical Society |date=1912 |language=en}}</ref>

In the 1890 elections, Populists secured a majority in the state legislature and elected a U.S. Senator. However, internal divisions and strategic counteractions by Republicans led to the movement's decline by the late 1890s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Populism, Its Rise and Fall |url=https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700605095/%E2%80%8B:contentReference/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=University Press of Kansas |language=en-US}}</ref>