Get to know: Jason Hart, Democratic candidate running for U.S. Senate in Kansas

KANSAS (KQTV) -- Jason Hart is a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Kansas. He has never held elected office before but spent 16 years as a federal prosecutor and five years before that as a state prosecutor, totaling more than 21 years of public service.

"I had been working for the United States Attorney's Office for the Department of Justice for the last 16 years," Hart said. "I would still be doing that job, except this administration has made it clear that they weren't very interested in the crimes that I was prosecuting, which were child pornography, child sex trafficking and things like that. I've spent my entire adult career in public service to Kansans. I ultimately think that we suffer from a lack of accountability in D.C. My skills are particularly useful for this moment, and that's why I decided to run."

Hart said his background makes him uniquely qualified.

"You don't call a plumber to do your dental work," Hart said. "When we're talking about somebody who's going to go write laws for us, I'm the one with actual experience dealing with the laws. I know how they're written in the federal system, how they're implemented by the executive branch, and how they're interpreted by the courts. I'm the only candidate with that level of experience."

On the top issues, Hart said Kansans are facing economic instability caused by executive overreach, a healthcare crisis, and public education funding.

He points to tariffs and foreign policy as drivers of rising prices.

"The very first thing that we have to address is the chaos that is creating all the instability in our governance and in our economics," Hart said. "It makes it harder for businesses and farmers and ranchers to plan and is increasing our prices. We need to curtail this executive overreach."

On healthcare, Hart said vertically integrated markets, where the same companies control pharmaceuticals, doctors, and clinics, need to be broken up.

He also cites the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on families.

On public education, Hart speaks from personal experience as a father of three neurodivergent boys.

He said the federal government has failed to fully fund special education, forcing local property taxes to cover the shortfall.

"I have three boys, all of whom are neurodivergent," Hart said. "I've had to pay for private tutoring out of my own pocket to get them up to speed. It's not because the schools don't want to help, there are counselors and teachers who desperately want to help, but they just don't have the resources because federal funding hasn't come."

On data centers and AI, Hart said Kansans are vocally opposed.

He cites the strain on the Ogallala Aquifer and electric infrastructure, calling data centers a "purely extractive proposition."

"When you start dumping in these AI data centers, which have a huge draw on water as well as electricity, it is a drain," Hart said. "What benefit do I get from AI? It's very little. It's ultimately benefiting some out-of-state corporation. I am firmly on the side of we need to heavily regulate this and put the brakes on it."

Hart said he is the candidate best positioned to bring Republican voters over in the general election, citing his prosecutorial background as a "pressure point" for Republicans who are frustrated with the Trump administration.

"I have been a public servant for Kansans for 21-plus years," Hart said. "I think we are in a point of crisis now. When you think about who you want to represent you, the best predictor of future performance is past performance. I've been doing that exact job for 21-plus years, and I'll keep doing it for you."