Abi Boatman, a Democrat and Air Force veteran, is running for a full term representing Wichita's Kansas House District 86 in the Nov. 3 general election. She faces Republican Kevin Thompson.

Boatman said she was selected by precinct leaders in January 2026 to fill the seat left vacant when Silas Miller was elected to the Kansas Senate, according to her campaign website.

Candidate information

  • Full name: Elle Abigail Boatman
  • Party: Democratic
  • Residence: Wichita (resident since 2009)
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in general studies with a focus on women's studies, Wichita State University, 2015; high school diploma, Dayton Christian High School, 1998
  • Military service: Aerospace repair technician, U.S. Air Force, 2001–2011
  • Occupation: Certified electronic transcriber, according to the Kansas Legislature website

Boatman said on her campaign website that she is an Ohio native who moved to Wichita when she was stationed at McConnell Air Force Base. She said she began her gender transition in 2012 and describes herself as the only openly transgender legislator in Kansas.

Experience and public service

Boatman's campaign website and BallotReady profile list the following experience:

  • Co-founder, editor and outreach, Wichita Transgender Community Network (2015–present)
  • Board member, Wichita Public Library Board
  • Member, Wichita District Advisory Board (April 2023–present)
  • Facilities supervisor/event coordinator and financial aid administrative specialist, Wichita State University (2011–2015)
  • Guest lecturer in gender studies at Wichita State University; speaker at Wesley Medical Center and Evergy

On the issues

The following positions are Boatman's own responses, provided through BallotReady.

Education: Boatman said fully funding public and special education is both a constitutional duty and an investment in the state's workforce, property values and future. She said Kansas students deserve the tools to succeed and educators deserve support.

Healthcare: Boatman said thousands of Kansans fall into a coverage gap, earning too much for Medicaid but too little for private insurance. She called Medicaid expansion "a practical, fiscally responsible fix" that would keep Kansas tax dollars in the state, support rural hospitals and communities, and ensure basic healthcare security for working Kansans.

Wages and job benefits: Boatman said no one working full time should live in poverty. She said a living wage strengthens families, stabilizes local economies and reduces the burden on taxpayers.

Civil rights: Boatman said civil rights are not partisan issues. She said she supports voting rights, criminal justice reform and action on economic and racial injustice. She said that includes trusting individuals to make their own healthcare decisions. She said all Kansans, including LGBTQ residents, should be able to live, work and raise families free from discrimination.

Endorsements

The following endorsements are reported by BallotReady:

  • AFL-CIO
  • Kansas Farm Bureau's VOTE FBF

Candidate responses were collected through BallotReady questionnaires and the candidate's campaign website. The Wichita Ledger presents this profile for informational purposes and does not endorse candidates.