Ponka-We Victors
Ponka-We Victors | |
---|---|
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 103rd district | |
Assumed office 2011 | |
Preceded by | Delia Garcia |
Personal details | |
Born | Wichita, Kansas, U.S. | July 7, 1981
Nationality | Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma-Tohono O'odham Native American |
Political party | Democratic |
Residence(s) | Newman University, Wichita, Kansas |
Alma mater | Wichita State University |
Profession | Community Support Worker |
Website | http://www.votevictors.com/ |
Ponka-We Victors (born July 7, 1981) is a community support worker from Wichita, Kansas who has been a Democratic member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing District 103, since 2011.[1] She is the only Native American in the Kansas legislature.[2]
Background
Victors is a member of the Ponca and Tohono O'odham tribes of Native Americans, and a lifelong resident of Wichita. She earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Newman University in 2005, and a Master of Public Administration from Wichita State University in 2008.[3]
Elected office
Victors, who had worked as a Congressional intern, had been a long-time backer of Delia Garcia, the incumbent Representative from the 103rd District. In 2010, Garcia, instead of running for re-election, helped Victors file as the only candidate for the 2010 Democratic primary election just hours before the filing deadline, thus making her the presumptive winner of the seat – the last year in which a Republican vied for this seat was 1998, when incumbent Democrat Thomas Klein polled 57% of the vote in a three-way race.[4] Victors ran unopposed in the November general election.[5]
In 2012, she beat challenger Angela Martinez in the Democratic primary and was again unopposed in the November general election.[6][7][8]
"Illegal immigrants" speech
In 2013, Victors drew national attention when during a hearing on a bill to deny in-state tuition to Kansas high school graduates who were undocumented immigrants, Victors addressed Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and other advocates of the bill, saying, "I think it's funny, Mr. Kobach, because when you mention illegal immigrant, I think of all of you."[9][10]
Career
Victors is currently employed by a company called Behavioral Link.
References
- ^ "Representative Ponka-We Victors". Kansas Legislature, 2015-2016 Legislative Sessions. Kansas Legislative Information System and Services. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
- ^ Dennis Zotigh (21 November 2014). "Meet Native America: Ponka-We Victors, Kansas State Representative". National Museum of the American Indian. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
- ^ "Get to Know Ponka-We". Ponka-We Victors for State Representative 103 District. Ponka-We Victors for Kansas House. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ^ "Koranda, Jeannine. "Wichita's 103rd District has a new state representative: Ponka-We Victors" [[Wichita Eagle]] June 10, 2010". Archived from the original on March 24, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
- ^ Official Kansas House of Representatives General Election Results, 2010
- ^ Kansas Secretary of State, "Candidates for the 2012 primary (official)"
- ^ C-SPAN, "Kansas – Summary Vote Results" Archived 2013-05-29 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Kansas Secretary of State, 2012 Unofficial Kansas General Election Results". Archived from the original on 2013-02-02. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
- ^ Marso, Andy. "Emotions flow during immigrant tuition hearing; Indian lawmaker to Kobach: Who's the illegal immigrant here?" Topeka Capital-Journal March 20, 2013
- ^ Planas, Roque. "Kris Kobach Slammed By Native American Rep. Ponka-We Victors: ‘When You Mention Illegal Immigrant, I Think Of All Of You'" Huffington Post March 21, 2013
External links
- Official House website
- Project Vote Smart biography
- Project Vote Smart legislative profile
- Campaign contributions: 2010
- 1981 births
- 21st-century American politicians
- 21st-century American women politicians
- American social workers
- Kansas Democrats
- Living people
- Members of the Kansas House of Representatives
- Native American state legislators
- Native American women in politics
- Newman University, Wichita alumni
- Politicians from Wichita, Kansas
- Ponca
- Tohono O'odham people
- Wichita State University alumni
- Women state legislators in Kansas