Money listed in Hawkins’s reports
Their money. His no vote. Your watchdog.
His campaign took $40,000 from industry interests. Now Dirty Dan Hawkins wants the watchdog’s job.
Insurance companies, PBMs, and drug groups put $40,000 into his campaign through these 15 listed contributions. Hawkins also voted no on new PBM rules. Now he wants to run the office that must enforce them. Kansans should not hand him the keys.
See who paid in
His campaign took the money. He cast the no vote. Now he wants the power.
The industry money
Insurance, PBM, and drug interests put $40,000 into his campaign.
These 15 reported contributions add up to $40,000. They come from insurance companies, PBMs, and drug groups. Hawkins is asking voters to put him in charge of their regulator.
2025 campaign haul$417,305.07
2025 cash stockpile$384,009.85
Cash on hand in July 2026$420,677.75
The interests behind the checks
13 organizations
Money listed in Hawkins’s reports
UnitedHealth Group PAC
Money listed in Hawkins’s reports
Kansas State Farm PAC
Money listed in Hawkins’s reports
American Property Casualty Insurance Association
Money listed in Hawkins’s reports
Travelers PAC
Money listed in Hawkins’s reports
CVS Health
Money listed in Hawkins’s reports
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City PAC
Money listed in Hawkins’s reports
Elevance Health
Money listed in Hawkins’s reports
Security Benefit Life Insurance PAC
Money listed in Hawkins’s reports
Shelter Insurance Kansas PAC
Money listed in Hawkins’s reports
NAIFA Kansas PAC
Money listed in Hawkins’s reports
PhRMA
Money listed in Hawkins’s reports
Prime Therapeutics PAC
The donor and the contract
His old friend gave $4,000. Lawmakers handed him a $50,000 no-bid contract.
After one refund, Ken Hush had given the Hawkins campaign $4,000. State lawmakers later approved a $50,000 no-bid contract for Hush. Hawkins said Hush had been his friend for more than 40 years. Republican leaders did not say Hush’s name during the public meeting.
The evidence Hawkins cannot erase
- The report lists two gifts from Hush: $1,000 and $4,000. It also lists a $1,000 refund. After the refund, Hush had given $4,000.
- On January 8, 2026, a group of legislative leaders approved a five-month, $50,000 contract for Hush. The vote was 5-2.
- Hawkins and Hush were fraternity brothers at Emporia State. Hawkins said they had been friends for more than 40 years.
- Republican leaders did not say Hush’s name during the public meeting. Kansas Reflector called the contract a no-bid deal.
The no vote
104 lawmakers backed new PBM rules. Hawkins sided with the 17 who said no.
Kansas moved to ban spread pricing and add payment, reporting, and enforcement rules. Hawkins voted no. Now he wants to run the office that will enforce them.
The evidence Hawkins cannot erase
- Senate Bill 20 banned spread pricing. It also added payment, reporting, and enforcement rules.
- On March 23, 2026, 104 House members voted yes and 17 voted no. Hawkins was one of the 17.
- The Senate approved the bill 32-8. The governor signed it on April 9, 2026.
- Heartland Signal reported that Hawkins used House rules to block Senate Bill 360, an earlier version of the PBM bill.
Punishing dissent
Five Republicans defied Hawkins. He stripped them of leadership posts.
Five Republicans would not sign Hawkins’s redistricting petition. Hawkins answered by removing them from committee leadership jobs.
The evidence Hawkins cannot erase
- The House needed 84 signatures to call the meeting. Hawkins got 78 out of 125 members.
- Hawkins removed Steven Howe, Nathan Butler, and Jesse Borjon as committee chairs.
- He also removed Clarke Sanders and Leah Howell from vice chair posts.
- Hawkins later said the lawmakers knew the “ramifications” of their decision.
The question he cannot dodge
Who will Dirty Dan answer to?
His campaign reports name insurance companies, PBMs, and drug groups. He wants power over businesses like them. That is not proof of a deal. It is a warning sign that voters cannot ignore.
A pattern of control
Hawkins’s record shows what he does with power.
ABlocked coverage152,000 Kansans could gain coverage. Hawkins blocked a House vote.
About 152,000 Kansans could gain health coverage. Hawkins would not let the House vote on the plan. He later named Medicaid as a possible target for budget cuts.
The evidence Hawkins cannot erase
- In 2024, Hawkins said there was “zero” chance he would support expansion. He said it gave people “no reason to work.”
- Hawkins said the plan did not have enough votes. He did not let the House vote on it.
- In 2025, he named Medicaid as one possible target in a plan for about $200 million in state budget cuts.
BShut out the pressHawkins took away reporters’ seats on the House floor.
He moved reporters farther from lawmakers. Their new spots made it harder to speak with lawmakers and see what the House was doing.
The evidence Hawkins cannot erase
- Hawkins said House staff needed the seats. The House rejected a rule that would have restored the press area.
- The House also rejected recorded committee votes and a limit on lawmaking after midnight.
CWeaker health plansHe backed plans that can leave Kansans with fewer protections.
Hawkins voted for Farm Bureau health coverage and longer short-term health plans. These plans do not include every Affordable Care Act protection.
The evidence Hawkins cannot erase
- In 2019, Hawkins voted for a law that does not treat Kansas Farm Bureau health coverage as insurance under state law.
- These plans do not have every Affordable Care Act protection. Hawkins called the plan “just another option.”
- In 2021, Hawkins voted to override a veto and permit short-term plans to continue for 36 months. The override failed 67-48.
DStopped the debateLawmakers were ready to seek debate. Hawkins ended House work.
Lawmakers from both parties were preparing to debate Senate Bill 284. Hawkins ended House work and stopped action on that bill and 16 others.
The evidence Hawkins cannot erase
- The Topeka Capital-Journal reported that Hawkins ended House work on March 19, 2026. A group from both parties was getting ready to ask for debate.
- Ending the day stopped work on Senate Bill 284 and 16 other bills. Hawkins did not comment for the report.
EA donor wanted a lawA company seeking a Kansas law gave Hawkins $2,000.
Veteran Benefits Guide gave Hawkins $2,000 while it wanted Kansas rules for paid claims help. The VFW and American Legion opposed the plan.
The evidence Hawkins cannot erase
- The Hawkins report lists a $2,000 contribution from Veteran Benefits Guide on December 11, 2025.
- The VFW and American Legion opposed the plan. They called paid claims companies “claim sharks.” Approved veteran groups offer similar help for free.
FLobbyist hospitalityKanCare lobbyists picked up Hawkins’s meal tab 41 times.
The lobbyists worked for companies paid to run KanCare. Hawkins helped oversee KanCare. The reported total was $1,061.91.
The evidence Hawkins cannot erase
- In 2015, lobbyists for Amerigroup, Centene, and Sunflower Health Plan reported 41 meals for Hawkins with a total value of $1,061.91.
- Kansas law permitted the meals.
GThe date that does not add up$4,000. One report. A contribution dated after the filing.
The report was filed on August 3. The listed PhRMA contribution carries an August 25 date. Hawkins owes voters an explanation.
The evidence Hawkins cannot erase
- The report covers July 24 through July 29, 2026, and gives July 30 as its due date.
- It was filed electronically on August 3. The listed $4,000 PhRMA contribution carries an August 25 date.
Dirty Dan has some explaining to do
Before he gets your vote, make him answer.
- Why should Kansans trust your independence after your campaign took $40,000 from insurance, PBM, and drug interests?
- You voted against Senate Bill 20. Why should voters trust you to enforce it?
- When lawmakers approved your old friend’s no-bid contract, why did Republican leaders not say his name in public?
- Did every leader who voted know that Hush had given your campaign $4,000 and had known you for more than 40 years?
- Why did you punish five Republicans who would not sign your redistricting petition?
- Which date is wrong: the August 3 filing date or the August 25 PhRMA contribution date?
The watchdog belongs to Kansans
Do not hand Dirty Dan the keys.
Read every record. Follow every dollar. Reject the excuses.
Check his recordThe receipts
Do not take our word for it. Check his record.
Every record and report behind these charges is below.
Official records
- Daniel Hawkins legislative profileKansas Legislature
- 2025 receipts and expenditures reportKansas Public Disclosure Commission
- July 2026 receipts and expenditures reportKansas Public Disclosure Commission
- 2026 last-minute contribution reportKansas Public Disclosure Commission
- March 23, 2026 House journal and Senate Bill 20 voteKansas Legislature
- Senate Bill 20 conference committee briefKansas Legislature
- Kansas Consumer Prescription Protection and Accountability Act summaryKansas Insurance Department
- Governor signs prescription protection actKansas Insurance Department
- House vote on House Bill 2209Kansas Legislature
- House vote on Senate Bill 29 veto overrideKansas Legislature
News reports
- Legislative leaders enlist Ken Hush for university budget workKansas Reflector
- Kansas hires former ESU president for budget reviewThe Bulletin
- Former Emporia State president hired to find wasteInside Higher Ed
- Kansas Republicans pass prescription drug consumer protectionsHeartland Signal
- Hawkins ends House work before drug bill debateThe Topeka Capital-Journal via Yahoo News
- House speaker removes Republican committee leadersNews From The States
- Kansas legislators reject special redistricting sessionAssociated Press
- Kansas proposal for paid veteran claims servicesKansas Reflector
- 2019 Kansas legislative health recapKansas Health Institute
- State actions on individual-market health coverageKFF
- Kansas Farm Bureau health plan lawAssociated Press via KSL
- Short-term health insurance expansion raises concernsKansas Reflector
- Hawkins says press seats were needed for staffKansas Reflector
- New media rules limit Kansas House accessKWCH
- Kansas Republican leaders oppose Medicaid expansionKCUR
- Hawkins declines to put Medicaid expansion to a House voteAssociated Press
- Hawkins proposes state budget cutsKansas Reflector
- Lobbyist meals and KanCare oversightKCUR