With teen staying in Kansas House race, Democrats weigh bad behavior against voter will

He acknowledged sordid behavior in middle school, when he threatened to share a girl’s nude photograph if she didn’t send other pictures to him. He posted caustic messages to social media earlier this year, saying he would “giggle” when a former Republican lawmaker died of the coronavirus.

Then, in early August, he upended the established political order, defeating a longtime incumbent Wyandotte County lawmaker in the Democratic primary election.

Aaron Coleman, a 19-year-old college student and dishwasher, again shocked Kansas politics on Tuesday. After pledging over the weekend to drop out of the race for House District 37, he reversed himself and instead vowed to campaign on to November.

“We cannot undo democracy because I am a flawed individual who has made mistakes. That is not fair to those voters,” Coleman said in a lengthy statement.

Coleman’s candidacy—a kind of apology tour combined with left-wing rhetoric— is forcing Democrats to confront uncomfortable questions about what should happen when voters choose someone whose past behavior has been universally condemned.

Coleman commands at least some base of support. With promises of a progressive agenda, he earned 14 more votes in the primary than his opponent, Rep. Stan Frownfelter. But much of the most damning information emerged only after the primary. And because no Republican filed to run for the seat, it means that just Coleman’s name will appear on the November ballot

Coleman’s record, even at 19, is toxic. His behavior would swiftly end the careers of veteran politicians. One woman previously told The Star that he bullied her persistently that she attempted suicide.

But Coleman was a middle schooler when the most troubling behavior occurred. As deplorable as it was, supporters and others have questioned whether it’s fair to judge him based on his actions as a child.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Coleman said he can “never justify what I did to those women, and I do apologize to them from a place of remorse and shame, but words are no longer an acceptable response today.”

Coleman said that he has endured sustained attacks since his win, as his entire personal life has been put under a national microscope. His older brother died from suicide last year and his father is “quite ill,” Coleman wrote in explaining his initial decision to drop out.

“But since that announcement, I heard from many of the people who voted for me urging me not to drop out. They said that they did not vote for me expecting that I was a perfect person. They told me that all of us have sinned, and we all make mistakes,” Coleman said.

Elliott Adams, a Goddard Democrat running in House District 101, said Coleman was the voters’ choice and that he should continue his campaign.

Coleman is still young and deserves a second chance, Adams said, adding that he only hopes Coleman has learned through the pain of his victims.

“I too am a sinful creature; I too have said and done things in my own past that I am not proud of … But it was through those ugly scars on my soul that forced me to grow beyond the limits of what I ever thought possible,” Adams wrote in an email to The Star.

Frownfelter, who plans to wage a write-in campaign, said Coleman’s behavior belies his contention that he’s matured.

“The comments he’s making proves he hasn’t grown up a bit,” Frownfelter said. “That’s not how you’re going to get ahead in the legislature. You’ve got to work with people and he doesn’t want to do that.”

Coleman said Tuesday dropping out would return Frownfelter to power, who he called “out of touch” and “corporatist.”

Frownfelter responded that he couldn’t believe Coleman “continues to tell lies about what I’ve accomplished.”

Democrats consider how to stop Coleman

Numerous other Democrats, including Gov. Laura Kelly and House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, have either rallied to Frownfelter or condemned Coleman.

Sawyer suggested the House won’t allow Coleman to serve if elected—an extraordinary step but one allowed under the state constitution.

“If for some reason he does win, I think it’s highly unlikely the Kansas House will allow Mr. Coleman to be seated,” Sawyer said in a statement.

House rules allow any lawmaker to lodge a complaint against any other member and request their expulsion. A committee is required to investigate and make recommendations. After that, a two-thirds majority can vote to expel.

Lawmakers also spoke of expelling Wichita Republican Michael Capps after his election to the House in 2018. Capps was accused of emotionally abusing children, but ultimately nobody formally tried to remove him.

Capps served his two-year term, but was largely sidelined by leadership. High-profile Republicans then campaigned for his primary opponent, who defeated him earlier this month.

It’s still possible Coleman could lose in November, but Frownfelter acknowledged that winning a write-in campaign “is going to be an uphill battle.” Coleman will also face a longshot write-in challenge from Republican Kristina Smith, who has the support of the state party.

The Kansas Secretary of State’s Office said it was aware of only one other instance, in 1994, where an incumbent lawmaker lost a primary but went on to win the general election.

Frownfelter, who doesn’t exactly have a common name or one that’s easy to spell, said he plans to travel to the Secretary of State’s Office this week to learn if there’s an easier way for voters to write him in on their ballots and have it still count.

“I’m trying to figure out what to use as a write in,” Frownfelter said.

He declined to discuss specifics on what he hopes to use on the write-in ballots.

Frownfelter ran a not-too-visible campaign in the primary against Coleman. He doesn’t have a campaign website. He has a campaign Facebook page that was updated on occasion ahead of the August primary.

He spent $2,000 on television advertisements in July, campaign finance records show. Most of his other spending was devoted to printed materials, consultants and donations.

Asked how he will pursue a write-in campaign, Frownfelter said he planned to invest in door hangers and cards that voters can take with them to advise them to write him in on their ballot.

Frownfelter said he grew up in a modest background and worked all his life, rejecting Coleman’s characterizations about Frownfelter’s service in the legislature.

“I’ve had 50 people calling me who are Republicans asking how they can help me because they don’t want him in there,” Frownfelter said. “And neither do the Democrats.”

This story was originally published August 25, 2020 at 5:30 PM.