Teen aims for governor’s job, even though he’s too young to vote

TOPEKA, Kansas — He won’t even be able to vote, but a 16-yearold Wichita high school student says he’s serious about his bid to run for governor of Kansas.

Jack Bergerson has filed to run as a Democrat in the 2018 race for governor of Kansas, saying he wanted to give people another option, the Kansas City Star reported. And it doesn’t faze him that he won’t even be old enough to vote in the election.

“Under Kansas law, there is no law governing the qualifications for governor, not one,” said Bryan Caskey, director of elections at the Kansas secretary of state’s office. “So there’s seriously nothing on the books that lays out anything, no age, no residency, no experience. Nothing.”

The teenager said he wants to “radically change” the health care system and would support legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, while being willing to explore legalization for recreational use. But he is conservative on gun rights and supports laws allowing people to openly carry their weapons.

“I think if you offer the people of Kansas something radical, something new so then that shows that we can move in a new direction, I think that will put the Democratic Party in a good position to win the seat next year,” Bergeson said.

Other Democratic candidates running for the seat include former state secretary of agriculture Josh Svaty, former Wichita mayor Carl Brewer and Arden Andersen, an Olathe doctor.

Bergerson’s announcement garnered national attention, including an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.