Dan Hawkins elected speaker as Kansas House organizes for 2025 session
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Summary
Members of the Kansas House of Representatives were sworn in and unanimously elected Representative Dan Hawkins as Speaker; Hawkins named key House officers and called for unity and civility.
Members of the Kansas House of Representatives took their oaths of office and unanimously elected Representative Dan Hawkins as Speaker during the chamber’s organization on Jan. 13, 2025. The oaths were administered by Chief Justice Marla Luker of the Kansas Supreme Court.
The House’s majority caucus nominated Representative Dan Hawkins for speaker. Representative Brandon Woodard, the House minority leader, moved to close nominations and have the temporary clerk cast a unanimous ballot for Hawkins; the motion was adopted by voice vote. The temporary clerk then recorded a unanimous ballot naming Hawkins speaker.
Speaker Dan Hawkins pledged to serve the chamber with “a profound sense of duty,” emphasizing faith, family, unity and civility in his opening remarks. “The trust that you all have placed in me to serve as House Speaker for another 2 years is a responsibility that I do not take lightly, and I accept this responsibility with a profound sense of duty to each of you, to this institution, and to the people of this great state,” Hawkins said. He also said the House should “lead with humility, listening as much as we speak.”
After his election, Hawkins announced several House officer appointments for the 2025 session: Susan Kennard as chief clerk, Alan Morgan as sergeant at arms, and LD Holmes as house chaplain. The chair then called for nominations for speaker pro tempore.
The majority caucus nominated Representative Blake Carpenter for speaker pro tempore. By voice vote on a motion to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot, Representative Carpenter was elected and sworn in as speaker pro tempore.
Representative Blake Carpenter and other leaders offered brief remarks. Representative Carpenter received the oath, and Representative Chris Croft was recognized as majority leader; Representative Brandon Woodard’s remarks emphasized collegiality and cooperation across the aisle.
The session also included the routine administrative step that newly sworn members sign certificates of oath with the chief clerk before leaving the chamber.
Looking ahead, Hawkins outlined priorities in broad terms, asking members to pursue bipartisan work and to keep civility central to debates. He closed his remarks by invoking the institution’s traditions and offering thanks to legislative staff and family members who attended.
