34 Facts About Susan Wagle

Susan Wagle was born on September 27,1953 and is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 30th district from 2001 to 2021.

Susan Wagle was elected Kansas Senate President in 2013 and was reelected in 2017.

Susan Wagle is the first woman to hold this position.

Susan Wagle taught special education in Wichita public schools from 1979 to 1982 before becoming a businesswoman.

In 1990, Susan Wagle was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives.

Susan Wagle was elected to the Kansas Senate from the 30th Senate District in 2000, taking office in 2001.

Susan Wagle's win was a victory of the conservative wing of the Kansas Senate over the Senate's moderate wing.

Susan Wagle is the first female Kansas senate president, and the first senate president from Wichita.

In July 2018, Susan Wagle supported Kris Kobach in a Republican gubernatorial primary, saying that he was the "strongest candidate".

Susan Wagle once "halted a controversial bill that would have enabled public and private employees to refuse service to same-sex couples on religious grounds".

In 2018, when Susan Wagle sought an appointment to a diplomatic post she listed Wichita native Phil Ruffin, a business partner of President Donald Trump, as a reference.

Susan Wagle sought an ambassadorship to Ireland, Belize, or Belgium, or other State Department positions.

Susan Wagle made her aspirations known in a May 7,2018 email to a campaign operative shortly after the legislative session ended.

In January 2019, Susan Wagle formed an exploratory committee to assess entering the 2020 race for the Republican nomination for US Senate, to fill the seat of the retiring Pat Roberts.

Susan Wagle criticized Kobach's role in a controversial, privately financed scheme to build a southern border wall to impede the unlawful entry of migrants to the United States.

Susan Wagle served as a delegate to the 1996 Republican National Convention.

Susan Wagle served as National Chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council in 2006.

In 2003, Susan Wagle "successfully pushed a bill to require abortion clinics to provide information on human development to women considering an abortion".

In 2015, Susan Wagle sponsored a bill known as the Kansas Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act.

Susan Wagle opposed the confirmation of David Toland as Kansas Secretary of Commerce in 2019.

In 2020, Susan Wagle linked unblocking passage of a bill to expand Medicare in Kansas to passage of a constitutional amendment that prohibited abortion.

In October 2020, a video surfaced in which Susan Wagle encouraged Republican donors to help elect a supermajority in the state legislature in advance of redistricting.

In 2018, Susan Wagle cosponsored legislation with Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley that worked to bring more transparency to state contracts.

Susan Wagle stated the need for this legislation arose due to a lack of transparency within the administration of Republican former Governor Sam Brownback.

Susan Wagle called for an investigation due to excessive spending on salaries, benefits, travel, and entertainment.

Susan Wagle noticed a stark difference between the state's 12-year investment and its final return.

Susan Wagle called for an audit and review for the abuse of taxpayer dollars which ultimately led to the shutdown of KBA for findings of misspent funds.

Susan Wagle cast the deciding vote to override but did not comment on her vote.

In February 2020, Susan Wagle sought to block the federally-funded expansion of Medicaid by the Kansas legislature out of concern that it would lead to taxpayer funded abortions in the state.

Susan Wagle outlined her reasoning in a guest column published in The Wichita Eagle on February 14,2020.

Susan Wagle has expressed disagreement with State Supreme Court decisions and has attempted to change the process for nomination and confirmation of justices.

In 2013, Susan Wagle voted with 27 of her colleagues for a constitutional amendment that would change the nomination process for Kansas Supreme Court justices from the existing system in which the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission identifies three candidates, of whom the governor selects one, to the "federal model" where the governor nominates a candidate and the Senate votes to confirm the nominee.

The Wagles, who reside in Wichita, have four children, and Susan Wagle has three step-children.

Susan Wagle survived bouts with cancer in 1995,2003, and 2012.