Who is Mark Holland?

Mark Holland is a fourth-generation Kansas native, a third generation United Methodist Church minister as well as the former Country Commissioner and Mayor of Kansas City, Kansas. He is registered as a Democrat. 

The former mayor, as a pastor of the United Methodist Church supports abortion and says that he will work to make sure abortion is not regulated by the government. Similarly, he is a supporter of the protection and expansion of federal voting rights and is a believer of separating the church and the state. 

Holland was born in Kansas City on May 6, 1969 and spent his entire childhood in the state. After graduating from high school, he moved to Dallas, Texas in 1987 to study at the Southern Methodist University, majoring in Anthropology and Philosophy. After his undergraduate program, he earned a Master’s degree in Divinity at the Iliff School of Theology and then a Doctorate degree in Ministry at the St. Paul School of Theology. 

His first stint in a public office was when he was on the Unified Government Board of Commissioners of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, At-Large District 1. While on the Board, he focused on increasing the number of green spaces available to residents of the area. 

In 2013, following his resignation from the Board, he announced his decision to run for Mayor of Kansas City. He won and was made the 28th Mayor of the city along with becoming the 3rd CEO of the Unified Government. During his tenure, the pastor made significant improvements to the city. 

In 2014, he created the Healthy Campus initiative which aimed to make healthier food choices accessible to under served communities. During his five year tenure from 2013 to 2017, he oversaw $2.8 billion in private investment, bringing 12,000 job to Wynadotte County. His contributions decreased unemployment from 7.6% in 2013 to 4.5% in 2017. 

Holland is one of six Democrats and one Republican all gunning for the Senate seat currently held by Republican Jerry Moran. The primaries for Kansas, Washington, Michigan, Missouri, Arizona and Ohio are on August 2, 2022 with the mid-term elections beginning on November 8, 2022.