Rick Kloos is a member of the Republican Party and currently serves in the Kansas State Senate, representing District 3. He assumed office on January 13, 2025, and his current term will conclude on January 8, 2029.

Kloos first entered the Kansas State Senate in 2021, representing District 19 after defeating longtime Democratic incumbent Anthony Hensley in the 2020 general election. His victory was notable as it ended Hensley’s 44-year tenure in the Kansas Legislature, marking a significant political shift in the district. In 2024, Kloos successfully ran for re-election, this time representing District 3, securing his place in the Senate for another term. His political career reflects both his appeal to conservative voters and his ability to challenge established Democratic leadership in Kansas.

Born on July 26, 1966, in Miltonvale, Kansas, Richard Gene Kloos grew up in a small-town environment that shaped his values of community service and faith. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College in Ellendale, North Dakota, and later pursued a career in ministry and nonprofit leadership. Kloos resides in Topeka, Kansas, with his wife, Pennie, and together they have four children. His family life and faith have been central to his public identity and political philosophy.

Outside of politics, Kloos is best known for founding God’s Storehouse, a nonprofit community thrift store in Topeka established in 2009. The organization has grown to employ more than 80 people and provides affordable goods and services to the community. His leadership at God’s Storehouse reflects his commitment to social entrepreneurship, community support, and faith-based initiatives. This background has informed his legislative priorities, emphasizing service, fiscal responsibility, and policies that strengthen Kansas families.

In the Kansas State Senate, Kloos has served on several committees, including Ways and Means, Transportation, and the Joint Committee on Kansas Security. He has also held leadership positions such as vice-chair of the Ways and Means Committee and vice-chair of the Joint Committee on State Building Construction. These roles have allowed him to influence budgetary decisions, infrastructure planning, and public safety policies. His committee work demonstrates his focus on fiscal management, government accountability, and long-term planning for Kansas’s economic and security needs.

Kloos’s legislative priorities align with Republican principles, emphasizing fiscal conservatism, limited government, and support for traditional family values. He has advocated for policies that promote economic growth, reduce government spending, and protect individual freedoms. His background in nonprofit leadership and ministry provides him with a distinctive perspective on policymaking, blending community service with conservative governance.

His political career also includes a run for statewide office. In 2018, Kloos ran as an independent candidate for governor of Kansas, highlighting his willingness to challenge the political establishment and present alternative visions for leadership. Although unsuccessful, the campaign raised his profile and laid the groundwork for his later Senate victory.

As a legislator, Kloos’s trajectory reflects a blend of grassroots activism, nonprofit leadership, and conservative politics. His combination of faith-based community service and legislative experience positions him as a distinctive figure in Kansas politics. With his current term set to conclude in 2029, his effectiveness in advancing his priorities will shape his long-term influence in the Kansas State Senate and his prospects for continued service in state government.