| Rick Kloos | |
| State Senate: | Kansas |
| District: | 19th |
| Term Start: | January 11, 2021 |
| Predecessor: | Anthony Hensley |
| Birth Name: | Richard Gene Kloos |
| Birth Date: | 26 July 1966 |
| Birth Place: | Miltonvale, Kansas, U.S. |
| Party: | Republican |
| Spouse: | Pennie Kloos |
| Children: | 4 |
| Education: | Trinity College, Ellendale, North Dakota (BA) |
Richard Gene Kloos (born July 26, 1966) is a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 19th district, which covers Topeka and eastern Shawnee County, western Douglas County and all of Osage County and Jefferson County.[1] On November 3, 2020, he defeated Anthony Hensley, who had been holding office in the Kansas statehouse for 44 years, by 51.2% to 48.8%.[2] [3]
In June 2009, Rick started God's Storehouse in Topeka, Kansas, a non-profit, community thrift store with over 80 employees.[4]
Kloos ran as an Independent for governor, on a ticket with his son, Nathaniel, running for lieutenant governor. They finished last, in 5th place in the general election, with 6,584 votes, 0.6% of the total.[5]
Kloos ran unchallenged in the GOP primary; however, he received 6,758 in the primary.[6] He beat Anthony Hensley 16,141 votes to 15,383 votes, 51% to 49%, in the November 3, 2020 general election—in what Titus Wu of the Topeka Capitol-Journal has called "a huge upset victory".[3] [2] Hensley had at least three times the campaign budget that Kloos had.[1] Kloos opposes abortion and was endorsed by Kansans for Life.[1] Hensley had represented the area for 44 years as either the state representative or state senator.[7] The Kloos campaign outraised Hensley $37,433 to $1,286.[8]
Kloos and his wife Pennie have been married for 34 years and have lived in Berryton, Kansas for 22 years. They have four grown boys, along with seven grandchildren.