Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus (GKCWPC)

The GKCWPC network is made up of three separate organizations: the Women’s Political Caucus, a lobbying and electoral advocacy organization dedicated to outreach and membership; the Political Action Committee, which makes campaign contributions; and the Education and Endowment Fund, a charitable education organization that focuses on women’s issues.  ²

Background

The Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus focuses on electing pro-abortion rights female candidates. The organization was established in 1972. ¹

The organization supports left-of-center female political candidates in both Kansas and Missouri, claiming it stands for equality for all women at the local and state level. ^{3  1}

The organization recruits candidates to run for political office at every level of government, from county commissions to the governorship. The group volunteers and supports candidates by donating, canvassing, and phone banking for candidates. ¹

The group is an affiliate of the Washington, D.C.-based National Women’s Political Caucus, which says it is a “multi-partisan, multicultural, grassroots organization dedicated to increasing women’s participation in politics and creating a power base designed to achieve equality for all women.”  ^{1  2}

The Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus is a network made up of three separate organizations. The caucus itself is a 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to outreach and membership. The Political Action Committee makes campaign contributions. The Education and Endowment Fund, a 501(c)(3) education organization that focuses on women’s issues.  ²

The organization asserts it is bipartisan. However, it only supports pro-abortion rights female candidates.  ⁴ It partners with left-leaning groups such as Planned Parenthood and Missouri ProVote.  ²

The caucus publishes monthly newsletters about bills in the U.S. House and Senate, and it and spreads awareness of women-related issues such as abortion, equal pay, and women’s political leadership.  ²

Endorsements

The organization endorsed 21 women in the 2023 local elections, and 18 won.  ⁵

In 2025, the organization endorsed Christal Watson for mayor of Kansas City, Kansas; and

Sheyvette Dinkens, Rachel Russell, and Joycelyn Strickland-Egans for the Kansas City, Kansas School Board. The caucus endorsed candidates for numerous other local offices as well. ⁶

In December 2007, Ina Montgomery, then-president of the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, joined the Missouri Steering Committee for the 2008 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. ⁷

Campaign Training School

The Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus campaign school, a free one-day event usually in January or February each year, is open to female candidates from Kansas and Missouri. ^{4  4}

The caucus’ school describes itself as a “a one-stop, full-day session designed to cover the basics, including fundraising, public speaking, volunteer recruitment, and how to talk about women’s reproductive rights with voters.”  ⁸

Experts and elected officials teach candidates-in-training the basics of running for office and working on campaigns, including how to fundraise, talk about their positions on key issues, and manage campaign volunteers. ^{5  1} It also offers instruction on volunteering for campaigns and supporting female candidates. ⁸

A grant from the Women in Politics Foundation makes the school free to any woman who wants to participate.  ⁸

Events

The Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus PAC’s main fundraising is the Torch Awards, which includes a dinner, silent auction, prominent political guest speakers, and an awards ceremony. It also endorses candidates at the event.  ²  The Torch Awards are held every other year in the fall to bring together hundreds of women candidates, volunteers, and supporters to raise funds to support women running for office. The most recent awards were held in September 2024. ⁹

The Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus Education and Endowment Fund hosts events that include the Girl’s Leadership Training event for middle school girls interested in politics. The EEF donates money in the form of grants to the caucus for such educational programs.  ²

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) was a keynote speaker at a September 2024 fundraising event the group held in Kansas City, Missouri.  ³

Leadership

Laura Loyacono is president of the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus for the 2025-2026 year. ¹⁰ In 2020, Loyacono ran unsuccessfully in a Democratic primary to represent the 36th District in the Missouri state House of Representatives. She has been an educator and advocate for gun control and environmental issues. ¹¹

Shirley Mata is the Missouri vice president of the GKCWPC.  ¹⁰ Mata is a Democrat who lost the 2024 general election to represent the 17th District in the Missouri House of Representatives. ¹²

Jan Faidley is the Kansas vice president of the caucus.  ¹⁰ She is a council member for the city of Roeland Park, Kansas. ¹³

Frenchette Anderson is the treasurer of the caucus.  ¹⁰ Anderson is the chief financial officer for Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity. Previously, she was the chief operating officer at William Jewell College. ¹⁴

Elisa Neilson is the secretary of the caucus.  ¹⁰  Neilson has been involved in politics and public health in Missouri. She was previously a table game dealer. She was also a part-time COVID-19 case investigator for the Platte County, Missouri Health Department. ¹⁵

The 2025-2026 at-large board members of GKCWPC are Lara Sodon, Tara Bennett, Marielena Marroquin, Karen Thurlow, Bonnie Limbird, Sonia Nizami, Latrice Thomas, Kristin Wing, Claire Reagan, and Georgie Mingis. ¹⁰