Mainstream Coalition is a left-of-center lobbying and electoral advocacy organization claims to promote public education, government transparency, LGBT interests, and reproductive health care in Kansas. ¹ The organization is led by Michael Poppa, who serves as Mayor of Roeland Park, Kansas. ²

Background

The Mainstream Coalition was founded in 1993 by “a bipartisan coalition of legislators, faith leaders, and community activists.” ³ Mainstream’s initial purpose was to protect separation of church and state, and Mainstream but has also focused on protecting public education, government transparency, ³ LGBT interests, and reproductive health care. ³ Mainstream also engages in voter education through the Voter Network Foundation, formerly known as the Mainstream Education Foundation, and was also affiliated with MainPAC, a political action committee that closed in 2023. ⁴

In 2024, Mainstream Coalition joined organizations such as the ACLU of Kansas, Equality Kansas, Kansas Interfaith Action, Loud Light Civic Action, PPGP Votes, and the Trust Women Foundation in urging the Kansas Legislature to sustain Gov. Laura Kelly’s (D) veto of a bill that would affect medical care for transgender youth. ⁵

Mainstream Coalition has also criticized redistricting efforts in Kansas. In 2021, Mainstream Coalition claimed that the redistricting process “has not been the most transparent process.” ⁶ The organization further claimed it has “tried to fight new political maps drawn by the GOP-dominated Legislature.” ⁷

In 2022, the organization’s executive director, Michael Poppa, argued that democracy was failing in Kansas because many of the Kansas State House seats received only one candidate filing and only about 10 races would have a primary contest. ⁷

Financials

In 2022, Mainstream Coalition reported total revenue of more than $173,000, total expenses of about $191,000, and net assets of about $204,000. In 2021, total revenue was about $145,000, total expenses neared $164,000, and net assets surpassed $222,000. ⁸

Leadership

Robert Meneilly, the founding minister at Village Presbyterian Church, co-founded the Mainstream Coalition in 1993. ³

Michael Poppa is the executive director of Mainstream Coalition and began working at Mainstream in 2020. As of April 2025, he is the Mayor of Roeland Park, Kansas. Previously, he was a member of the  Roeland Park City Council. ²

Laurel Burchfield is the advocacy director of Mainstream Coalition. She first joined Mainstream in 2021 as an associate director. She also serves as a council member in Shawnee, Kansas. She earned a master’s in international peace and conflict resolution. ²

1. Blaise Mesa, Meg Cunningham. “A Guide to Kansas and Missouri Endorsements in the 2024 Election.” The Beacon, October 3, 2024. https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/10/02/a-guide-to-kansas-and-missouri-endorsements-in-the-2024-election/.
2. Team – Mainstream Coalition. Accessed April 4, 2025. https://www.mainstreamcoalition.org/team.
3. History. Mainstream Coalition. Accessed April 4, 2025. https://www.mainstreamcoalition.org/history.
4. About. Mainstream Coalition. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.mainstreamcoalition.org/about.
5.  “Gov. Kelly Vetoes Extreme Legislative Attack on Kansas Doctors, Teachers, Social Workers, and Trans Children.” ACLU of Kansas, April 18, 2024. https://www.aclukansas.org/en/press-releases/gov-kelly-vetoes-extreme-legislative-attack-kansas-doctors-teachers-social-workers.
6. Taborda, Noah. “Kansans Should Focus on Geography, Culture, Policy in Redistricting Forums, Advocates Say • Kansas Reflector.” Kansas Reflector, November 16, 2021. https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/15/kansans-should-focus-on-geography-culture-policy-in-redistricting-forums-advocates-say/
7. Smith, Sherman. “In Half of the Kansas House Races, Voters Won’t Have a Choice.” Kansas Reflector, June 15, 2022. https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/15/in-half-of-the-kansas-house-races-voters-wont-have-a-choice/.
8. Mainstream Coalition, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2022.