USD 383 Board of Education member Katie Allen has filed a federal First Amendment lawsuit against Kansas Senate president Ty Masterson, District 22 Sen. Brad Starnes and District 51 Rep. Megan Steele, according to documents obtained Wednesday.
In a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court, Allen says the politicians used their legislative positions to pressure officials to fire Allen from her position in the Kansas State Department of Education following an online comment she made about the shooting and death of political influencer Charlie Kirk in 2025.
All three officials are Republicans, and two are running for office in the November election. Masterson is is running for governor, and Steele is seeking to keep her House seat.
