Barbara Bollier facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barbara Bollier
Member of the Kansas Senate from the 7th district
In office January 9, 2017 – January 11, 2021
Preceded by	Kay Wolf
Succeeded by	Ethan Corson
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives
In office January 5, 2010 – January 9, 2017
Constituency	25th district (2010–2013) 21st district (2013–2017)
Personal details
Born	Barbara Goolsbee (1958-01-13) January 13, 1958 (age 67) Galveston, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (2018–present)
Other political affiliations	Republican (before 2018)
Spouse	Rene Bollier
Children	2, including Bobby
Education	University of Kansas (BGS, MD)

Barbara Goolsbee Bollier (born January 13, 1958) is an American doctor and politician. She served in the Kansas Senate from 2017 to 2021. She represented the 7th district, which includes parts of Johnson County. Barbara Bollier is a member of the Democratic Party. She joined this party in 2018 after leaving the Republican Party. In 2020, she ran for the United States Senate in Kansas but did not win the election.

Early Life and Education

Barbara Goolsbee was born in Galveston, Texas, on January 13, 1958. Her father, Robert L. Goolsbee, was a doctor, and her mother, Betty, was a nurse. They met in Kansas City, Missouri. Barbara grew up in Fairway, Kansas, and Mission Hills, Kansas.

She went to the University of Kansas for her first degree. Then, she earned a medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She specialized in anesthesiology during her training at Baylor College of Medicine.

Medical Career

After finishing medical school, Barbara Bollier worked with her father at the Surgicenter of Kansas City. She worked as a doctor for many years.

In 1999, Bollier stopped working as a doctor. She then started volunteering her time. She worked with the Center for Practical Bioethics and the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation Board.

Political Career

Starting in the Kansas House

Barbara Bollier began her political journey in 2010. Republican leaders chose her to take over a seat in the Kansas House of Representatives. This happened after another politician, Terrie Huntington, moved to the Kansas Senate.

From 2010 to 2012, Bollier represented the 25th district. She was a Republican at that time. From 2013 to 2017, she represented the 21st House district.

She did not have opponents from her own party in the 2010 or 2012 elections. In 2014, she ran against Neil Melton and won with 59 percent of the votes.

Serving in the Kansas State Senate

In May 2016, Bollier decided to run for the Kansas Senate. The state Senator for the 7th district, Kay Wolf, was retiring. Bollier won the election against Democrat Megan England. She received 22,439 votes, which was 54.3% of the total.

In July 2018, she was removed from a leadership role in the Senate. This happened after she supported a Democratic candidate for Congress. In November 2018, she also supported the Democratic candidate for governor, Laura Kelly.

On December 12, 2018, Barbara Bollier changed her political party. She switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party. She said she felt the Republican Party no longer matched her beliefs. She wanted to be in a party that supported things like expanding healthcare and funding schools. She was one of three Kansas lawmakers who switched parties around that time.

Running for U.S. Senate in 2020

On October 16, 2019, Bollier announced she would run for a seat in the United States Senate. The current Senator, Pat Roberts, was retiring. The next day, another candidate, Barry Grissom, left the race and supported Bollier. This made her the main candidate for the Democratic Party.

She won the Democratic primary election on August 4, 2020, with 87.5% of the votes. In the main election, she ran against Republican congressman Roger Marshall.

Former Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius supported Bollier's campaign. Sebelius mentioned Bollier's support for school funding and healthcare. On September 1, 2020, Bollier shared a list of 75 Republican leaders who supported her. Former Republican U.S. Senator Nancy Kassebaum also endorsed her. During her campaign, Bollier supported the Affordable Care Act. She lost the election to Roger Marshall.

Personal Life

Barbara Bollier met her husband, Rene Bollier, while in medical school. He is also a doctor. They have two children. Their son, Bobby Bollier, is a professional swimmer. He was a successful college swimmer at Stanford University.

Electoral History

2020 United States Senate Election

2016 Kansas State Senate Election