{{Short description|American politician (born 2000)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Aaron Coleman | office = Member of the<br>Kansas House of Representatives<br>from the 37th district | term_start = January 11, 2021 | term_end = January 9, 2023 | predecessor = Stan Frownfelter | successor = Melissa Oropeza | birth_date = {{birth date and age|September 20, 2000}}<ref name="Heavy">{{Cite web |url=https://heavy.com/news/2020/08/aaron-coleman/ |title=Aaron Coleman: 5 Fast Facts You Need To Know |first=Caroline |last=Chen |date=August 21, 2020 |website=Heavy}}</ref> | birth_place = Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. | party = Democratic (before Jan. 2021; Feb. 2021–present) | other_party = Independent (Jan.–Feb. 2021) | website = }}
'''Aaron Coleman''' (born September 20, 2000) is an American politician from the state of Kansas. A Democrat, he represented District 37 in the Kansas House of Representatives from 2021 to 2023. The district covers the Turner neighborhood and parts of the Argentine and Armourdale neighborhoods of Kansas City in Wyandotte County, Kansas. Coleman was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives at the age of 20. Coleman previously ran a write-in campaign for governor of Kansas in 2018 and ran for the Kansas City Board of Utilities in 2019.
Coleman's tenure in office was marred by various allegations. He has been accused of engaging in abusive and harassing behavior on a series of occasions and has admitted to and apologized for childhood acts of online bullying, blackmail, and revenge porn. As a juvenile, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment after threatening to shoot another teen. Following Coleman's 2020 election to the Kansas House of Representatives, many members of his own party called for his resignation due to his acts of misconduct; some called for his removal. In February 2021, the Select Investigating Committee of the Kansas House of Representatives sent Coleman a letter of warning and admonition in regard to past conduct unbecoming of a state legislator. In October 2021, Coleman was arrested on a domestic violence charge; the following month, he was arrested for suspected DUI. Following his 2021 arrests, Gov. Laura Kelly called for his resignation. In February 2022, Coleman was suspended from the state Democratic Party for two years. Also in 2022, Coleman entered into a diversion agreement under which he avoided prosecution for domestic battery; he was not criminally charged in connection with the November 2021 arrest due to a lack of evidence of intoxication.
Coleman sought re-election in 2022, but was defeated in a landslide by Melissa Oropeza in the Democratic primary.
==Early life== Coleman comes from Kansas City, Kansas.<ref name="WIBW" /> He has worked as a dishwasher.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gebhardt|first=Maggie|date=August 17, 2020|title=Wyandotte County election board certifies win for 19-year-old|url=https://www.kshb.com/news/election-2020/wyandotte-county-election-board-certifies-win-for-19-year-old|access-date=August 17, 2020|publisher=kshb.com}}</ref> As of 2020, Coleman attended Johnson County Community College.<ref name="Heavy" /> He is Jewish.<ref name="JPost08102020">{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/19-year-old-leading-the-vote-count-in-a-local-kansas-primary-638140 |title=19-year-old leading the vote count in a local Kansas primary |work=Jerusalem Post|last=Nahmias |first=Omri|date=August 10, 2020|access-date=November 22, 2020}}</ref>
==Political career== In 2017, as a seventeen-year-old who had dropped out of high school, Coleman entered the race for governor of Kansas as a write-in independent candidate ahead of the 2018 election.<ref>Clarkin, Mary. [https://www.hutchnews.com/news/20171227/high-school-dropout-running-for-governor High school dropout running for governor], ''Hutchinson News'', December 27, 2017.</ref> Democrat Laura Kelly won the election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Libby |date=November 6, 2018 |title=Democrat Laura Kelly beats Kris Kobach in the Kansas governor race |url=https://www.vox.com/2018/11/6/18056676/midterm-election-results-kansas-governor-laura-kelly-winner |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=Vox |language=en}}</ref>
In 2019, Coleman ran for the board of public utilities in Kansas City.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rupert|first=Mary|date=August 5, 2019|title=Seven candidates run for BPU Districts 1 and 3|url=http://wyandottedaily.com/seven-candidates-run-for-bpu-districts-1-and-3/|url-status=live|access-date=March 8, 2021|website=Wyandotte Daily|language=en-US|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190805212745/http://wyandottedaily.com/seven-candidates-run-for-bpu-districts-1-and-3/ |archive-date = August 5, 2019 }}</ref>
===Kansas House of Representatives=== ====Elections==== In 2020, Coleman defeated seven-term incumbent Stan Frownfelter in a Democratic primary in Kansas House of Representatives District 37. The victory was considered an upset.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sloan|first=Nick|title=Aaron Coleman, under fire after victory, tweets that he'll leave the race|url=https://www.kctv5.com/news/aaron-coleman-under-fire-after-victory-tweets-that-hell-leave-the-race/article_6eb36232-e568-11ea-bb86-0726cfb35a82.html|url-status=live|access-date=March 8, 2021|website=KCTV 5 Kansas City|language=en|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200823192440/https://www.kctv5.com/news/aaron-coleman-under-fire-after-victory-tweets-that-hell-leave-the-race/article_6eb36232-e568-11ea-bb86-0726cfb35a82.html |archive-date = August 23, 2020 }}</ref> Coleman, then 19 years of age, won by just 14 votes.<ref name=":0" /> The district covers the Turner neighborhood and parts of the Argentine and Armourdale neighborhoods of Kansas City in Wyandotte County, Kansas.<ref>{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Vockrodt |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article246780307.html |title=Kansas candidate with a troubled past and ambitious platform: Change agent or pariah? |work=The Kansas City Star |date=October 29, 2020}}</ref>
After Coleman admitted to online bullying, blackmail and revenge porn, Frownfelter announced he would run a write-in campaign against Coleman.<ref name="HannaAP08172020">Hanna, John. [https://apnews.com/f48e9e7b7f82aa29c0dae0fd62cc9d6d Kansas candidate admitting to revenge porn faces write-in], ''Associated Press'', August 17, 2020.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kansas candidate who admitted to revenge porn drops out|url=https://news.yahoo.com/kansas-candidate-admitted-revenge-porn-201111133.html|access-date=August 24, 2020|website=news.yahoo.com|publisher=AP}}</ref> Coleman initially dropped out of the race, but later reversed his decision.<ref>[https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/election/article245238050.html Embattled teen candidate for Kansas House reverses decision, says he’ll stay in race], ''Wichita Eagle'', August 25, 2020.</ref> Democratic House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, supported Frownfelter's write-in campaign, as did Democratic Governor Laura Kelly.<ref name="HannaAP08172020" /> Another candidate, Kristina Smith, a paralegal and treasurer of the Wyandotte County Republican Party, also pursued a write-in campaign.<ref>[https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article245042675.html After controversial teenager wins Kansas House primary, two write-in efforts emerge], ''Kansas City Star'', August 18, 2020.</ref> The Kansas Young Democrats endorsed Frownfelter and condemned Coleman.<ref name="WyandotteDay08052020">Rupert, Mary. [http://wyandottedaily.com/election-night-totals-shocking-to-rep-frownfelter/ Election night totals shocking to Rep. Frownfelter], ''Wyandotte Daily.com'', August 5, 2020.</ref>
In August 2020, Coleman told former Republican state lawmaker John Whitmer that he would "laugh and giggle when you get COVID and die".<ref name="APHanna08142020" /><ref name="Carpenter07312020">{{Cite web|date=July 31, 2020|title='Mask it or casket': Democratic House candidate hopes GOP stricken by COVID-19|url=https://kansasreflector.com/2020/07/31/mask-it-or-casket-democratic-house-candidate-hopes-gop-stricken-by-covid-19/|access-date=November 20, 2020|website=Kansas Reflector|language=en-US}}</ref> Coleman claimed Whitmer was repeating anti-mask “conspiracy theories”.<ref name="Carpenter07312020" />
Coleman ran on a platform of women's rights (specifically, access to contraceptives and abortion services, as well as equal pay), tuition-free public college, defunding the police, Medicare for all, legalizing cannabis, and the Green New Deal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article246893407.html |title= Wyandotte County looks to elect progressive with history of troubling behavior |website=The Kansas City Star |date=November 3, 2020}}</ref><ref name="APHanna08142020">Hanna, John. [https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-ap-top-news-health-media-kansas-ac948dae17c3dbc36ffe62246925c4f3 Teen leading in Kansas race admits blackmail, revenge porn], ''Associated Press'', August 14, 2020.</ref>
Coleman won the general election to the Kansas House of Representatives on November 3, 2020 at the age of 20,<ref name="Twenty" /> garnering 66% of the vote against two write-in candidates, including Frownfelter.
In November 2020, Coleman tweeted that he would "call out a hit" on Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, and predicted she would face an "extremely bloody" Democratic primary in 2022.<ref name="BerganKCTV11062020">Bergan, Shain. [https://www.kctv5.com/politics/state-rep-elect-from-kck-vows-to-call-out-a-hit-on-kansas-governor-says/article_037d3d6e-2026-11eb-95b4-8b128bc61d2e.html State Rep-elect from KCK vows to "call out a hit" on Kansas governor, says 2022 primary will be "extremely bloody"], ''KCTV Channel 5, Kansas City, Missouri'', November 6, 2020.</ref> Coleman said that his tweet was not a call for physical violence against the governor,<ref name="MoralesLondonInd11062020">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/aaron-coleman-democrat-revenge-porn-bullying-b1719214.html |title=Aaron Coleman: Democrat who admitted to revenge porn and bullying wins state house seat |work=London Independent|last=Morales |first=Christina |date=November 9, 2020}}</ref> but an expression of his belief that Kelly's moderate political positions did not appeal to him or the party's left wing; he self-identifies as a democratic socialist.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Vickers|first=Nathan|title=Kansas Democrats could oust 20-year-old candidate following 'hit' tweet directed at Gov. Kelly|url=https://www.kctv5.com/news/local_news/kansas-democrats-could-oust-20-year-old-candidate-following-hit-tweet-directed-at-gov-kelly/article_02fda380-208d-11eb-9c17-9fb3c71a762e.html|access-date=November 19, 2020|website=KCTV Kansas City|language=en}}</ref> In response, Sawyer and state Democratic chair Vicki Hiatt stated that Democrats in the House would file a complaint against Coleman when he was sworn in and work for the two-thirds vote required to remove him from office.<ref name="BerganKCTV11062020" /> Seven recently elected female Democratic state legislators signed a December 21, 2020, letter calling on Coleman to resign before taking office.<ref name="KMBC12222020">[https://www.kmbc.com/article/new-kansas-lawmakers-democratic-leaders-demand-resignation-of-state-rep-elect-aaron-coleman/35034264 New Kansas lawmakers, Democratic leaders demand resignation of State Rep.-elect Aaron Coleman], ''KMBC TV Channel 9'', Kansas City, Missouri, December 22, 2020.</ref>
Coleman ran for re-election to the Kansas House of Representatives in 2022.<ref name="Renomination" /> He faced two primary challengers and finished in a distant third with just 13.1% of the vote.<ref name="Renomination" /> Melissa Oropeza, a nurse practitioner, won the Democratic primary with 49.2% of the vote.<ref name="Renomination">{{Cite web |first=Sarah |last=Ritter |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article263838597.html |title=Kansas Rep. Aaron Coleman, with history of abuse, loses seat in Democratic primary |date=August 3, 2022 |website=The Kansas City Star}}</ref>
====Tenure==== On December 31, 2020, Democratic House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer denied Coleman committee assignments in the incoming legislature.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-legislature-kansas-city-media-kansas-1e2ba7adb2d9f717127f6f75aa318774 |title=New Kansas lawmaker under court order denied committee seats |publisher=Associated Press|last=Hanna |first=John |date=December 31, 2020|access-date=January 2, 2021}}</ref>
On January 13, 2021, two days after being sworn in to the Kansas House of Representatives, Coleman announced he had left the Democratic Party and would sit as an independent.<ref name="KMBC">{{cite web |title=New Kansas Representative changes affiliation from Democrat to Independent |url=https://www.kmbc.com/article/new-kansas-representative-aaron-coleman-changes-affiliation-democrat-independent/35192452# |publisher=KMBC 9 |access-date=January 13, 2021}}</ref> On February 8, he re-joined the Democrats.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/kansas-rep-aaron-coleman-rejoins-democratic-party|title = Kansas Rep. Aaron Coleman rejoins Democratic Party|publisher = KSHB|work = Associated Press|date = February 8, 2021|access-date = February 23, 2021}}</ref>
In February 2021, following a hearing, the Select Investigating Committee of the Kansas House of Representatives dismissed a complaint against Coleman regarding acts of misconduct he committed before taking office.<ref name="threats">{{cite news|url=https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/state/2021/01/22/complaint-dismissed-against-controversial-rep-aaron-coleman/6673452002/ |title=Complaint against Rep. Aaron Coleman dismissed, as legislators favor informal discipline |publisher=Topeka Capital-Journal |last=Bahl |first=Andrew |date=January 23, 2021 |access-date=March 27, 2022}}</ref> The Committee later sent Coleman a letter of warning and admonition in regard to past conduct unbecoming of a state legislator.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-legislature-kansas-city-kansas-topeka-768126190ab7c98965245d7808a2bf58|title=Kansas lawmaker accused of past abuse gets written warning|date=February 18, 2021|website=AP NEWS}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kctv5.com/news/local_news/kansas-house-democrats-file-second-complaint-against-aaron-coleman/article_f1061834-5172-11ec-bc66-7f2e9d5096d0.html|title=Kansas house democrats file second complaint against Aaron Coleman|first=Abby|last=Dodge|website=KCTV Kansas City}}</ref> Following Coleman's October 2021 arrest on domestic violence charges, Sawyer called Coleman's more recent arrest "extremely disturbing news" and said Coleman should "resign and get the help he badly needs."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://kansasreflector.com/2021/10/31/kansas-state-rep-coleman-arrested-jailed-on-domestic-violence-allegation/ |title=Kansas state Rep. Coleman arrested, jailed on domestic violence allegation House Democratic leader calls arrest 'extremely disturbing news |publisher=Kansas Reflector |last=Carpenter |first=Tim |date=October 31, 2021 |access-date=November 4, 2021}}</ref> After Coleman was arrested again in November 2021, for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, Sawyer again requested Coleman's resignation. Gov. Kelly called for the legislature to expel Coleman if he did not voluntarily leave office.<ref name="TorresBernard" /><ref name=":2" /> A complaint was filed seeking Coleman's removal from office.<ref name="auto" />
In February 2022, the Kansas Democratic Party suspended Coleman for two years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 28, 2022 |first1=Rebekah |last1=Chung |first2=Mark |last2=Feuerborn |title=Kansas Democrats suspend controversial Rep. Aaron Coleman |url=https://fox4kc.com/news/kansas-news/kansas-democrats-suspend-controversial-rep-aaron-coleman/ |access-date=March 23, 2022 |work=WDAF-TV |location=Kansas City |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Other campaigns=== In November 2023, Coleman was defeated in his bid for a seat on the Turner USD 202 Board of Education in Wyandotte County.<ref name="board">{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/aaron-coleman-former-ks-lawmaker-023116403.html|title=Aaron Coleman, former KS lawmaker with abusive history, loses WyCo school board race|date=November 8, 2023|website=Yahoo News}}</ref>
==Legal troubles and allegations of wrongdoing== Coleman has been accused of engaging in abusive, harassing and/or unlawful behavior on a series of occasions.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Stephen |last=Koranda |url=https://hutchpost.com/posts/7681e2e9-3976-4533-b5d4-a9ad74259804 |title=What it would take to remove Kan. lawmaker charged with domestic battery |date=November 11, 2021 |work=Hutch Post |agency=Kansas News Service}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first1=Rebekah |last1=Chung |url=https://fox4kc.com/news/kansas-news/kansas-rep-aaron-coleman-could-face-expulsion-from-office-after-lawmakers-file-complaint/ |title=Kansas Rep. Aaron Coleman could face expulsion from office after lawmakers file complaint |date=November 29, 2021 |work=WDAF-TV |location=Kansas City}}</ref>
=== Juvenile misconduct === After his 2020 Kansas House primary victory, Coleman's past history generated significant controversy, leading to him admitting that he had leaked revenge porn in middle school when he was 12.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Cramer|first=Maria|date=August 19, 2020|title=Kansas Democrat, 19, Who Admitted to Revenge Porn, Ekes Out Primary Win|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/19/us/politics/aaron-coleman-kansas.html|access-date=March 8, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="Twenty">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kshb.com/news/election-2020/20-year-old-who-admitted-to-sexual-harassment-elected-to-kansas-house-of-representatives|title=20-year-old who admitted to sexual harassment elected to Kansas House of Representatives|date=November 4, 2020|website=KSHB}}</ref><ref name="Grim">Grim, Ryan. [https://theintercept.com/2020/08/25/aaron-coleman-ex-girlfriend-assault/ Aaron Coleman's Ex-girlfriend says he slapped and choked her in the past year], ''The Intercept'', August 25, 2020.</ref> He has also admitted to bullying, extortion, and threats of physical violence at his middle school.<ref name="CutLampen11042020">Lampen, Claire. [https://www.thecut.com/2020/11/aaron-coleman-admits-to-revenge-porn-still-wins-kansas-race.html Aaron Coleman, Revenge Porn Perpetrator, Officially Elected to Kansas House], ''The Cut'', November 4, 2020.</ref><ref name=":0" />
The ''Kansas City Star'' reported that in 2015, when Coleman was 14, he was arrested and charged for threatening to shoot a girl at another high school.<ref name="CutLampen11042020" /> He was initially charged with a felony count of making a criminal threat, but later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of harassment.<ref name="board" />
Coleman has apologized for his bullying, extortion, and revenge porn activities.<ref name=":0" /> Coleman asserted he had experienced child abuse from his elementary school teachers. On June 17, 2020, Coleman said, on Facebook, that he spent “the vast majority” of his elementary school education “in a closet” instead of getting proper help at school. Coleman claims that he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder at 15.<ref name="APHanna08142020" /> Turner USD #202 school district, where Coleman went to elementary school, stated that it does not “put kids in closets”.<ref name="APHanna08142020" />
=== Allegations and charges of adult misconduct === ==== Harassment ==== On December 4, 2020, Kathleen Lynch, a Wyandotte County, Kansas judge, issued a temporary anti-stalking order (no-contact order) against Coleman after Brandie Armstrong, the campaign manager for Frownfelter, accused Coleman of harassment. The two later reached an agreement.<ref name="KMBC12092020">Multiple sources: *[https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-kansas-lawmaker-to-be-aaron-coleman-under-order-not-to-contact-foes-aide/34917368 Kansas City, Kansas, lawmaker-to-be under order not to contact foe's aide], ''KMBC TV Channel 9'', Kansas City, Missouri, December 9, 2020. *{{cite news |last=Hanna |first=John |date=December 8, 2020 |title=Kansas lawmaker-to-be under order not to contact foe's aide |url=https://www.chron.com/news/article/Kansas-lawmaker-to-be-under-order-not-to-contact-15786018.php |work=Houston Chronicle |location=Houston, Texas |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=December 29, 2020}} *[https://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/headlines-saturday-january-2-2021 Headlines for Saturday, January 2, 2021], ''Kansas Public Radio'', Lawrence, Kansas, January 2, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2021. *{{Cite web|last=Hanna|first=John|date=January 7, 2021|title=Lawyer: New Kansas lawmaker reaches deal to end court order|url=https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Lawyer-New-Kansas-lawmaker-reaches-deal-to-end-15852712.php|access-date=January 7, 2021|website=Alton Telegraph|language=en-US}} </ref>
In 2021, Democratic House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer accused Coleman of having threatened Sawyer's former chief of staff, Heather Scanlon.<ref name="threats" />
In October 2021, Kansas Department of Labor Secretary Amber Shultz sent Coleman a letter notifying him that he had been banned from all Department of Labor offices. The letter alleged that Coleman had attempted to enter an employees-only area of the agency's Topeka headquarters<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article255279011.html|title=KS Rep. Aaron Coleman banned from KDOL for allegedly berating an officer last month|website=kansascity.com|last=Bernard|first=Katie|date=October 26, 2021}}</ref> and had accosted a police officer in "a loud and demanding tone". Coleman disputed this account.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/10/24/rep-aaron-coleman-banned-kansas-department-labor-premises-disruptive-behavior-outburst/6166923001/|title = Rep. Aaron Coleman banned from KDOL premises after 'disruptive, intimidating and berating' behavior|work = The Topeka Capital-Journal|date = October 24, 2021|access-date = October 28, 2021|last = Bahl|first = Andrew}}</ref>
==== Violence ==== Coleman's ex-girlfriend, Taylor Passow, has alleged that Coleman choked and slapped her in late 2019,<ref name="Grim" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2020/08/26/aaron-coleman-s-ex/1087254007/|title=Aaron Coleman's ex-girlfriend says abusive behavior, threats continued until Kansas House bid|website=The Topeka Capital-Journal|date=August 26, 2020}}</ref> and that he had sent her abusive and threatening text messages. Coleman disputed aspects of Passow's account.<ref name="APAbusive08272020">{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/d6ea4066903abd8ef70d60bebe6c8a3c |title=Ex-girlfriend: Kansas House candidate was abusive last year |publisher=Associated Press|date=August 27, 2020 |access-date=November 21, 2020|quote=The incident followed one earlier in December, when Passow texted Coleman to tell him that she planned to hitchhike from Topeka to the Kansas City area to see him. The Capital-Journal reported that he texted back: 'I hope you get abducted raped chopped up and have ya pieces scattered and Burnt in different locations,' adding, 'Read about it. dangerous for women to hitchhike.' 'One day, he even said, 'If you get pregnant, I will have to kill you and the baby,"' Passow told The Capital-Journal.}}</ref>
On October 30, 2021, Coleman was arrested by Overland Park police on a domestic violence charge. Coleman was alleged to have hit, pushed, and spat upon his brother and to have threatened to "kick" his grandfather's "ass". The domestic dispute allegedly arose from Coleman's objection to his brother's desire to be baptized.<ref name="TorresBernard">{{Cite news |title=Early-morning DUI arrest adds to troubles for Kansas lawmaker accused of family violence |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article256184417.html |last1=Torres |first1=Aarón |last2=Bernard |first2=Katie |date=November 28, 2021 |access-date=November 28, 2021 |work=The Kansas City Star}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article255863741.html|title=KS Rep. Aaron Coleman hit, spit on brother and told grandfather he would 'kick his ass,' affidavit alleges |website=kansascity.com|last1=Bernard|first1=Katie|last2=Spoerre|first2=Anna|date=November 16, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-11-16/kansas-state-rep-aaron-coleman-allegedly-hit-brother-and-threatened-grandfather-on-night-of-his-arrest|title=Kansas state Rep. Aaron Coleman allegedly hit brother, threatened grandfather on night of his arrest|first=Steve|last=Vockrodt|date=November 16, 2021|website=KCUR}}</ref> Coleman pleaded not guilty and was released on bail.<ref name="WIBW">{{cite news|url=https://www.wibw.com/2021/11/01/state-rep-ordered-undergo-mental-evaluation-pleads-not-guilty-domestic-battery/ |title=State Rep. ordered to undergo mental evaluation, pleads not guilty to domestic battery|website=WIBW-TV |last=Brunner|first=Melissa |date=November 1, 2021|access-date=November 4, 2021}}</ref> In March 2022, Coleman entered into a diversion agreement in which he "agreed to complete a domestic violence assessment, spend a year in counseling and take random alcohol and drug tests in lieu of facing prosecution for the battery charge".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article259725925.html|title=Kansas Rep. Aaron Coleman receives diversion in Johnson County domestic battery case|website=kansascity.com|last=Bernard|first=Katie|date=March 24, 2022}}</ref>
==== 2021 driving infraction ==== On November 28, 2021, Coleman was arrested in Douglas County, Kansas on suspicion of (DUI).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=DeMarche|first=Edmund|date=November 28, 2021|title=Top Kansas Democrat call for representative to step down after arrest on suspicion of DUI|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/top-kansas-democrat-call-for-representative-to-step-down-after-arrest-on-suspicion-of-dui|access-date=November 29, 2021|website=Fox News|language=en-US}}</ref> He had been cited for doing 91 mph on an Interstate, and for failing to follow the instructions of the police officer who made the traffic stop.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/crime/2022/03/02/kansas-rep-aaron-coleman-erratic-during-november-traffic-stop-highway-patrol-trooper-report-says/9344376002/ |title=Kansas trooper: Rep. Aaron Coleman 'erratic' in November traffic stop; no DUI charges filed |publisher=The Topeka Capital-Journal |last=Bahl|first=Andrew |date=March 3, 2022 |access-date=March 3, 2022}}</ref> In January 2022, it was announced that no criminal charge would be filed due to lack of evidence of intoxication. Coleman was instead charged with traffic violations for speeding and for failing to yield to emergency vehicles.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article257807118.html|date =January 28, 2022|title= Kansas Rep Coleman charged with traffic infractions, not DUI, after November arrest| first= Katie| last= Bernard| publisher= Kansas City Star}}</ref>
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change|title=Kansas House of Representatives 37th District 2020 Democratic Primary<ref>{{cite web|last=Gebhardt |first=Maggie |url=https://www.kshb.com/news/election-2020/wyandotte-county-election-board-certifies-win-for-19-year-old |title=Wyandotte County election board certifies win for 19-year-old |publisher=kshb.com |date=August 17, 2020 |access-date=August 17, 2020}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |candidate=Aaron Coleman |party=Democratic Party (United States) |votes=823 |percentage=50.43% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |candidate=Stan Frownfelter (incumbent) |party=Democratic Party (United States) |votes=809 |percentage=49.57% }} {{Election box total no change|votes=1,632|percentage=100.00% }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change| title=Kansas House of Representatives 37th District 2020 General Election<ref name="KER">{{cite web |title=Kansas Secretary of State 2020 General Election Official Vote Totals |url=https://www.sos.ks.gov/elections/20elec/2020_General_Official_Vote_Totals.pdf |website=Kansas Secretary of State |access-date=January 23, 2021}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Aaron Coleman |votes = 3,649 |percentage = 66.45% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party = Independent (politician) |candidate = Stan Frownfelter (write-in) (incumbent) |votes = 1,222 |percentage = 22.25% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party = Independent (politician) |candidate = Kristina Smith (write-in) |votes = 620 |percentage = 11.29% |change = }} {{Election box total no change| |votes = 5,491 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box hold with party link no change| |winner = Democratic Party (US) |swing = }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=Kansas House of Representatives 37th District 2022 Democratic Primary<ref name="Renomination" /> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |candidate=Melissa Oropeza |party=Democratic Party (United States) |votes=1,203 |percentage=49.16% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |candidate=Faith Rivera |party=Democratic Party (United States) |votes=923 |percentage=37.72% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |candidate=Aaron Coleman (incumbent) |party=Democratic Party (United States) |votes=321 |percentage=13.12% }} {{Election box total no change|votes=2,447|percentage=100.00% }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no party no change | title = 2023 Unified School District No. 202 Board Member election<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56606b47e4b0b9403ad6ff96/t/655549b03a3ef1370455552c/1772645362780/CG2023+Official+Final+Results.pdf|title=Official Final Results: Wyandotte County 2023 General Election, November 7, 2023 STATISTICS Election Summar|website=Wyandotte County Votes KCK|page=5|date=9 April 1986|access-date=15 November 2023}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate no party no change | candidate = Daniel Soptic (incumbent) | votes = 1,111 | percentage = 25.48% }} {{Election box winning candidate no party no change | candidate = Theresa Tillery (incumbent) | votes = 1,058 | percentage = 24.26% }} {{Election box winning candidate no party no change | candidate = Becky Billigmeier (incumbent) | votes = 948 | percentage = 21.74% }} {{Election box winning candidate no party no change | candidate = Brian Fishbaugh (incumbent) | votes = 886 | percentage = 20.18% }} {{Election box candidate no party no change | candidate = Aaron Coleman | votes = 319 | percentage = 7.31% }} {{Election box candidate no party no change | candidate = Write-in | votes = 39 | percentage = 0.89% }} {{Election box total no party no change | votes = 4,361 | percentage = 100.00% }} {{Election box end}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://ballotpedia.org/Aaron_Coleman Ballotpedia — Aaron Coleman] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20210514214434/https://www.aaronforkansashouse.com/ Campaign website, archived May 14, 2021]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coleman, Aaron}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American Jews Category:Jewish American people in Kansas politics Category:Kansas independents Category:Democratic Party members of the Kansas House of Representatives Category:Politicians from Kansas City, Kansas Category:21st-century members of the Kansas Legislature