Marvin Robinson (politician)

Robinson was born on April 15, 1957 in Kansas City, Kansas.^[1] He graduated from Sumner High School. He attended Emporia State University and Temple University.^[2] He dropped out of college.^[3] He served in the United States Navy as an operations specialist and was honorably discharged.^[3][2] Robinson worked for organizations in Wyandotte County, Kansas that serve underprivileged minority groups.^[3] He advocated for the preservation and study of the Quindaro Townsite.^[3]

Robinson was elected in 2022 to represent District 35 of the Kansas House of Representatives.^[3] He succeeded his first cousin, Broderick Henderson.^[3] A Democrat, he voted with Republicans on a number of issues, overriding governor Laura Kelly's vetos.^[4]

In 2023, Robinson broke ranks with his party to provide the single Democratic vote needed to override a veto and pass into law bills to restrict transgender rights, abortion access, and access to food stamps. Many within his party accused him of siding with the Republicans in exchange for $250,000 of state funding to restore a historic gazebo.^[5][6]

On August 6, 2024, Robinson lost his reelection bid to Democratic challenger, Wanda Paige, after having received just 22% of the vote.^[7] He died of pancreatic cancer^[8][9] several weeks later, on August 22, at the age of 67.^[10]