Statewide Races in 2026
In 2026, state offices up for election include the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, all members of the Kansas House of Representatives, and members of odd-numbered districts in the State Board of Education. There will be special elections for some Kansas Senate seats, including one in the Wichita area. There is also a ballot question during the Primary Election about a proposed amendment to the Kansas constitution.
Democrats and Republicans will appear on Primary Election ballots for their respective parties, with the Primary Election winners advancing to the General Election along with candidates from other parties such as the Libertarian Party and United Kansas Party.
Statewide Offices
Governor & Lieutenant Governor
The Kansas state government's executive branch is led by the Governor, who is responsible for carrying out state laws and administering the executive budget. The Lieutenant Governor is first in line to succeed to the governorship in the event of a vacancy. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected to a 4-year term. They are restricted to two consecutive terms in office, after which they must wait one term before being able to run again. The current Governor of Kansas is Laura Kelly and Lieutenant Governor is David Toland. Governor and Lieutenant Governor are next up for election in 2026.
List of Governor & Lieutenant Governor candidates
Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is the state's chief election officer. The Secretary of State is elected to a 4-year term with no term limit. The Secretary of State is responsible for:
- Administering elections
- Administering Kansas business entity laws
- Administering the uniform commercial code
The Secretary of State is a member of the State Board of Canvassers, State Election Board, State Objections Board, and State Rules and Regulations Board. The Secretary of State appoints the election commissioner in the four most populous counties: Johnson, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte. The current Secretary of State is Scott Schwab. The Secretary of State is up for election in 2026.
List of Secretary of State candidates
Attorney General
The Attorney General is the state's top law enforcement official. The Attorney General is elected to a 4-year term with no term limit. The Attorney General's duties include:
- Assisting in criminal investigation and prosecution
- Representing the state and its employees in civil lawsuits
- Providing legal advice to state officers and employees
The Attorney General is a member of the State Board of Canvassers, State Election Board, State Objections Board, State Records Board, and State Rules and Regulations Board. The current Attorney General is Kris Kobach. The Attorney General is next up for election in 2026.
List of Attorney General candidates
State Treasurer
The State Treasurer acts as the state's chief financial officer. The State Treasurer is elected to a 4-year term with no term limits. The State Treasurer's office is responsible for administering the state's budget and payroll, managing the Learning Quest postsecondary education savings program, and maintaining a list of unclaimed property. The current State Treasurer is Steven Johnson. The State Treasurer is next up for election in 2026.
List of State Treasurer candidates
Insurance Commissioner
The Insurance Commissioner is responsible for regulating all insurance sold in Kansas and overseeing insurance companies and agents licensed to do business in Kansas. The Insurance Commissioner is elected to a 4-year term with no term limits. State law requires the Insurance Commissioner to "be a person well versed and experienced in the business of insurance and matters relating thereto; and he shall give his personal presence and attention to the duties of his office; but in no case shall such commissioner of insurance be in the employment of any insurance company or have any official connection with any insurance company, or any financial interest in any insurance company other than as a policyholder." The current Insurance Commissioner is Vicki Schmidt. The Insurance Commissioner is next up for election in 2026.
List of Insurance Commissioner candidates
Kansas Senate
Kansas has 40 Senate districts, including eight that comprise part of Wichita or Sedgwick County. Kansas senators are elected to a 4-year term with no term limit. The Senate meets in Topeka annually for approximately 90 days, beginning in January. In case of a vacancy, precinct committee members within the Senate district from that senator's political party will elect a replacement senator. If the vacancy occurs prior to May 1 of the second year of the term, then a special election will be held to complete the remainder of the term. Senator Mary Ware resigned on November 13, 2025. A special election will be held in 2026 to complete the remainder of the term. During the next regular election for Kansas Senate, in 2028, all 40 Senate seats are up for election.
List of Wichita-area Senate candidates
Kansas House of Representatives
Kansas has 125 state representatives, including 24 from districts that comprise part of Wichita or Sedgwick County. Representatives are elected to a 2-year term with no term limit. In case of a vacancy, precinct committee members within the House district will elect a replacement representative. The House meets in Topeka annually for approximately 90 days, beginning in January. All 125 seats are up for election in 2026.
List of Wichita-area Representative candidates
State Board of Education
The mission of the State Board of Education "is to prepare Kansas students for lifelong success through rigorous, quality academic instruction, career training and character development according to each student's gifts and talents," according to the State Department of Education's website. The Board of Education has 10 districts across the state, including three that comprise part of Wichita or Sedgwick County: districts 7, 8, and 10. Members serve 4-year terms. The seats in odd-numbered districts are up for election in 2026.
List of Wichita-area State Board of Education candidates
Statewide Ballot Measures
During the August 2026 Primary Election, there will be one statewide ballot measure.
Learn about the Ballot Measure
Candidates for Statewide Office in 2026
Where possible, the candidate's website or an official campaign social media page will be linked to their name.
Governor & Lieutenant Governor Candidates
Democratic Candidates
- Ethan Corson (D-Overland Park) / Renee Duxler (D - Salina)
- Cindy Holscher (D-Olathe) / KC Ohaebosim (D - Wichita)
- Curt Skoog (D - Overland Park) / Jennifer Bacani McKenney (D - Fredonia)
At least one other candidate, Sharilyn Ray (I-Wichita), has announced a campaign for Governor but is currently not listed on the Kansas Secretary of State's list of candidates.
The incumbent Governor, Laura Kelly, is ineligible to run in 2026 due to term limits.
Secretary of State Candidates
The incumbent Secretary of State, Scott Schwab, is running for Governor.
Attorney General Candidates
State Treasurer Candidates
Insurance Commissioner Candidates
The incumbent Insurance Commissioner, Vicki Schmidt, is running for Governor.
Wichita-area Senate Candidates
District 25 Special Election
Senator Mary Ware (D) retired in 2025. In accordance with state law, precinct commitee members in District 25 from that senator's party voted for a replacement. A special election will determine who will hold the seat for the rest of the term. All Kansas Senate seats are next up for election in 2028.
- Silas J. Miller (D - Wichita) (incumbent)
- Christopher Parisho (R - Wichita)
Wichita-area House of Representatives Candidates
District 72
House District 72 also includes portions of Harvey county.
District 81
District 82
House District 82 also includes portions of Sumner county.
District 83
District 84
- Ford Carr (D - Wichita) (incumbent)
- Bonita Gooch (D - Wichita)
District 85
House District 85 also includes portions of Butler county.
District 86
District 87
- Susan O. Estes (R - Wichita) (incumbent)
District 88
House District 88 also includes portions of Butler county.
District 89
The incumbent in District 89, KC Ohaebosim, is running for Lieutenant Governor.
District 90
- Steve Huebert (R - Valley Center) (incumbent)
- Amy Warhurst (D - Valley Center)
District 91
District 92
District 93
- Brian Bergkamp (R - Wichita) (incumbent)
- Eli Rueda-Vega (D - Haysville)
District 94
District 95
District 96
- Tom Kessler (R - Wichita) (incumbent)
- Jessica Maldonado (D - Wichita)
- Joshua Moses (D - Wichita)
- Josef Trotter (L - Wichita)
District 97
District 98
District 99
House District 99 also includes portions of Butler county.
District 100
The District 100 incumbent, Dan Hawkins, is running for Insurance Commissioner.
District 101
House District 101 also includes portions of Reno county.
The District 101 incumbent, Joe Seiwert, did not file for re-election.
District 103
District 105
Wichita-area State Board of Education Candidates
The next election for State Board of Education Districts 8 and 10—and all even-numbered Board of Education seats—is in 2028.
District 7
The Distirct 7 incumbent, Dennis Hershberger, declined to seek re-election.
This Year's Statewide Ballot Measure
Every ballot in Kansas will have the following question about a proposed amendment to the Kansas constitution. Ballotpedia has a list of officials and organizations in support of and opposed to the constitutional amendment.
Explanatory statement. This amendment gives the voters the right to elect the justices of the Kansas supreme court. The justices shall serve terms of six years, with the elections of justice positions 1, 2 and 3 to occur in 2028, positions 4 and 5 to occur in 2030 and positions 6 and 7 to occur in 2032, and every six years thereafter. The rules applicable for such elections and the designation of position numbers shall be provided by law. Any vacancy on the court for an unexpired term shall be filled at an election as provided by law.
A vote for this proposition would give Kansas citizens the right to elect Kansas supreme court justices as provided by law. Justices will hold office for terms of six years. The Kansas supreme court nominating commission, whose membership consists of a majority of lawyers, would be abolished.
A vote against this proposition would continue the current system in which the Kansas supreme court nominating commission, whose membership consists of a majority of lawyers, provides the governor a list of three individuals to choose from for vacancies on the Kansas supreme court. Justices hold office for a term of six years and retain their offices if they win a retention election in which they do not face an opponent.
Shall the following be adopted?
"§ 5. Selection of justices of the supreme court. The citizens of Kansas who are qualified electors shall elect the justices of the supreme court. The rules applicable for such elections and the designation of position numbers shall be provided by law. Justice positions 1, 2 and 3 shall be elected at the general election in November of 2028, justice positions 4 and 5 in November of 2030 and justice positions 6 and 7 in November of 2032, and every six years thereafter, respectively. Any vacancy occurring on the supreme court for an unexpired term shall be filled by election as provided by law.(a) Any vacancy occurring in the office of any justice of the supreme court and any position to be open thereon as a result of enlargement of the court, or the retirement or failure of an incumbent to file his declaration of candidacy to succeed himself as hereinafter required, or failure of a justice to be elected to succeed himself, shall be filled by appointment by the governor of one of three persons possessing the qualifications of office who shall be nominated and whose names shall be submitted to the governor by the supreme court nominating commission established as hereinafter provided.
(b) In event of the failure of the governor to make the appointment within sixty days from the time the names of the nominees are submitted to him, the chief justice of the supreme court shall make the appointment from such nominees.
(c) Each justice of the supreme court appointed pursuant to provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall hold office for an initial term ending on the second Monday in January following the first general election that occurs after the expiration of twelve months in office. Not less than sixty days prior to the holding of the general election next preceding the expiration of his term of office, any justice of the supreme court may file in the office of the secretary of state a declaration of candidacy for election to succeed himself. If a declaration is not so filed, the position held by such justice shall be open from the expiration of his term of office. If such declaration is filed, his name shall be submitted at the next general election to the electors of the state on a separate judicial ballot, without party designation, reading substantially as follows:
"Shall
_______________________________
(Here insert name of justice.)
_______________________________
(Here insert the title of the court.)
be retained in office?"
If a majority of those voting on the question vote against retaining him in office, the position or office which he holds shall be open upon the expiration of his term of office; otherwise he shall, unless removed for cause, remain in office for the regular term of six years from the second Monday in January following such election. At the expiration of each term he shall, unless by law he is compelled to retire, be eligible for retention in office by election in the manner prescribed in this section.
(d) A nonpartisan nominating commission whose duty it shall be to nominate and submit to the governor the names of persons for appointment to fill vacancies in the office of any justice of the supreme court is hereby established, and shall be known as the "supreme court nominating commission." Said commission shall be organized as hereinafter provided.
(e) The supreme court nominating commission shall be composed as follows: One member, who shall be chairman, chosen from among their number by the members of the bar who are residents of and licensed in Kansas; one member from each congressional district chosen from among their number by the resident members of the bar in each such district; and one member, who is not a lawyer, from each congressional district, appointed by the governor from among the residents of each such district.
(f) The terms of office, the procedure for selection and certification of the members of the commission and provision for their compensation or expenses shall be as provided by the legislature.
(g) No member of the supreme court nominating commission shall, while he is a member, hold any other public office by appointment or any official position in a political party or for six months thereafter be eligible for nomination for the office of justice of the supreme court. The commission may act only by the concurrence of a majority of its members."
"§ 8. Prohibition of political activity by justices and certain judges. No justice of the supreme court who is appointed or retained under the procedure of section 5 of this article, nor any judge of the district court holding office under a nonpartisan method authorized in subsection (a) of section 6 of this article shall directly or indirectly make any contribution to or hold any office in a political party or organization or take part in any political campaign, except when such judge is a candidate for election to a position on an appellate court."
"§ 15. Removal of justices and judges. Justices of the supreme court may be removed from office by impeachment and conviction as prescribed in article 2 of this constitution. In addition to removal by impeachment and conviction, justices may be retired after appropriate hearing, upon certification to the governor, by the supreme court nominating commission that such justice is so incapacitated as to be unable to perform adequately his duties. Other judges shall be subject to retirement for incapacity, and to discipline, suspension and removal for cause by the supreme court after appropriate hearing."
This page last updated on July 14, 2026.
