2018 Kansas State Legislature elections | |
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General | November 6, 2018 |
Primary | August 7, 2018 |
2018 elections | |
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Choose a chamber below: | |
Debate between supporters and opponents of former Gov. Sam Brownback's (R) 2012 tax cuts made the August 7 legislative primaries a battle between rival Republican factions. Twenty-three of the 31 contested primaries featured contests between pro-Brownback supporters of the cuts and anti-Brownback opponents. All 125 state House seats are up; the next state Senate elections were scheduled for 2020.
In 2018, 19 incumbents faced primary challengers, while 14 chose not to seek reelection. Twelve of the 19 who faced challengers generally opposed Brownback's tax cuts, five mostly supported them, and two did not firmly belong to either faction. Of the 14 who retired, seven were pro-Brownback, six were anti-Brownback, and one did not belong to either faction.
Six of the 12 anti-Brownback incumbents lost their primaries. One pro-Brownback incumbent lost his primary.
Anti-Brownback candidates won six of the 12 open primaries. Pro-Brownback candidates won five.[1]
This was not the first time the Brownback tax cuts—which lowered income tax rates and exempted more than 300,000 businesses from taxation—have been an issue in the Republican primaries. Eighteen legislators opposed to Brownback's policies were defeated in 2012. Fourteen incumbents supportive of Brownback were unseated in 2016.
In the 2017 legislative session, the Kansas State Legislature largely repealed the tax cuts and overrode Brownback when he vetoed the repeal. Anti-Brownback Republicans said the repeal was necessary to address the budget deficit and increase education funding. Read more below.
The state legislative elections occurred alongside a Republican gubernatorial primary to select Brownback’s successor. He resigned in January 2018 to take a position in the Trump administration and was replaced by Lieutenant Gov. Jeff Colyer.[2] Colyer and Secretary of State Kris Kobach, the leading candidates in the Republican primary, both indicated support for lowering taxes.[3]
As of August 2018, Kansas was one of 26 Republican trifectas, a term used to describe a single-party government where one political party holds the governor's office and a majority in both chambers of the state legislature. To find out more about state government trifectas, click here.
For information about the Democratic primary elections in Kansas, click here.
Fourteen Republican state House incumbents did not file for re-election.
Seven state House incumbents were defeated in their primaries.
There 11 Democratic primaries in 2018 compared to five in 2014, the last election where only the state House was up.
Year | Total seats | Open seats | Total candidates | Democratic primaries contested | Republican primaries contested | Total contested | Incumbents contested in primaries | Total incumbents contested in primaries |
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2018 | 125 | 14 | 232 | 11 | 30 | 16.4% | 26 | 23.4% |
2016 | 165 | 34 | 354 | 14 | 55 | 20.9% | 39 | 29.8% |
2014 | 125 | 13 | 238 | 5 | 29 | 13.6% | 21 | 18.8% |
This section tracked factional conflict between the pro-Brownback and anti-Brownback factions in the 31 contested state House Republican primaries in 2018.
Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 85 Republicans and 40 Democrats in the state House. A two-thirds supermajority (84 votes) is needed to override a gubernatorial veto. In 2017, anti-Brownback Republicans, Republicans without a clear faction, and Democrats voted together to override Brownback's veto of legislation that repealed the tax cuts.
The chart below provides an overview of the factions' memberships heading into the 2018 Republican primaries.
Kansas Republican factions | ||||||||||||
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Faction | Pre-primary members | Retirements | Incumbents with challenges | Post-primary members | ||||||||
Anti-Brownback | 41 | 6 | 12 | 33 | ||||||||
Pro-Brownback | 38 | 7 | 5 | 43 | ||||||||
No clear faction | 6 | 1 | 2 | 9 | ||||||||
Total | 85 | 14 | 19 | 85 |
Of the 31 contested Republican primaries in 2018, 19 featured challengers running against incumbents, 10 were open primaries in seats where a Republican incumbent retired, and two were for seats held by Democrats.
Factional conflicts in Kansas state House Republican primaries | ||||||||||||
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District | Incumbent | Incumbent faction | Incumbent running? | Challenger(s) | Challenger(s) faction | |||||||
District 5 | Kevin Jones | Pro-Brownback | No | |||||||||
Mark Samsel | Anti-Brownback | |||||||||||
Renee Slinkard | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 6 | Jene Vickrey | Pro-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
Clifford Blackmore | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 8 | Patty Markley | Anti-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
Chris Croft | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 11 | Jim Kelly | Anti-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
John Lowrance | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 12 | Doug Blex | Pro-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
Brad Hall | Unclear faction | |||||||||||
District 13 | Larry Paul Hibbard | Anti-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
Londa Tindle | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 14 | Keith Esau | Pro-Brownback | No | |||||||||
Charlotte Esau | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
Aaron Young | Anti-Brownback | |||||||||||
Tom Stanion | Anti-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 17 | Tom Cox | Anti-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
Jim Eschrich | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 18 | Cindy Neighbor | Democratic | Democratic seat (Yes) | |||||||||
Cathy Gordon | Unclear faction | |||||||||||
Eric Jenkins | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 27 | Sean Tarwater Sr. | Unclear faction | Yes | |||||||||
Rochelle Bird | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
Karen Snyder | Anti-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 28 | Joy Koesten | Anti-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
Kellie Warren | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 29 | Brett Parker | Democratic | Democratic seat (Yes) | |||||||||
Peggy Galvin | Anti-Brownback | |||||||||||
James Todd | Anti-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 30 | Randy Powell | Pro-Brownback | No | |||||||||
Wendy Bingesser | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
Colleen Webster | Anti-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 38 | Willie Dove | Pro-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
Noel Hull | Unclear faction | |||||||||||
District 39 | Shelee Brim | Anti-Brownback | No | |||||||||
Kristy Acree | Anti-Brownback | |||||||||||
Owen Donohoe | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 42 | Jim Karleskint | Anti-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
Lance Neelly | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 45 | Thomas Sloan | Anti-Brownback | No | |||||||||
Cynthia Smith | Anti-Brownback | |||||||||||
Ronald Thacker | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 49 | Scott Schwab | Pro-Brownback | No | |||||||||
Fsehazion Desalegn | Anti-Brownback | |||||||||||
Megan Lynn | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 59 | Blaine Finch | Unclear faction | Yes | |||||||||
Shari Weber | Unclear faction | |||||||||||
District 64 | Susie Swanson | Anti-Brownback | No | |||||||||
Susan Carlson | Unclear faction | |||||||||||
Kathy Martin | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 74 | Don Schroeder | Anti-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
Stephen Owens | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 75 | Mary Martha Good | Anti-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
Will Carpenter | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 80 | Anita Judd-Jenkins | Anti-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
Bill Rhiley | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 87 | Roger Elliott | Anti-Brownback | No | |||||||||
Renee Erickson | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
Jeff Kennedy | Anti-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 93 | John Whitmer | Pro-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
J.C. Moore | Anti-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 97 | Leslie Osterman | Pro-Brownback | No | |||||||||
Nick Hoheisel | Anti-Brownback | |||||||||||
Michael Walker | Unclear faction | |||||||||||
District 100 | Daniel Hawkins | Pro-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
James Breitenbach | Unclear faction | |||||||||||
District 104 | Steven R. Becker | Anti-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
Paul Waggoner | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 107 | Susan Concannon | Anti-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
Sam Sacco | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 113 | Greg Lewis | Anti-Brownback | Yes | |||||||||
Brett Fairchild | Pro-Brownback | |||||||||||
District 124 | J. Stephen Alford | Anti-Brownback | No | |||||||||
Jeffrey Locke | Unclear faction | |||||||||||
Martin Long | Anti-Brownback |
Determining incumbents' factions
Incumbents' factions were determined by their votes on legislation related to the Brownback tax cuts in Kansas' 2017 legislative session. This spreadsheet contains information on how members voted and shows our methodology for designating their faction.
Click on the boxes below to see the factions for members who were in the legislature when the 2017 tax cuts were repealed.[5]
Kansas State Senate Republican factions | |||
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District | Member | Faction | Primary challenger? |
District 32 | Larry Alley | Pro-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 37 | Molly Baumgardner | Pro-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 5 | Steve Fitzgerald | Pro-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 13 | Richard Hilderbrand | Pro-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 9 | Julia Lynn | Pro-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 16 | Ty Masterson | Pro-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 23 | Robert Olson | Pro-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 28 | Mike Petersen | Pro-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 10 | Mary Pilcher-Cook | Pro-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 1 | Dennis Pyle | Pro-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 27 | Gene Suellentrop | Pro-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 12 | Caryn Tyson | Pro-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 30 | Susan Wagle | Pro-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 35 | Rick Wilborn | Leans Pro-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 36 | Elaine Bowers | Leans Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 34 | Edward Berger | Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 39 | John Doll | Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 14 | Bruce Givens | Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 24 | Randall Hardy | Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 11 | John Skubal | Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 21 | Dinah Sykes | Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 40 | Rick Billinger | Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 7 | Barbara Bollier | Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 15 | Dan Goddard | Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 26 | Dan Kerschen | Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 17 | Jeff Longbine | Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 31 | Carolyn McGinn | Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 20 | Vicki Schmidt | Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 33 | Mary Jo Taylor | Anti-Brownback | Next election in 2020 |
District 8 | Jim Denning | Unknown | Next election in 2020 |
District 38 | Bud Estes | Unknown | Next election in 2020 |
Determining challengers' factions
Challengers' factions were determined by how they addressed tax and budget policy as well as education spending. Anti-Brownback Republicans said the tax cuts needed to be repealed to address inadequate spending on public education and a state supreme court order to increase education funding. Pro-Brownback Republicans said the government needed to spend existing school funding more effectively, especially on teacher salaries and classroom expenses, rather than attempting to increase revenue by repealing the tax cuts.[6]
We looked at challenger's campaign websites, their statements to media outlets, and their responses to a survey conducted by the organization Women for Kansas that asked about their position on the Brownback tax cuts. Additionally, supporters of Brownback's tax policies were identified based on endorsements by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, which supported the Brownback tax cuts in 2012 and opposed their repeal in 2017, and endorsements by retiring incumbents.[7][8] We also used endorsements by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the MainStream Coalition, which endorsed candidates opposed to the tax cuts.[9]
Read the sections below to see the statements and endorsements that we used to designate the candidates' factions.
Incumbent Kevin Jones , a pro-Brownback Republican, did not seek re-election. Republicans Mark Samsel and Renee Slinkard filed to replace him.
Mark Samsel: anti-Brownback.
Renee Slinkard: pro-Brownback,
Incumbent Jene Vickrey, a pro-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican Clifford Blackmore filed to challenge her.
Clifford Blackmore: pro-Brownback.
Incumbent Patty Markley, an anti-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican Chris Croft filed to challenge her.
Chris Croft: pro-Brownback.
Incumbent Jim Kelly, an anti-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican John Lowrance filed to challenge him.
John Lowrance: pro-Brownback.
Incumbent Doug Blex, a pro-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican Brad Hall filed to challenge him.
Ballotpedia could not locate information on Brad Hall. If you have information, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
Incumbent Larry Paul Hibbard, an anti-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican Londa Tindle filed to challenge him.
Londa Tindle: pro-Brownback.
Incumbent Keith Esau, a pro-Brownback Republican, did not seek re-election. Republicans Charlotte Esau, Aaron Young and Tom Stanion filed to replace him.
Charlotte Esau: pro-Brownback.
Aaron Young: anti-Brownback.
Tom Stanion: anti-Brownback.
Incumbent Tom Cox, an anti-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican Jim Eschrich filed to challenge him.
Jim Eschrich: pro-Brownback.
Incumbent Cindy Neighbor, a Democrat, filed for re-election. Republicans Cathy Gordon and Eric Jenkins filed to challenge her.
Ballotpedia could not locate information on Cathy Gordon. If you have information, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
Eric Jenkins: pro-Brownback
Incumbent Sean Tarwater Sr., an incumbent without a clear faction, filed for re-election. Republicans Rochelle Bird and Karen Snyder filed to challenge him.
Rochelle Bird: pro-Brownback.
Karen Snyder: anti-Brownback
Incumbent Joy Koesten, an anti-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican Kellie Warren filed to challenge her.
Kellie Warren: pro-Brownback
Incumbent Brett Parker, a Democrat, filed for re-election. Republicans Peggy Galvin and James Todd filed to challenge him.
Peggy Galvin: anti-Brownback
James Todd: anti-Brownback
Incumbent Randy Powell, a pro-Brownback Republican, did not seek re-election. Republicans Wendy Bingesser and Colleen Webster filed to replace him.
Wendy Bingesser: pro-Brownback
Colleen Webster: anti-Brownback
Incumbent Willie Dove, a pro-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican Noel Hull filed to challenge him.
Ballotpedia could not locate information on Noel Hull. If you have information, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
Incumbent Shelee Brim, an anti-Brownback Republican, did not seek re-election. Republicans Kristy Acree and Owen Donohoe filed to replace her.
Kristy Acree: anti-Brownback
Owen Donohoe: pro-Brownback
Incumbent Jim Karleskint, an anti-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican Lance Neelly filed to replace him.
Lance Neelly: pro-Brownback
Incumbent Thomas Sloan, an anti-Brownback Republican, did not seek re-election. Republicans Cynthia Smith and Ronald Thacker filed to replace him.
Cynthia Smith: anti-Brownback
Ronald Thacker: pro-Brownback
Incumbent Scott Schwab, a pro-Brownback Republican, did not seek re-election. Republicans Fsehazion Desalegn and Megan Lynn filed to replace him.
Fsehazion Desalegn: anti-Brownback
Megan Lynn: pro-Brownback
Incumbent Blaine Finch, an incumbent without a clear faction, filed for re-election. Republican Shari Weber filed to replace him.
Ballotpedia could not locate information on Shari Weber. If you have information, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
Incumbent Susie Swanson, an anti-Brownback Republican, did not seek re-election. Republicans Susan Carlson and Kathy Martin filed to replace her.
Susan Carlson: unclear faction
Kathy Martin: pro-Brownback
Incumbent Don Schroeder, an anti-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican Stephen Owens filed to challenge him.
Stephen Owens: pro-Brownback
Incumbent Mary Martha Good, an anti-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican Will Carpenter filed to challenge her.
Will Carpenter: pro-Brownback
Incumbent Anita Judd-Jenkins, an anti-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican Bill Rhiley filed to challenge her.
Bill Rhiley: pro-Brownback
Incumbent Roger Elliott, an anti-Brownback Republican, did not seek re-election. Republicans Renee Erickson and Jeff Kennedy filed to replace him.
Renee Erickson: pro-Brownback
Jeff Kennedy: anti-Brownback
Incumbent John Whitmer, a pro-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican J.C. Moore filed to challenge him.
J.C. Moore: anti-Brownback
Incumbent Leslie Osterman, a pro-Brownback Republican, did not seek re-election. Republicans Nick Hoheisel and Michael Walker filed to replace him.
Nick Hoheisel: anti-Brownback
Ballotpedia could not locate information on Michael Walker. If you have information, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
Incumbent Daniel Hawkins, a pro-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican James Breitenbach filed to challenge him.
Ballotpedia could not locate information on James Breitenbach. If you have information, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
Incumbent Steven R. Becker, an anti-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican Paul Waggoner filed to challenge him.
Paul Waggoner: pro-Brownback
Incumbent Susan Concannon, an anti-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican Sam Sacco filed to challenge her.
Sam Sacco: pro-Brownback
Incumbent Greg Lewis, an anti-Brownback Republican, filed for re-election. Republican Brett Fairchild filed to challenge him.
Brett Fairchild: pro-Brownback
Incumbent J. Stephen Alford, an anti-Brownback Republican, did not seek re-election. Republicans Jeffrey Locke and Martin Long filed to replace him.
Jeffrey Locke: unclear faction
Martin Long: anti-Brownback:
These Republicans filed to replace retiring incumbents and did not receive challengers:
Kansas State Legislative Republican Primary Elections (August 7, 2018) | |
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|
Office | Candidates |
Kansas House of Representatives District 5 |
Mark Samsel Renee Slinkard |
Kansas House of Representatives District 6 |
Jene Vickrey (i) Clifford Blackmore |
Kansas House of Representatives District 8 |
Patty Markley (i) Chris Croft |
Kansas House of Representatives District 11 |
Jim Kelly (i) John Lowrance |
Kansas House of Representatives District 12 |
Doug Blex (i) Brad Hall |
Kansas House of Representatives District 13 |
Larry Paul Hibbard (i) Londa Tindle |
Kansas House of Representatives District 14 |
Charlotte Esau Tom Stanion Aaron Young |
Kansas House of Representatives District 17 |
Tom Cox (i) Jim Eschrich |
Kansas House of Representatives District 18 |
Cathy Gordon Eric Jenkins |
Kansas House of Representatives District 27 |
Sean Tarwater Sr. (i) Rochelle Bird Karen Snyder |
Kansas House of Representatives District 28 |
Joy Koesten (i) Kellie Warren |
Kansas House of Representatives District 29 |
Peggy Galvin James Todd |
Kansas House of Representatives District 30 |
Wendy Bingesser Colleen Webster |
Kansas House of Representatives District 38 |
Willie Dove (i) Noel Hull |
Kansas House of Representatives District 39 |
Kristy Acree Owen Donohoe |
Kansas House of Representatives District 42 |
Jim Karleskint (i) Lance Neelly |
Kansas House of Representatives District 45 |
Cynthia Smith Ronald Thacker |
Kansas House of Representatives District 49 |
Fsehazion Desalegn Megan Lynn |
Kansas House of Representatives District 59 |
Blaine Finch (i) Shari Weber |
Kansas House of Representatives District 64 |
Susan Carlson Kathy Martin |
Kansas House of Representatives District 74 |
Don Schroeder (i) Stephen Owens |
Kansas House of Representatives District 75 |
Mary Martha Good (i) Will Carpenter |
Kansas House of Representatives District 80 |
Anita Judd-Jenkins (i) Bill Rhiley |
Kansas House of Representatives District 87 |
Renee Erickson Jeff Kennedy |
Kansas House of Representatives District 93 |
John Whitmer (i) J.C. Moore |
Kansas House of Representatives District 97 |
Nick Hoheisel Michael Walker |
Kansas House of Representatives District 100 |
Daniel Hawkins (i) James Breitenbach |
Kansas House of Representatives District 104 |
Steven R. Becker (i) Paul Waggoner |
Kansas House of Representatives District 107 |
Susan L. Concannon (i) Sam Sacco |
Kansas House of Representatives District 113 |
Greg Lewis (i) Brett Fairchild |
Kansas House of Representatives District 124 |
Jeffrey Locke Martin Long |
On July 27, The Hutchinson News reported that three anti-Brownback Republicans—Greg Lewis, Steven Becker, and Don Schroeder—claimed that Americans for Prosperity-Kansas and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce paid for mailers opposing them or supporting their opponents.[55]
On July 10, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce endorsed 22 pro-Brownback candidates running in contested primaries.[15]
The MainStream Coalition endorsed eight anti-Brownback Republicans running in contested primaries.[20]
On June 6, 2017, the Kansas legislature overrode Gov. Sam Brownback's (R) veto of legislation that repealed tax cuts Brownback had signed in 2012. Legislators' successful override came after several months of intra-party and inter-party conflict within the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature.
Anti-Brownback Republicans wanted to roll back the tax cuts to address an $887 million revenue shortfall in Kansas’ budget over two years and to respond to a state Supreme Court ruling in March 2017 that state funding for K-12 education had failed to meet constitutional requirements. Pro-Brownback Republicans argued that a rollback would amount to a tax hike and hurt the economy.
Democrats supported repealing the tax cuts but, in some cases, voted alongside pro-Brownback because they felt that additional tax revenue beyond a repeal of the tax cuts was needed or because of attached legislation related to school funding.
Eventually, the lines between these factions blurred enough to pass legislation on the tax cuts and to override Brownback’s veto.[56]
The 2012 tax cuts reduced the state’s income tax brackets from three to two. The original rates were 6.5 percent, 6.25 percent, and 3.5 percent, depending on an individual’s annual income. The 2012 legislation dropped those rates to 4.9 and 3 percent. It also established state income tax exemptions for more than 300,000 farmers and business owners throughout Kansas.[57]
The bill to repeal the cuts passed on June 5. The House voted 69-52 to remove the tax exemptions, bring back a third tax bracket, and raise income tax rates (5.7, 5.25, and 3.1). The Senate voted for the bill 26-14. The bill was expected to generate $1.2 billion in revenue over two years. Brownback immediately stated his intentions to veto the bill, saying, “Senate Bill 30 is a $1.2 billion tax hike, making it the largest in state history. This is bad for Kansas and bad for the many Kansans who would have more of their hard-earned money taken from them.” Following Brownback’s veto, the Legislature voted in favor of an override: 88-31 in the House and 27-13 in the Senate. Included among the yes votes for the override were eight House Republicans and six Senate Republicans who unseated Republican lawmakers aligned with Brownback in the 2016 primary elections.[6]
In February 2017, the Legislature passed a similar bill to rollback the tax cuts, but Brownback vetoed it. In response, the House voted 85-40 to override the veto. The Senate voted 24-16 to override Brownback, which was three votes shy of the 27 needed for the override to pass.
In the primary elections held on August 2, 2016, six Republican incumbents were defeated in the state Senate primaries, while eight Republican incumbents were defeated in the state House primaries. The 14 incumbents who were ousted were pro-Brownback Republicans. They were displaced by Republicans running against the policies of Gov. Sam Brownback (R).
In the 2012 elections, 19 Republican incumbents, mostly from the anti-Brownback wing of the party, were unseated.[58]
This section provides an overview of media reactions to the Kansas state legislative Republican primaries.[59] Selected articles are presented as a jumping-off point for deeper exploration of media coverage and as an overview of narratives that have emerged surrounding the elections.
The tables below show the partisan breakdowns of the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas State Senate as of August 2018:
Party | As of August 2018 | |
---|---|---|
Democratic Party | 40 | |
Republican Party | 85 | |
Total | 125 |
Party | As of August 2018 | |
---|---|---|
Democratic Party | 9 | |
Republican Party | 31 | |
Total | 40 |
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Kansas utilizes a semi-closed primary process, in which previously unaffiliated voters can participate in the partisan primary of their choice (a voter who is already affiliated with a party can only vote in that party's primary).[60][61][62][63]
In Kansas, most polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time, as Kansas mandates in its state laws that the polls must be open a minimum of 12 hours. Counties may open the polls earlier and close them later. If the polls close while a voter is in line, he or she will still be permitted to vote.[64]
To vote in Kansas, one must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Kansas. In order to register, an individual must be least 18 years old before the next election. Voters must register at least 21 days prior to Election Day. Registration can be done by completing and returning an application, either in person or by mail. Registration may also be completed online.[65]
On June 18, 2018, a federal judge struck down a Kansas law requiring citizens to present proof of citizenship when registering to vote. A federal appeals court subsequently affirmed that decision. For more information, see below.
Kansas does not practice automatic voter registration.
Kansas has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Kansas does not allow same-day voter registration.
To register to vote in Kansas, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.
A provision of Kansas’ SAFE Act went into effect on January 1, 2013, requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship with their voter registration applications. On June 18, 2018, Judge Julie Robinson, of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, struck down the proof of citizenship provision and ordered Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) to stop enforcing the rule. On June 20, 2018, Kobach’s office advised county clerks to comply with Robinson’s order. Kobach appealed the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which heard oral arguments on March 18, 2019. On April 29, 2020, a Tenth Circuit panel affirmed the district court's ruling.[66][67][68][69]
The site Voter View, run by the Kansas Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Kansas requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[70]
Voters can present the following forms of identification:
A photo ID does not need to have an expiration date, but, if it does have an expiration date, it must not have expired at the time of voting. If the voter is over the age of 65, he or she can use an expired ID.[70]
The following voters are exempt from providing photo ID:[70]
Voters who do not have a photo ID can obtain one for free through the Division of Vehicles, Kansas Department of Revenue. The voter must provide proof of identity and proof of residence. The voter must also sign an affidavit. Voters can access the Certification Requesting Fee Waiver for Nondriver Identification Card form at all driver's license offices, county election offices, and on the secretary of state's website. If a voter does not have the proper documents to obtain a nondriver ID card, he or she can obtain a Kansas birth certificate from the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics for free. Voters can also apply for a free State Voter Identification Document. Voters should contact the election division of the secretary of state's office at election@sos.ks.gov or (800) 262-VOTE to apply.[70]
The Kansas Secure and Fair Elections Act was signed into law on April 18, 2011, by Governor Sam Brownback (R). Beginning January 1, 2012, Kansas voters were required to present photo ID when voting in person. Beginning January 1, 2013, persons registering to vote for the first time were required to prove U.S. citizenship. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) was sued over the law by Arthur Spry and Charles Hamner, two elderly Kansas residents whose ballots were not counted in the November 2012 general election because they could not provide photo identification. The lawsuit stated that neither had a driver's license or access to the birth records needed to secure a photo ID. The federal trial was set for May 11, 2015. On April 23, 2014, the federal lawsuit was dismissed. Both Spry and Hamner asked to have the case dismissed when the trial was scheduled after the 2014 elections.[71][72]
As of April 2021, 35 states enforced (or were scheduled to begin enforcing) voter identification requirements. A total of 21 states required voters to present photo identification at the polls; the remainder accepted other forms of identification. Valid forms of identification differ by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.[73][74]
Kansas permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
As of April 2021, 38 states and the District of Columbia permitted early voting. Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on election day. States that do not permit early voting still permit some or all citizens to vote early by mail—often known as absentee voting. Some states allow no-excuse absentee voting, while others require an excuse. States that allow in-person absentee voting without an excuse are counted among early voting states. Click here for early voting laws by state.[75]
All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Kansas. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee. An absentee ballot application must be received by the Tuesday prior to the election. Kansas refers to absentee voting as "advance voting."[76]
There are no Pivot Counties in Kansas. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Kansas with 56.7 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 36.1 percent. In presidential elections between 1864 and 2016, Kansas voted Republican 84.21 percent of the time and Democratic 15.78 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Kansas voted Republican all five times.[77]
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Kansas. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[78][79]
In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 29 out of 125 state House districts in Kansas with an average margin of victory of 21.8 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 34 out of 125 state House districts in Kansas with an average margin of victory of 20.9 points. Clinton won six districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections. |
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 96 out of 125 state House districts in Kansas with an average margin of victory of 32.8 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 91 out of 125 state House districts in Kansas with an average margin of victory of 35.5 points. Trump won 11 districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections. |
2016 presidential results by state House district | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
1 | 34.52% | 63.35% | R+28.8 | 23.35% | 71.63% | R+48.3 | R |
2 | 39.77% | 57.53% | R+17.8 | 27.77% | 66.50% | R+38.7 | D |
3 | 46.36% | 51.22% | R+4.9 | 38.05% | 54.82% | R+16.8 | D |
4 | 30.10% | 67.41% | R+37.3 | 20.25% | 74.79% | R+54.5 | R |
5 | 32.25% | 65.27% | R+33 | 23.45% | 69.48% | R+46 | R |
6 | 29.97% | 68.18% | R+38.2 | 26.18% | 67.84% | R+41.7 | R |
7 | 37.56% | 60.32% | R+22.8 | 27.74% | 66.71% | R+39 | R |
8 | 29.85% | 68.98% | R+39.1 | 39.07% | 55.47% | R+16.4 | R |
9 | 34.83% | 62.80% | R+28 | 26.84% | 66.79% | R+39.9 | R |
10 | 56.98% | 40.00% | D+17 | 56.46% | 35.14% | D+21.3 | D |
11 | 30.79% | 66.61% | R+35.8 | 24.48% | 70.05% | R+45.6 | R |
12 | 22.13% | 75.66% | R+53.5 | 16.45% | 78.95% | R+62.5 | R |
13 | 22.55% | 75.21% | R+52.7 | 16.51% | 77.88% | R+61.4 | R |
14 | 35.33% | 63.12% | R+27.8 | 40.81% | 52.23% | R+11.4 | R |
15 | 41.90% | 55.57% | R+13.7 | 42.04% | 48.78% | R+6.7 | R |
16 | 42.20% | 56.14% | R+13.9 | 47.32% | 45.91% | D+1.4 | D |
17 | 41.27% | 56.85% | R+15.6 | 47.24% | 45.90% | D+1.3 | R |
18 | 43.81% | 54.18% | R+10.4 | 45.07% | 47.41% | R+2.3 | D |
19 | 44.88% | 53.47% | R+8.6 | 53.76% | 39.96% | D+13.8 | R |
20 | 37.95% | 60.61% | R+22.7 | 48.15% | 46.37% | D+1.8 | R |
21 | 50.02% | 48.02% | D+2 | 57.77% | 35.71% | D+22.1 | D |
22 | 52.33% | 44.57% | D+7.8 | 52.46% | 38.89% | D+13.6 | D |
23 | 49.29% | 48.38% | D+0.9 | 51.80% | 40.42% | D+11.4 | R |
24 | 53.41% | 43.84% | D+9.6 | 54.71% | 37.19% | D+17.5 | D |
25 | 50.47% | 47.54% | D+2.9 | 59.32% | 33.38% | D+25.9 | R |
26 | 32.80% | 65.25% | R+32.4 | 33.61% | 58.71% | R+25.1 | R |
27 | 29.93% | 68.57% | R+38.6 | 36.38% | 57.73% | R+21.4 | R |
28 | 31.83% | 66.95% | R+35.1 | 42.47% | 52.42% | R+9.9 | R |
29 | 44.53% | 53.59% | R+9.1 | 49.08% | 44.00% | D+5.1 | D |
30 | 43.67% | 54.04% | R+10.4 | 47.90% | 44.60% | D+3.3 | R |
31 | 68.34% | 29.12% | D+39.2 | 64.49% | 28.46% | D+36 | D |
32 | 70.85% | 26.33% | D+44.5 | 69.13% | 24.93% | D+44.2 | D |
33 | 53.07% | 44.74% | D+8.3 | 46.77% | 46.81% | R+0 | D |
34 | 87.52% | 11.61% | D+75.9 | 82.15% | 14.18% | D+68 | D |
35 | 83.97% | 14.71% | D+69.3 | 79.07% | 17.21% | D+61.9 | D |
36 | 57.58% | 41.19% | D+16.4 | 54.32% | 40.28% | D+14 | D |
37 | 60.83% | 36.66% | D+24.2 | 53.70% | 39.94% | D+13.8 | D |
38 | 34.73% | 63.29% | R+28.6 | 30.42% | 63.22% | R+32.8 | R |
39 | 35.39% | 62.94% | R+27.5 | 39.04% | 53.11% | R+14.1 | R |
40 | 40.75% | 57.27% | R+16.5 | 38.32% | 53.56% | R+15.2 | D |
41 | 46.66% | 50.70% | R+4 | 39.81% | 50.78% | R+11 | D |
42 | 36.18% | 61.14% | R+25 | 31.04% | 61.02% | R+30 | R |
43 | 34.15% | 63.16% | R+29 | 31.41% | 59.98% | R+28.6 | R |
44 | 62.77% | 34.89% | D+27.9 | 67.49% | 25.53% | D+42 | D |
45 | 54.91% | 42.82% | D+12.1 | 59.16% | 33.32% | D+25.8 | R |
46 | 77.64% | 19.20% | D+58.4 | 76.44% | 14.71% | D+61.7 | D |
47 | 38.18% | 59.43% | R+21.3 | 31.44% | 61.94% | R+30.5 | R |
48 | 36.29% | 62.51% | R+26.2 | 45.15% | 48.99% | R+3.8 | R |
49 | 38.40% | 59.65% | R+21.3 | 42.61% | 49.98% | R+7.4 | R |
50 | 37.85% | 59.91% | R+22.1 | 32.39% | 60.99% | R+28.6 | R |
51 | 28.55% | 68.80% | R+40.3 | 24.87% | 67.57% | R+42.7 | R |
52 | 38.48% | 59.83% | R+21.4 | 41.24% | 52.33% | R+11.1 | R |
53 | 49.46% | 48.55% | D+0.9 | 48.48% | 44.69% | D+3.8 | D |
54 | 36.08% | 61.42% | R+25.3 | 31.53% | 61.19% | R+29.7 | R |
55 | 58.75% | 38.23% | D+20.5 | 56.22% | 35.86% | D+20.4 | D |
56 | 50.35% | 47.61% | D+2.7 | 47.52% | 45.37% | D+2.1 | D |
57 | 60.24% | 37.08% | D+23.2 | 52.56% | 40.10% | D+12.5 | D |
58 | 68.89% | 28.89% | D+40 | 62.81% | 30.95% | D+31.9 | D |
59 | 34.91% | 62.26% | R+27.3 | 27.17% | 65.34% | R+38.2 | R |
60 | 44.81% | 52.89% | R+8.1 | 41.23% | 50.34% | R+9.1 | R |
61 | 28.37% | 68.24% | R+39.9 | 21.25% | 72.95% | R+51.7 | R |
62 | 23.43% | 74.47% | R+51 | 17.38% | 77.05% | R+59.7 | R |
63 | 35.08% | 62.22% | R+27.1 | 26.76% | 66.59% | R+39.8 | R |
64 | 25.27% | 72.77% | R+47.5 | 20.43% | 73.29% | R+52.9 | R |
65 | 43.74% | 54.05% | R+10.3 | 34.93% | 58.47% | R+23.5 | R |
66 | 50.12% | 46.43% | D+3.7 | 51.05% | 38.79% | D+12.3 | D |
67 | 40.06% | 57.80% | R+17.7 | 42.63% | 49.20% | R+6.6 | R |
68 | 34.43% | 63.50% | R+29.1 | 29.68% | 63.68% | R+34 | R |
69 | 35.59% | 61.03% | R+25.4 | 30.21% | 60.42% | R+30.2 | R |
70 | 23.84% | 73.94% | R+50.1 | 19.14% | 74.53% | R+55.4 | R |
71 | 32.78% | 64.93% | R+32.1 | 30.30% | 61.66% | R+31.4 | R |
72 | 40.72% | 57.33% | R+16.6 | 36.99% | 55.92% | R+18.9 | D |
73 | 26.35% | 71.50% | R+45.2 | 22.73% | 70.59% | R+47.9 | R |
74 | 29.70% | 67.81% | R+38.1 | 26.47% | 66.27% | R+39.8 | R |
75 | 30.67% | 66.90% | R+36.2 | 24.51% | 69.40% | R+44.9 | R |
76 | 30.91% | 66.27% | R+35.4 | 24.82% | 68.60% | R+43.8 | R |
77 | 27.21% | 70.71% | R+43.5 | 22.92% | 70.69% | R+47.8 | R |
78 | 34.61% | 63.40% | R+28.8 | 38.30% | 53.87% | R+15.6 | R |
79 | 32.96% | 65.00% | R+32 | 28.05% | 65.25% | R+37.2 | D |
80 | 35.06% | 62.13% | R+27.1 | 26.70% | 67.44% | R+40.7 | R |
81 | 33.84% | 63.99% | R+30.2 | 31.03% | 61.27% | R+30.2 | R |
82 | 30.06% | 67.52% | R+37.5 | 26.99% | 65.38% | R+38.4 | R |
83 | 54.37% | 43.11% | D+11.3 | 51.85% | 39.65% | D+12.2 | D |
84 | 70.84% | 26.86% | D+44 | 68.69% | 24.53% | D+44.2 | D |
85 | 34.31% | 63.97% | R+29.7 | 37.32% | 56.24% | R+18.9 | R |
86 | 53.12% | 43.21% | D+9.9 | 48.15% | 43.40% | D+4.7 | D |
87 | 37.57% | 60.74% | R+23.2 | 40.94% | 52.41% | R+11.5 | R |
88 | 49.69% | 48.03% | D+1.7 | 47.67% | 44.31% | D+3.4 | D |
89 | 61.51% | 37.13% | D+24.4 | 59.18% | 34.73% | D+24.4 | D |
90 | 24.03% | 73.80% | R+49.8 | 22.19% | 71.68% | R+49.5 | R |
91 | 30.91% | 66.80% | R+35.9 | 29.71% | 63.58% | R+33.9 | R |
92 | 50.33% | 46.78% | D+3.5 | 49.74% | 42.40% | D+7.3 | D |
93 | 27.30% | 70.28% | R+43 | 21.81% | 71.39% | R+49.6 | R |
94 | 29.42% | 68.69% | R+39.3 | 29.97% | 63.69% | R+33.7 | R |
95 | 47.49% | 49.01% | R+1.5 | 43.07% | 48.91% | R+5.8 | D |
96 | 46.56% | 50.44% | R+3.9 | 39.83% | 52.31% | R+12.5 | D |
97 | 36.12% | 61.26% | R+25.1 | 30.50% | 61.72% | R+31.2 | R |
98 | 40.62% | 56.26% | R+15.6 | 33.41% | 58.84% | R+25.4 | D |
99 | 26.09% | 72.26% | R+46.2 | 28.46% | 64.66% | R+36.2 | R |
100 | 31.22% | 66.92% | R+35.7 | 31.69% | 61.73% | R+30 | R |
101 | 23.17% | 75.00% | R+51.8 | 21.32% | 72.49% | R+51.2 | R |
102 | 44.74% | 51.67% | R+6.9 | 36.80% | 53.97% | R+17.2 | D |
103 | 64.24% | 33.10% | D+31.1 | 59.09% | 33.27% | D+25.8 | D |
104 | 31.01% | 67.13% | R+36.1 | 29.17% | 64.11% | R+34.9 | R |
105 | 37.77% | 59.32% | R+21.5 | 36.00% | 56.30% | R+20.3 | R |
106 | 23.27% | 74.50% | R+51.2 | 18.06% | 76.25% | R+58.2 | R |
107 | 21.11% | 76.29% | R+55.2 | 16.89% | 77.37% | R+60.5 | R |
108 | 28.23% | 68.87% | R+40.6 | 24.51% | 68.39% | R+43.9 | R |
109 | 18.44% | 79.59% | R+61.2 | 14.04% | 81.00% | R+67 | R |
110 | 17.45% | 80.37% | R+62.9 | 13.13% | 82.19% | R+69.1 | R |
111 | 26.84% | 71.10% | R+44.3 | 24.33% | 69.49% | R+45.2 | D |
112 | 23.09% | 75.31% | R+52.2 | 19.09% | 75.85% | R+56.8 | R |
113 | 24.26% | 73.83% | R+49.6 | 18.44% | 76.06% | R+57.6 | R |
114 | 26.19% | 71.17% | R+45 | 20.18% | 73.85% | R+53.7 | R |
115 | 19.36% | 78.60% | R+59.2 | 15.93% | 78.96% | R+63 | R |
116 | 24.38% | 73.12% | R+48.7 | 16.94% | 76.79% | R+59.8 | R |
117 | 20.29% | 78.08% | R+57.8 | 15.14% | 79.76% | R+64.6 | R |
118 | 14.70% | 83.44% | R+68.7 | 11.38% | 84.39% | R+73 | R |
119 | 35.54% | 62.75% | R+27.2 | 33.22% | 61.23% | R+28 | R |
120 | 17.37% | 80.09% | R+62.7 | 12.51% | 82.46% | R+70 | R |
121 | 34.73% | 63.15% | R+28.4 | 37.99% | 54.71% | R+16.7 | R |
122 | 21.80% | 76.17% | R+54.4 | 20.40% | 74.49% | R+54.1 | R |
123 | 32.30% | 65.78% | R+33.5 | 35.21% | 58.47% | R+23.3 | R |
124 | 16.22% | 82.22% | R+66 | 15.64% | 79.80% | R+64.2 | R |
125 | 29.14% | 69.53% | R+40.4 | 32.81% | 62.26% | R+29.4 | R |
Total | 38.08% | 59.72% | R+21.6 | 36.28% | 57.01% | R+20.7 | - |
Source: Daily Kos |