Kansas Elections 2022

Jeanna Repass has endorsements from top Democrats to lead the state party, but a former campaign manager claims Repass canceled her last paycheck.

Right-leaning states like Missouri have moved to make ballot measures tougher to pass after the success of voter initiatives on abortion rights, marijuana and Medicaid expansion.

The proposed amendment failed by less than 10,000 votes in the initial ballot count. It would have allowed the Kansas Legislature to take away some policy-making capabilities from the governor's administration.

Following Derek Schmidt's narrow loss to Gov. Laura Kelly, the Kansas GOP will flex its organizational muscle by invoking provisions of the party’s “loyalty clause” to oust from party committees any Republican lawmakers who signed a candidate petition for independent Dennis Pyle.

Incumbent Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids, who represents Kansas' 3rd Congressional district, defeated Republican Amanda Adkins by 12% in the midterm election.

Supermajorities in the House and Senate mean Republicans have greater opportunity to block or impose laws on taxation, abortion, education, budgets, guns, medical or recreational marijuana and health care, including Kelly’s quest to expand eligibility for Medicaid.

Two very close races have been called in Kansas: Incumbent Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won a second term, with about a 1.5% lead over her Republican opponent, state Attorney General Derek Schmidt. And Republican Kris Kobach beat Democrat Chris Mann by about 2 points in his bid for attorney general.

KCUR editors discuss their approach to the station's political coverage during the 2022 midterm election.

Midterms typically attract fewer voters than presidential races, but fewer people voted on Tuesday than in the 2018 midterm election. In some parts of the metro, turnout was lower than in the August primary.

Four political scientists from Kansas and Missouri broke down the results in several key races and provided analysis on the biggest stories of Election Day 2022.

Kansans approved an amendment that allows county sheriffs to be elected and recalled, while an amendment to allow a legislative majority to revoke executive orders is narrowly failing with 99% of precincts reporting.

Unofficial results show four seats on the Kansas State Board of Education were won by conservative candidates who want to restrict how race and social-emotional learning are taught in schools.