Kansas elections 2026

Political scientists in Kansas and Missouri say Tuesday’s primary elections — particularly the constitutional amendments on the ballot — will gauge public opinion about whose voices should be heard in government and how much trust citizens have in their elected officials.

The office for Kansas' top election official is open because current Secretary of State Scott Schwab is running for Kansas governor.

Days before the primary election, at least 10 completed, mail-in ballots were sent back to Wyandotte County residents because they were printed with a wrong return address. Erik Murray, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Kansas, held a July 31 emergency press conference to address the mistake.

As Gov. Laura Kelly finishes out her last term in office, seven Republicans and three Democrats are making their case to replace her. Find out about the candidates before the Aug. 4 primary. Plus: The cyclospora outbreak has some people scrutinizing where their produce comes from.

If voters approve the constitutional amendment, Kansas will move to a system of electing justices. If not, the state will continue with its current, merit-based appointment system. Critics say the amendment is an attempted power grab by Republican lawmakers.

Kansas' 3rd congressional district is not considered a battleground. Democrat Sharice Davids has held it since 2019, even after redistricting changed her constituency four years ago. This year, she faces two Republican challengers, a Libertarian and a Democrat running to her left.

Charlotte O’Hara is running in the Republican primary for Kansas governor on Aug. 4. Her platform is focused on eliminating property taxes, dramatically reforming education, and ending the use of large tax incentives for major corporations and sports teams like the Chiefs.

Republican Derek Schmidt is defending his congressional seat against a challenger within his own party and two other hopefuls. The 2nd District covers much of eastern Kansas outside the Kansas City suburbs.

A new law passed by Republicans in the Kansas Legislature repeals a three-day grace period for mail-in ballots that were postmarked by Election Day. Civic groups sued, calling it a “deliberate and unconstitutional assault on Kansans’ fundamental right to vote.”

Early voting is underway. The amendment appears on ballots statewide during the primary election and every voter can weigh in, regardless of political affiliation.

After a 40-year career in financial services, Kansas U.S. Senate candidate Sandy Spidel Neumann is focused on optimization. She spoke on KCUR's Up To Date about how her business background has prepared her for Congress.

Kansas U.S. Senate candidate Erik Murray wants "solutions, not chaos" for healthcare and the economy. He spoke on KCUR's Up to Date about the challenges he thinks are most pressing for Kansans in the federal government.