Kelly re-elected Governor, USD 373 passes first bond in 15 years as results of Kansas elections become final
Kelly re-elected Governor, USD 373 passes first bond in 15 years as results of Kansas elections become final
Here's how voters across the state and Harvey County residents voted on both statewide and local ballot items.
On Tuesday, Kansans across the Sunflower State made their way to the polls to cast their ballots on a myriad of races and issues. Headlining these races were Democratic incumbent Governor Laura Kelly seeking re-election against Republican challenger Derek Schmidt, and Kris Kobach looking to revitalize his political career in a run for Attorney General against Chris Mann.
On Wednesday morning, both of these races were called by Wichita’s KWCH 12 News. At 9:24 a.m. the station tweeted that Kelly had won re-election for a second term as the Governor of Kansas, earning 49.2 percent of the vote to Schmidt’s 47.7 percent, per The New York Times.
14 minutes later, the station tweeted that Kobach had earned 51.2 percent (per NYT) of the vote to become the state’s next Attorney General. The win for Kobach marks his first in three statewide campaign attempts, having lost the gubernatorial race to Kelly in 2018 and failing at a run for the United States Senate in 2020.
Locally, for Newton Schools, the $8,435,000 bond passed by a vote of 72.9 percent (5,637 votes) to 27.1 percent (2,100 votes), per clarityelections.com. The funds allocated by the passage of this bond will be dedicated to USD 373’s plans to renovate Lindley Hall and the Santa Fe fifth/sixth-grade center.
This result follows failed bonds in 2017 and 2019 and is the first bond passed for the district since 2007. It’ll retire in 2037 and won’t increase the current mill levy. The current bond is set to retire in 2026.
Elsewhere on the statewide ballot, Republican incumbent Senator Jerry Moran defeated Democrat Mark Holland by a wide margin, winning all but three counties (per NYT) — Douglas, Johnson, and Wyandotte. In the United States House Districts 1, 2, and 4 races, Republicans Tracey Mann, Jake LaTurner, and Ron Estes won handily.
In District 3, Democratic incumbent Sharice Davids was re-elected, defeating Republican challenger Amanda Adkins.
There were also two ballot measures:
Question 1 asked voters if they would like to “[Amend] the Kansas Constitution to allow the Legislature to revoke or suspend executive department rules and regulations that have the force of law.” With 99 percent of precincts reporting, “NO” leads with just 50.3 percent of the vote (AP).
Question 2 asked voters if they would like to “[Enshrine] the current practice of electing county sheriffs into the Kansas Constitution, preventing additional counties besides Riley County from abolishing an elected sheriff's office.” With 99 percent of precincts reporting, “YES” has won with 61.9 percent of the vote (AP).
Local results
STATEWIDE RACES
Per clarityelections.com, the official elections results source of Harvey County, Republicans swept statewide races in the county. Here’s how its residents voted with 100 percent of all precincts reporting. Winners are bolded.
U.S. Representative — District 4
(R) Ron Estes, 63.25% (7,947)
(D) Bob Hernandez, 36.64% (4,604)
U.S. Senator
(R) Jerry Moran, 63.75% (8,020)
(D) Mark Holland, 33.38% (4,200)
Governor/Lt. Governor
(R) Derek Schmidt/Katie Sawyer, 48.91% (6,196)
(D) Laura Kelly/David Toland, 47.79% (6,054)
Attorney General
(R) Kris Kobach, 54.75% (6,844)
(D) Chris Mann, 45.08% (5,636)
State Treasurer
(R) Steven Johnson, 57.66% (7,187)
(D) Lynn W. Rogers, 38.68% (4,822)
Commissioner of Insurance
(R) Vicki Schmidt, 66.26% (8,105)
(D) Kiel Corkran, 33.58% (4,108)
State Representative — District 74
(R) Stephen Owens, 75.04% (3,344)
(L) Henry Hein, 23.36% (1,041)
Republican Avery Anderson ran unopposed and won 94.92 percent of the vote in the State Representative, District 72 race. Republican Dennis Hershberger also ran unopposed and won 96.71 percent of the vote in the State Board of Education, District 7 race.
STATEWIDE QUESTIONS/COUNTY RACES
Per clarityelections.com, for judicial retention among Harvey County voters, “YES” won every question for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and District Court. On ballot measures Question 1 and Question 2, “YES” won both, earning 51.44 percent of the vote on the former and 63.22 percent on the latter.
For Harvey County, Republicans Becky Reimer (County Commissioner, District 1), Becky Fields (County Treasurer), and Heather L. Figger (County Attorney) all ran unopposed in their respective races. For Newton Township Clerk, Republican Melinda Budde ran unopposed.