Kansas Sen. Chase Blasi, a Wichita Republican, left this seat after redistricting put him in the 26th District. Now, Maize City Council President Jennifer Herington is running against former school psychologist Joe Claeys.
Republicans have won this district in the past five elections.
Election Day is Nov. 5. Oct. 15 is the last day to register to vote. Early voting starts Oct. 16. You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here.
Who are the candidates in Kansas Senate District 27?
Republican Joe Claeys
Claeys was a school psychologist for 16 years. He has a degree from Kansas State University and a master’s and education specialist degree from Fort Hays State University.
He also taught at Wichita State University for six years.
“Claeys is a dedicated conservative professional, a loving father, and an active member of the 27th District community,” his campaign website said. “With his strong commitment to education and his deep roots in the area, Claeys is well-positioned to make a positive impact and effectively represent the district’s conservative values in the Kansas Senate.”
He is endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life, the Kansas Rifle Association, Attorney General Kris Kobach and U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall.
His campaign website is here.
Democrat Jennifer Herington
Herington is a Wichita native who graduated from Wichita State University. She’s the president-elect for the Kansas Association of Medical Staff Services and has served on the Maize City Council for over six years — she is currently president of the council.
Herington has almost two decades of experience working in health care administration. She is a senior credentialing and contract specialist at the University of Kansas Wichita Medical Practice Association.
“My experience in local governance and health care administration has given me a strong understanding of our local needs and how to address them,” she said.
She is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO, Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas and the Kansas National Education Association.
Her campaign website is here.
If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?
Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.
Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. Responses were compiled from his campaign website and public statements.
Herington: I would most closely resemble Laura Kelly. I believe trying to bridge the gap between party lines to get bills passed is very important to Kansas.
If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why?
Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.
Herington: The bill that I would pass would be to expand Medicaid in the state of Kansas. This will provide essential health coverage to thousands of local hospitals. It would be a step towards a healthier, more equitable Kansas, where everyone has the opportunity to lead a healthy life.
How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass.
The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion
Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned.
Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.
Herington: No. I believe this choice should be up to the individual and their health care provider.
Flat tax on income
A flat tax on income was packaged with property tax cuts and eliminating Social Security income tax. Democrats and Republicans agreed on other parts of the plan, but were at odds over a flat tax. A single rate on income didn’t pass this year.
Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.
Herington: No. I do not believe this will help Kansas, it could even put more undue stress on lower income families.
Banning transgender women from women’s sports
Banning transgender women from women’s sports. Voting yes would mean athletes have to compete as the gender they’re assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022.
Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.
Herington: Pass.
Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth
Voting yes means children under 18 can’t get puberty blockers, hormone treatment, and in rare cases, gender-reassignment surgery. This bill narrowly failed this year and is expected to come up again in 2025.
Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.
Herington: No. I believe this choice should be up to the individual and their health care provider.
Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill
This bill didn’t spend any taxpayer money to attract the teams, but it did set aside future sales tax dollars from future stadium districts to pay off bonds. This law passed by a comfortable margin, and voting yes opens the door to the Chiefs and Royals in Kansas.
Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.
Herington: Yes. I believe that this could be an asset to Kansas’ future and would bring additional revenue into the state.
APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)
This bill had billions in tax incentives to bring a Panasonic battery plant to De Soto, Kansas. As it was being passed, lawmakers were not told which company would be coming, but were told the bill is necessary to attract large businesses. Voting yes approved a massive tax incentive plan for companies.
Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.
Herington: Yes. I believe that in certain instances the incentives may be the only way to bring large businesses to Kansas.
Mail ballot grace period
Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period.
Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.
Herington: No. Votes should be counted if postmarked by Election Day.
A bill loosening child care regulations
It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here.
Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.
Herington: Yes. We need to have more options for child care.
The Parents’ Bill of Rights
This bill lets parents pull their kids out of classes if they are being taught objectionable material. Republicans say it is up to parents to determine what their children should be learning. Democrats say this bill addresses a problem that doesn’t exist.
Claeys: Claeys didn’t respond to the questionnaire. His website and campaign Facebook don’t list any policy stances.
Herington: Pass.
