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 […]
Blaise Mesa
Blaise Mesa is The Beacon’s former Kansas Statehouse reporter. He covered the Kansas Statehouse for The Beacon from 2023 to 2026 after reporting on social services for the Kansas News Service and crime and local government for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He has a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism with a concentration in radio from Columbia College Chicago.
Posted inElections
Incumbent Renee Erickson draws two challengers for Kansas Senate seat
Kansas Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, is aiming for a convincing victory against two challengers. Republicans have won this seat in the past five elections, but the most recent election was the closest. Erickson won with only 51.8% of votes. She now faces Libertarian Olivia Hayse and Democrat Richard Smith. Election Day is Nov. […]
Posted inElections
Stephen Owens and Jason Miller are running to replace long-serving senator
Rep. Stephen Owens, a Hesston Republican, is trying to switch chambers as he runs for the Kansas Senate against Democrat Jason Miller. Outgoing Sen. Carolyn McGinn has held this seat in the 31st District since 2005. Election Day is Nov. 5. Oct. 15 is the last day to register to vote. Early voting starts Oct. […]
Posted inElections
Sasha Islam seeks to unseat Senate President Ty Masterson in November
Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson is running for a fifth term representing his district. Wichita resident Sasha Islam is hoping to unseat him. Republicans have won this seat 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 […]
Posted inElections
Mary Ware takes on Republican Keenen Smith in November election
Sen. Mary Ware, a Wichita Democrat, is hoping to keep her Kansas Senate seat blue. Keenen Smith is trying to change that. Republicans have won this seat three times 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 […]
Posted inElections
Chase Blasi, J.C. Moore and Raymond Shore Jr. compete for Kansas Senate seat
Republican Chase Blasi won his primary race against J.C. Moore, but Moore is now running under a different party. Democratic challenger Raymond Shore Jr. also is in the race. The Kansas Secretary of State’s Office confirmed Moore will be on the ballot. Republicans have won this district the past five elections. Election Day is Nov. […]
Posted inElections
These groups have opinions about your vote. Decoding endorsements in Kansas and Missouri
Candidates and campaigns routinely tout endorsements. The Beacon has compiled a list of Kansas, Missouri and national groups that are active in the 2024 election. Meet the endorsers and learn who and what they support: Abortion Action Missouri Abortion Action Missouri is an abortion access advocacy group that used to be called NARAL (National Abortion […]
Posted inKansas
One child overdosed and another cut his own neck at a Kansas foster office. What that says about the system
Paramedics had to rush a Kansas foster teen to the hospital because the 15-year-old girl was overdosing on muscle relaxants at a foster care contractor’s office. One month later, paramedics rushed back to that same Topeka office because a different foster child found glass and cut himself. “Child on (scene) cut up his arms and […]
Posted inState Government
Missouri could legalize sports gambling. How much tax revenue could it generate?
You can bet on almost anything during the Super Bowl. Money changes hands based on the result of the coin toss, the color of Gatorade dumped on the winning coach and the length of the national anthem. In 2023, Kansans took full advantage of the chance to bet on sports. They bet $194 million in […]
Posted inKansas
Kansas foster care not ‘capable of making the changes,’ advocates warn
It’s hard for Kansas foster children to get adequate mental health care. And if they do, an audit of the state’s foster care system said, it may not come quickly. The report released this week concluded that caseloads run too high, children get moved to new homes too often and they still sleep in offices […]