Kansas lawmakers have finished the regular session. They now address bills that were vetoed before adjourning for the year.
elections
Posted inKansas
Kansas ends grace period for mail ballots. Democrats warn legally cast votes will be thrown out
Republicans have been trying to pass this law for years. They say requiring all ballots to be in on election day increases voter confidence.
Posted inState Government
Lawmakers debate whether voters should elect Kansas Supreme Court justices
Robert Edmunds won three judicial elections in his home state of North Carolina. He was elected to the state Court of Appeals before serving two terms on the state’s Supreme Court. Edmunds said he never would have risen through the ranks without elections. He didn’t have any political connections to the governor. He didn’t run […]
Posted inBehind the Beacon
The multifaceted work behind the 2024 KC Voter Guide
The 2024 Kansas City Voter Guide was an ambitious, collaborative effort that rallied local media and community organizations under the banner of strengthening civic engagement. Powered by the Kansas City Media Collective (KCMC) in partnership with The Kansas City Star, RevEd, the League of Women Voters Kansas City, and over 200 community partners, the guide […]
Posted inElections
Kansas’ top election official suggests drop boxes over USPS for your mail ballot
This story was updated to include comments from the most recent conversation between Kansas and USPS officials. Kansans should think twice before mailing their ballots this election, the state’s top election official said. The warning comes after Scott Schwab, the secretary of state, said the U.S. Postal Service likely won’t address problems that led to […]
Posted inWichita
Who’s running for District 3 in the Sedgwick County election? Meet Celeste Racette and Stephanie Wise
Commissioner David Dennis’ decision not to seek reelection to the Sedgwick County Commission has created an opportunity in District 3. Candidates Celeste Racette, the driving force behind the Save Century II movement, and Stephanie Wise, a commercial real estate broker, have stepped up to seize that opportunity. Voters in rural western Sedgwick County, Goddard and […]
Posted inWichita
Jeff Blubaugh challenges Sarah Lopez for District 2 Sedgwick County Commission seat
Sarah Lopez faces her first challenger as District 2 Sedgwick County commissioner. Her opponent, Jeff Blubaugh, returns to the political arena just months after his term on the Wichita City Council ended. Residents in southwestern Wichita, Haysville and Clearwater will cast their vote for either Lopez, a Democrat, or Blubaugh, a Republican. Advance voting will […]
Posted inElections
How to track political contributions in Sedgwick County
Money drives politics, fueling the same question every election: Who’s trying to buy influence with their donations? But finding out who funds city or county races can be a challenge if you don’t know where or what to look for. Mark Skoglund, executive director of the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, said voters should look for […]
Posted inElections
Steve Huebert, Jesse McCurry, Darren Pugh running in Wichita Kansas House Republican primary for District 90
Incumbent state Rep. Carl Maughan suspended his reelection campaign after a DUI arrest. That drew three challengers — Steve Huebert, Jesse McCurry and Darren Pugh — into the Republican primary for District 90. The winner of the primary takes on Tracy Edingfield in the general election this November. The primary election is Aug. 6. You […]
Posted inElections
Jill Ward and David Hickman: Get to know the Wichita-area primary candidates
Two conservative candidates — Jill Ward and David Hickman — are running for a Kansas House seat after the retirement of longtime state Rep. Brenda Landwehr. Landwehr was first elected in 1997 and stayed in office until 2012. She then returned to office in 2017. But her possible replacements in the Republican primary have little […]