Kansas Republicans have an even tighter grip on state politics after dominating in local legislative elections. Republicans expanded their supermajority in the state Legislature in Tuesday’s elections. Democrats failed to unseat Republicans in the Kansas City suburbs and lost key races in Hutchinson, Leavenworth and Manhattan. Democrats had seen this cycle as their best chance […]
Kansas Statehouse
Posted inKansas
Johnson County could be key to breaking the GOP’s supermajority in Kansas
A few moderate Republicans are the only reason transgender minors can still get gender-affirming care in Kansas. The GOP’s legislative supermajority tried to ban the practice until age 18. But conservatives fell two votes short of overriding Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto — thanks to those Republicans. Kansas Republicans have a veto-proof majority in both the […]
Posted inState Government
Kansas families helping intellectually disabled kids are burnt out, doing care for free, KU study says
Kansans helping friends or family who have intellectual disabilities are burnt out. They miss work, sometimes get a new job entirely and regularly offer daily care while paying for that help from their own pockets, a University of Kansas study said. Those families appealed to the state for help, but the intellectual developmental disability, or […]
Posted inState Government
Medical marijuana still faces opposition from Kansas law enforcement
Kansas police are once again saying no to drugs — including medical marijuana. On Tuesday, groups representing police chiefs, sheriffs and peace officers across the state continued to shoot down the idea of legalizing medical marijuana. They argued that legal weed would create a more lawless Kansas where cartels roam the streets and opioid deaths […]
Posted inElections
Kansas House Elections: Your guide to voting in Wichita and Sedgwick County
All 125 Kansas House seats are up for election this year, and Democrats are hoping to break the GOP’s veto-proof majority. Democrats need to flip two seats to break the supermajority, and voting in Wichita could make the difference. The Beacon asked candidates in the Sedgwick County election the same list of questions to see […]
Posted inElections
Kansas Senate Elections: Your guide to the 2024 Sedgwick County election
Democrats are hoping to break the veto-proof majority in the Kansas Senate — and they need to flip three races to do it. There are competitive races in Sedgwick County. Democrats have a better shot to break the majority in the House, which has three times as many seats and a similarly close margin to […]
Posted inElections
Cyndi Howerton and Carol Brewer run for District 98 in Kansas House
Rep. Cyndi Howerton, a Wichita Republican, is trying to keep her Kansas House seat red. Republicans have won this seat four of the last five elections. She’s challenged by nonprofit founder Carol Brewer. Election Day is Nov. 5. Oct. 15 is the last day to register to vote. Early voting starts Oct. 16. You can […]
Posted inElections
House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Mike McCorkle run in rematch of 2022 election
Mike McCorkle is hoping to take down the speaker of the House in the 2024 election. Rep. Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, has dominated his elections in the past few years. Republicans have won this seat in the last five elections. Election Day is Nov. 5. Oct. 15 is the last day to register to […]
Posted inElections
Jill Ward and John Burke vying to take House District 105 seat
Republican Jill Ward and Democrat John Burke are running to replace outgoing state Rep. Brenda Landwehr. The 105th District of the Kansas House will have a new representative for the first time since 2016. Republicans have won this district the last five elections. Election Day is Nov. 5. Oct. 15 is the last day to […]
Posted inElections
Incumbent Nick Hoheisel faces Christine Pruitt in Kansas House District 97
Rep. Nick Hoheisel, a Wichita Republican, faces a challenger after winning an uncontested general election in 2022. A retired postal service worker, Christine Pruitt is running for the seat. 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 […]