August and November are shaping up to busy months from an election standpoint following the expiration of the candidate filing and withdrawal deadline Monday.
At the state level, Democrat Stephen Vecchione will be challenging Republican 17th District Senator and Senate Vice President Jeff Longbine this upcoming November. Vecchione filed for election last Friday and says a major focus will be on creating more bi-partisanship within the legislature.
A newcomer to the political field, Vecchione says if elected he plans to bring a sense of “empathy” with him to office in order to bridge the gap between Democrats and Republicans.
Vecchione did confirm to KVOE News that he had switched his party affiliation from Libertarian to Democrat ahead of filing. Vecchione declined further comment on the decision.
Additionally, at the state level, Democrat Todd Maddox of Emporia filed last Wednesday to oppose Republican 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber. Primary elections will be held for both the 51st and 76th district seats as Republican 51st District Representative Ron Highland is being challenged by fellow Republican Gary Scheutz and 76th District Representative Republican Eric Smith will be challenged by fellow Republican Robert Harmon.
At the county level, Republican Chris Bartel filed to challenge current third district Lyon County Commissioner Rollie Martin and Republican Hopeful Jaron Smith for the position in an August primary. Meanwhile, at the county level, Democrat Ronald McCoy and Republicans Robert McClelland, Phil Mott and Doug Peck will be vying for the Lyon County Commission Second District seat left open once Dan Slater retires at the end of his term.
Meanwhile, at the federal level, 11 candidates are seeking to fill the US Senate seat which will be left vacant following the retirement of long-time senator Pat Roberts at the end of his term this year. The candidate list includes Republicans like former Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Kansas Congressman Roger Marshall running alongside former Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Dave Lindstrom and lesser-known candidates, including Lance Berland, Bob Hamilton, Brian Matlock, Steve Roberts, Gabriel Robles and Derek Ellis of Topeka who filed Friday.
Two Democrats have also filed for the seat including Kansas Senator Barbara Bollier and Robert Tillman.
