A hotly-contested constitutional amendment on abortion rights was defeated Tuesday.
Voters convincingly turned down House Concurrent Resolution 5003, otherwise known as the Value Them Both amendment. Had it passed, lawmakers, not the Kansas Supreme Court, would have the final say on abortion regulations.
Local Vote No spokesman Ray Rogers was ecstatic with the vote.
Lawmakers representing Lyon County, all Republicans, all supported putting the amendment on the ballot. 17th District Senator Jeff Longbine of Emporia says there was a lot of confusion about what the amendment did or what it didn’t do.
Longbine says the US Supreme Court decision reversing Roe v Wade played a major role in the result Tuesday. So did the Legislature’s decision earlier this year to remove language protecting abortion rights in cases of rape, incest and life of a mother. House 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber of Emporia says Kansas voters also saw a domino effect from the Supreme Court ruling in other states.
House 76th District Representative Eric Smith of Burlington says there was a lot of outside money spent in Kansas, with this being the nation’s first post-Roe referendum on abortion rights. He also says the Vote No side misrepresented certain aspects of the amendment.
Both Longbine and Smith say changes to abortion laws — absent a constitutional amendment — may be tough to sustain in court because the Kansas Supreme Court is using the “strict scrutiny” standard on abortion regulations.
Rogers believes the issue will return to the ballot. In a statement, he said: “All Lyon county legislators, Mark Schreiber, Jeff Longbine, and Eric Smith, voted to put this amendment on the ballot. All three voted against including exceptions for rape, incest and life of mother. All repeatedly support legislation infringing on women’s medical choices. I’m afraid we are just going to keep seeing this amendment on the ballot every year as long as these men remain in office.”
Separately, Smith won his primary, easily besting Robert Harmon of Osage City by 64-36 percent. Smith now takes on Democrat Chuck Torres in the general election.
At the state level, Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, will face off against current Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, after both cruised past their respective opponents. Republican Kris Kobach beat back a stiff challenge from Kellie Warren for attorney general and will face Democrat Chris Mann in the general election.
At the federal level, US Senator Jerry Moran defeated primary challenger Joan Farr. He will face Democrat Mark Holland, who worked through a crowded primary field.
At the county level, the Chase County Commission District 1 seat on the Republican side was tentatively decided by one vote, with Rick Robinson defeating Alan Phipps.
Coffey County’s $20 million law enforcement complex passed 1,794-1,361.
Turnout in Lyon County was nearly 46 percent, making County Clerk Tammy Vopat happy.
There were a lot of questions about ballot security, especially with mail ballots, and some concerns about potential electioneering, but Vopat says there were no issues throughout the process.
7-10 pm Tuesday: Area election results
Listed below are the contested races across the KVOE listening area for the primary election Tuesday, Aug. 2.
Lyon County
US Senate — Democrat
Mark Holland 855
Michael Soetart 382
Patrick Wiesner 278
Paul Buskirk 273
Robert Klingenberg 230
Mike Andra 179
US Senate — Republican
Jerry Moran (I) 3600
Joan Farr 889
Kansas House Concurrent Resolution 5003 (Value Them Both constitutional amendment)
No 6037
Yes 3562
Kansas Governor — Democrat
Laura Kelly, David Toland (I) 2587
Richard Karnowski, Barry Franco 161
Kansas Governor — Republican
Derek Schmidt, Katie Sawyer 3178
Arlyn Briggs, Lance Berland 1126
Kansas Secretary of State — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Jeanna Repass
Scott Schwab (I) 2151
Mike Brown 1910
Kansas Attorney General — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Chris Mann
Kellie Warren 1941
Kris Kobach 1765
Tony Mattivi 693
Kansas Treasurer
Winner faces Democrat Lynn Rogers (I)
Steven Johnson 2243
Caryn Tyson 1753
Kansas House 76th District — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Chuck Torres
Eric Smith (I) 784
Bob Harmon 497
Chase County
US Senate — Democrat
Paul Buskirk 44
Mark Holland 43
Michael Soetart 36
Robert Klingenberg 19
Patrick Wiesner 15
Mike Andra 10
US Senate — Republican
Jerry Moran (I) 669
Joan Farr 136
Kansas House Concurrent Resolution 5003 (Value Them Both constitutional amendment)
Yes 566
No 527
Kansas Governor — Democrat
Laura Kelly, David Toland (I) 168
Richard Karnowski, Barry Franco 17
Kansas Governor — Republican
Derek Schmidt, Katie Sawyer 607
Arlyn Briggs, Lance Berland 131
Kansas Secretary of State — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Jeanna Repass
Scott Schwab (I) 373
Mike Brown 351
Kansas Attorney General — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Chris Mann
Kris Kobach 376
Kellie Warren 235
Tony Mattivi 191
Kansas Treasurer
Winner faces Democrat Lynn Rogers (I)
Steven Johnson 465
Caryn Tyson 265
Kansas State Board of Education District 9 — Republican
Jim Porter 379
Luke Aichele 321
County Commission District 1 — Republican
Rick Robinson 146
Alan Phipps 145
Coffey County
US Senate — Democrat
Paul Buskirk 132
Mark Holland 114
Patrick Wiesner 65
Michael Soetart 55
Robert Klingenberg 34
Mike Andra 32
US Senate — Republican
Jerry Moran (I) 1868
Joan Farr 570
Kansas House Concurrent Resolution 5003 (Value Them Both constitutional amendment)
Yes 1689
No 1501
Kansas Governor — Democrat
Laura Kelly, David Toland (I) 398
Richard Karnowski, Barry Franco 56
Kansas Governor — Republican
Derek Schmidt, Katie Sawyer 1840
Arlyn Briggs, Lance Berland 575
Kansas Secretary of State — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Jeanna Repass
Mike Brown 1284
Scott Schwab (I) 1023
Kansas Attorney General — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Chris Mann
Kris Kobach 1181
Kellie Warren 324
Tony Mattivi 906
Kansas Treasurer
Winner faces Democrat Lynn Rogers (I)
Steven Johnson 1261
Caryn Tyson 1063
Kansas House 76th District — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Chuck Torres
Eric Smith (I) 2034
Bob Harmon 413
Kansas State Board of Education District 9 — Republican
Jim Porter 1615
Luke Aichele 646
County Commission District 1 — Republican
Tom Hugunin, Burlington (I) 227
Timothy Austin, Burlington 190
County Commission District 4 — Republican
Steve McCurry, Waverly 352
Tim Johnson, Waverly (I) 154
County Commission District 5 — Republican
Wayde Thomsen, Burlington 240
Richard Mahoney, New Strawn 198
Aubrea Baker, Burlington 129
Brandon Birk, Gridley 77
Coffey County Jail $20 million bond issue
Yes 1794
No 1361
Greenwood County
US Senate — Democrat
Mike Andra 62
Paul Buskirk 53
Mark Holland 41
Michael Soetart 30
Patrick Wiesner 27
Robert Klingenberg 20
US Senate — Republican
Jerry Moran (I) 1135
Joan Farr 329
Kansas House Concurrent Resolution 5003 (Value Them Both constitutional amendment)
Yes 957
No 963
Kansas Governor — Democrat
Laura Kelly, David Toland (I) 236
Richard Karnowski, Barry Franco 26
Kansas Governor — Republican
Derek Schmidt, Katie Sawyer 1123
Arlyn Briggs, Lance Berland 315
Kansas Secretary of State — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Jeanna Repass
Mike Brown 752
Scott Schwab (I) 601
Kansas Attorney General — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Chris Mann
Kris Kobach 707
Kellie Warren 474
Tony Mattivi 272
Kansas Treasurer
Winner faces Democrat Lynn Rogers (I)
Steven Johnson 694
Caryn Tyson 621
County Commission District 2
Preston Evenson 209
Chuck Spradlin 74
County Commission District 4
Mac Obourn 147
Robert Joe Morgan 88
Morris County
US Senate — Democrat
Michael Soetart 87
Mark Holland 63
Paul Buskirk 62
Robert Klingenberg 42
Patrick Wiesner 29
Mike Andra 18
US Senate — Republican
Jerry Moran (I) 1090
Joan Farr 230
Kansas House Concurrent Resolution 5003 (Value Them Both constitutional amendment)
Yes 970
No 963
Kansas Governor — Democrat
Laura Kelly, David Toland (I) 334
Richard Karnowski, Barry Franco 21
Kansas Governor — Republican
Derek Schmidt, Katie Sawyer 992
Arlyn Briggs, Lance Berland 306
Kansas Secretary of State — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Jeanna Repass
Scott Schwab (I) 746
Mike Brown 478
Kansas Attorney General — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Chris Mann
Kellie Warren 577
Kris Kobach 511
Tony Mattivi 231
Kansas Treasurer
Winner faces Democrat Lynn Rogers (I)
Steven Johnson 633
Caryn Tyson 578
Osage County
US Senate — Democrat
Paul Buskirk 344
Mark Holland 230
Michael Soetart 137
Patrick Wiesner 121
Robert Klingenberg 83
Mike Andra 40
US Senate — Republican
Jerry Moran (I) 2677
Joan Farr 651
Kansas House Concurrent Resolution 5003 (Value Them Both constitutional amendment)
No 3041
Yes 2355
Kansas Governor — Democrat
Laura Kelly, David Toland (I) 980
Richard Karnowski, Barry Franco 106
Kansas Governor — Republican
Derek Schmidt, Katie Sawyer 2597
Arlyn Briggs, Lance Berland 655
Kansas Secretary of State — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Jeanna Repass
Scott Schwab (I) 1792
Mike Brown 1275
Kansas Attorney General — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Chris Mann
Kris Kobach 1558
Kellie Warren 1174
Tony Mattivi 598
Kansas Treasurer
Winner faces Democrat Lynn Rogers (I)
Caryn Tyson 1899
Steven Johnson 1185
Kansas House 76th District — Republican
Winner faces Democrat Chuck Torres
Bob Harmon 1013
Eric Smith (I) 650
County Commission District 1 — Republican
Fred Diver
Leslie Holman
Dale Vawter
Dana Webber
