For the first time in nearly a decade, a Democrat will sit in the Kansas governor’s chair.
Democrat Laura Kelly, a Topeka lawmaker, has defeated a crowded field to become the state’s next governor. She called her victory the result of “a wave of common sense.”
Kelly benefited from a host of prominent Republicans crossing party lines to support her campaign instead of the campaign for Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who had defeated sitting governor Jeff Colyer in a tight primary battle this past August.
Independent Greg Orman was hoping to have a strong showing, but his campaign faltered early and never gained much momentum.
Kelly becomes the first Democrat to lead Kansas since Mark Parkinson succeeded Kathleen Sebelius, another Democrat, in 2009. Parkinson decided against running for a full term in 2010 and was succeeded by Republican Sam Brownback.
For state position races, however, Republicans fared well, claiming Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner positions. At the federal level, Republican Roger Marshall defeated Democrat challenger Alan LaPolice for the First Congressional District seat involving Lyon, Chase, Morris and Wabaunsee counties. For the Fourth District involving Greenwood County, Republican Ron Estes defeated Democrat James Thompson. Republican Steve Watkins, a political newcomer, defeated Democrat Paul Davis for the Second District seat representing Coffey and Osage counties.
In the Statehouse, 51st District Representative Ron Highland, a Republican, defeated Democrat Noah Wright. He says there is a lot of work ahead for the 2019 session, notably with education funding.
Areawide, proponents of special questions in Lyon and Greenwood counties were successful. Americus voters passed a half-cent sales tax for recreation enhancements, while Neosho Rapids voters approved a one-cent sales tax for street improvements. Greenwood County voters also approved a measure to expand the County Commission from three seats to five and a half-cent sales tax to benefit accounts payable at Greenwood County Hospital.
Turnout was stronger than expected across the KVOE listening area. Original projections pegged turnout at between 45 and 50 percent across the state, but Lyon County had 53 percent turnout, Coffey County had 57 percent turnout and Chase County was projecting turnout between 60 and 70 percent. Lyon County Clerk Tammy Vopat:
Unofficial results will be certified over the next two weeks across the state.
Here are the final unofficial results from the KVOE listening area:
Lyon County
Governor
Laura Kelly/Lynn Rogers (D) 5537
Kris Kobach/Wink Hartman (R) 3849
Jeff Caldwell/Mary Gerlt (L) 250
Rick Kloos/Nathaniel Kloos (I) 88
Greg Orman/Jon Doll (I) 917
Secretary of State
Brian McClendon (D) 4090
Scott Schwab (R) 4184
Rob Hodgkinson (L) 411
Attorney General
Sarah Swain (D) 4380
Derek Schmidt (R) 6156
Treasurer
Marci Francisco (D) 4434
Jake LaTurner (R) 5991
Insurance Commissioner
Nathaniel McLaughlin (D) 3777
Vicki Schmidt (R) 6643
51st District Kansas House
Noah Wright (D) 185
Ron Highland (R) 435
60th District Kansas House
Mark Schreiber (R) 6286
Write-in 228
76th District Kansas House
Eric Smith (R) 2151
Write-in 79
US House First District
Alan LaPolice (D) 4792
Roger Marshall (R) 5739
KS Board of Education
James Hannon (D) 6241
Ben Jones (R) 4185
Judicial retention
Lee Fowler
Yes
No
Doug Jones
Yes
No
Lyon County Commission
Scott Briggs (D) 2812
Write-in 80
Sales Tax Questions
Americus-Recreation
Yes 198
No 101
Neosho Rapids-Streets
Yes 73
No 27
Chase County
Governor
Laura Kelly/Lynn Rogers (D) 437
Kris Kobach/Wink Hartman (R) 637
Jeff Caldwell/Mary Gerlt (L) 33
Rick Kloos/Nathaniel Kloos (I) 4
Greg Orman/Jon Doll (I) 85
Secretary of State
Brian McClendon (D) 408
Scott Schwab (R) 737
Rob Hodgkinson (L) 39
Attorney General
Sarah Swain (D) 278
Derek Schmidt (R) 871
Treasurer
Marci Francisco (D) 309
Jake LaTurner (R) 867
Insurance Commissioner
Nathaniel McLaughlin (D) 260
Vicki Schmidt (R) 899
Chase County Commission
Cindy Hoedel (D) 119
Randy Talkington (R) 292
US House First District
Alan LaPolice (D) 372
Roger Marshall (R) 808
KS Board of Education
James Hannon (D) 429
Ben Jones (R) 740
Coffey County
Governor
Laura Kelly/Lynn Rogers (D) 1065
Kris Kobach/Wink Hartman (R) 1902
Jeff Caldwell/Mary Gerlt (L) 89
Rick Kloos/Nathaniel Kloos (I) 34
Greg Orman/Jon Doll (I) 332
Secretary of State
Brian McClendon (D) 988
Scott Schwab (R) 2271
Rob Hodgkinson (L) 129
Attorney General
Sarah Swain (D) 648
Derek Schmidt (R) 2754
Treasurer
Marci Francisco (D) 768
Jake LaTurner (R) 2607
Insurance Commissioner
Nathaniel McLaughlin (D) 607
Vicki Schmidt (R) 2742
US House 2nd District
Paul Davis (D) 880
Kelly Standley (L) 222
Steve Watkins (R) 2280
KS House 76th District
Eric Smith (R) 3108
Write-ins 48
Greenwood County
Governor
Laura Kelly/Lynn Rogers (D) 650
Kris Kobach/Wink Hartman (R) 1205
Jeff Caldwell/Mary Gerlt (L) 47
Rick Kloos/Nathaniel Kloos (I) 11
Greg Orman/Jon Doll (I) 205
Secretary of State
Brian McClendon (D) 575
Scott Schwab (R) 1439
Rob Hodgkinson (L) 68
Attorney General
Sarah Swain (D) 432
Derek Schmidt (R) 1663
Treasurer
Marci Francisco (D) 458
Jake LaTurner (R) 1608
Insurance Commissioner
Nathaniel McLaughlin (D) 414
Vicki Schmidt (R) 1635
Special Questions
County Commission Expansion
Yes 1089
No 942
Greenwood County Hospital Sales Tax
Yes 1394
No 672
US House 4th District
Ron Estes (R) 1598
James Thompson (D) 497
Morris County
Governor
Laura Kelly/Lynn Rogers (D) 883
Kris Kobach/Wink Hartman (R) 1087
Jeff Caldwell/Mary Gerlt (L) 27
Rick Kloos/Nathaniel Kloos (I) 15
Greg Orman/Jon Doll (I) 196
Secretary of State
Brian McClendon (D) 706
Scott Schwab (R) 1384
Rob Hodgkinson (L) 77
Attorney General
Sarah Swain (D) 534
Derek Schmidt (R) 1636
Treasurer
Marci Francisco (D) 543
Jake LaTurner (R) 1606
Insurance Commissioner
Nathaniel McLaughlin (D) 406
Vicki Schmidt (R) 1737
US House First District
Alan LaPolice (D) 630
Roger Marshall (R) 1525
KS Board of Education
James Hannon (D) 744
Ben Jones (R) 1367
Osage County
Governor
Laura Kelly/Lynn Rogers (D) 2479
Kris Kobach/Wink Hartman (R) 2903
Jeff Caldwell/Mary Gerlt (L) 128
Rick Kloos/Nathaniel Kloos (I) 62
Greg Orman/Jon Doll (I) 606
Secretary of State
Brian McClendon (D) 2253
Scott Schwab (R) 3571
Rob Hodgkinson (L) 289
Attorney General
Sarah Swain (D) 1682
Derek Schmidt (R) 4454
Treasurer
Marci Francisco (D) 1704
Jake LaTurner (R) 4356
Insurance Commissioner
Nathaniel McLaughlin (D) 1342
Vicki Schmidt (R) 4720
US House 2nd District
Paul Davis (D) 2160
Kelly Standley (L) 370
Steve Watkins (R) 3600
54th District KS House
Sarah Coats (D) 1003
Ken Corbet (R) 1785
59th District KS House
Blaine Finch (R) 989
John Hall (D) 360
Wabaunsee County
Governor
Laura Kelly/Lynn Rogers (D) 1221
Kris Kobach/Wink Hartman (R) 1555
Jeff Caldwell/Mary Gerlt (L) 37
Rick Kloos/Nathaniel Kloos (I) 26
Greg Orman/Jon Doll (I) 257
Secretary of State
Brian McClendon (D) 998
Scott Schwab (R) 142
Rob Hodgkinson (L) 1891
Attorney General
Sarah Swain (D) 729
Derek Schmidt (R) 2327
Treasurer
Marci Francisco (D) 691
Jake LaTurner (R) 2327
Insurance Commissioner
Nathaniel McLaughlin (D) 546
Vicki Schmidt (R) 2435
Kansas House 51st District
Noah Wright (D) 964
Ron Highland (R) 2085
US House First District
Alan LaPolice (D) 842
Roger Marshall (R) 2204
KS Board of Education
James Hannon (D) 338
Ben Jones (R) 724
