It’s on to November!
The Johnson County Election Office is still tabulating final results from Tuesday’s primary election. Official final results will be certified by the county canvassing board on Monday, Aug. 19.
Still, a whole slate of federal, state and county candidates now appear set to begin campaigning in earnest in the highly anticipated presidential election on Nov. 5.
Below is the list of candidates who will appear on the general election ballot or are poised to after Tuesday’s unofficial results.
U.S House — 3rd District
- Incumbent three-term Rep. Sharice Davids did not face a primary challenge and looks ready to face Republican Prasanth Reddy, a cancer physician, and Libertarian Steve Roberts, a former Kansas State Board of Education member.
Kansas House
There are nearly 20 contested races for Kansas House seats in Johnson County on the November ballot, in addition to several candidates who are facing no opposition and will automatically win their seats.
- District 5: Businesswoman and Republican incumbent Carrie Barth faces Democrat Henry Johns, a former healthcare professional.
- District 8: Retired U.S. Army colonel Chris Croft, the Republican incumbent, faces a challenge from Democratic former teacher Pam Sherunk.
- District 14: Democratic incumbent Dennis Miller faces Republican Charlotte Esau, a former House member herself.
- District 15: Real estate agent Allison Hougland, the Democratic incumbent, faces Republican Lauren Bohi.
- District 16: Democratic incumbent Rep. Linda Featherston is unopposed and will win back her seat.
- District 17: Rep. Jo Ella Hoye, Democratic incumbent, once again faces a challenge from Libertarian Michael Kerner.
- District 18: Former medical administrator Cindy Neighbor, the Democratic incumbent, faces challenges from Republican web developer Robert Whitman and Libertarian Steven Hohe, who last ran for the U.S. House seat in 2022.
- District 19: Rep. Stephanie Clayton, the Democratic incumbent, is set to face stay-at-home dad Mark Hermes, a Republican who handily won a primary on Tuesday.
- District 20: Small business owner Mari-Lynn Poskin, the Democratic incumbent, faces energy executive Jerry Charlton, a Republican.
- District 21: Former teacher Jerry Stogsdill, the longtime Democratic incumbent, is unopposed.
- District 22: Current Democratic Rep. Lindsay Vaughn is unopposed.
- District 23: Social worker and current Democratic Rep. Susan Ruiz is unopposed.
- District 24: Business owner Jarrod Ousley, the Democrat incumbent, faces Republican Dale Redick.
- District 25: Democratic Rep. Rui Xu faces bank executive Greg Schoofs, a Republican.
- District 26: Biomedical sales professional and Spring Hill Councilmember Chip VanHouden, a Republican, is unopposed.
- District 27: Rep. Sean Tarwater, the Republican incumbent, faces retired educator and Democrat David Benson.
- District 28: Finance and business analyst Carl Turner, the Republican incumbent, faces retired oncologist and Democrat Ace Allen.
- District 29: Social worker and current Democratic Rep. Heather Meyer is unopposed.
- District 30: Small business owner Rep. Laura Williams, a Republican incumbent, faces attorney and Democratic candidate Betsey Lasister.
- District 39: Occupational therapist and current Shawnee city councilmember Angela Stiens, who was appointed earlier this year to finish Republican Rep. Owen Donohoe’s term, will run for the office herself and faces Democrat Vanessa Vaughn West, a legal executive.
- District 43: Rep. Bill Sutton, a Republican incumbent, is unopposed.
- District 48: Attorney Dan Osman, the Democratic incumbent, faces retired healthcare executive and Republican Randy Ross, who is leading after Tuesday’s primary results.
- District 49: Rep. Nikki McDonald, a Democrat appointed last year to finish the term of Rep. Brad Boyd, will run for the office herself and faces software firm owner and Republican Kurtis Ruf.
- District 78: Rep. Robyn Essex, the Republican incumbent and real estate agent, faces former state administrator and Democrat Daniel Goodman.
- District 108: Incumbent Rep. Brandon Woodard, a Democrat, is unopposed.
- District 117: Business owner Rep. Adam Turk, a Republican, faces former pastor, and educator Bill Hammond, a Democrat.
- District 121: Republican Rep. John Resman, a former sheriff’s captain, faces a challenge from Democrat Mel Pinick.
Kansas Senate
There are 10 Kansas Senate races — nine of them contested — in Johnson County.
- District 6: Sen. Pat Pettey, the Democratic incumbent and a former educator, faces Republican Tabitha Burt, who will graduate from Johnson County Community College in December.
- District 7: Sen. Ethan Corson, a Democrat, faces former agricultural executive Dave Dannov, a Republican.
- District 8: Sen. Cindy Holscher, the Democratic incumbent, faces Republican Benee’ Hudson.
- District 9: Republican Sen. Beverly Gossage, a health savings account consultant, faces retired information technology engineer Norman Mallicoat, a Democrat.
- District 10: Sen. Mike Thompson, the Republican incumbent and former local TV meteorologist, faces realtor Andrew Mall, a Democrat.
- District 11: Republican Sen. Kellie Warren, an attorney, faces Karen Thurlow, an attorney and a Democrat.
- District 21: Sen. Dinah Sykes, the Democratic incumbent and current Senate Minority Leader, is unopposed.
- District 23: Restaurant owner and former state representative Adam Thomas, a Republican, faces executive Stacey Knoell, a Democrat.
- District 35: Engineering executive Jason Anderson, a Democrat, faces health insurance agent TJ Rose, a Republican.
- District 37: Kansas State professor Douglas Shane, a Republican, faces retired school counselor Sherry Giebler, a Democrat.
Kansas State Board of Education
There are two contested races for state board of education seats that govern areas of Johnson County.
- Area 2: Software engineer Melanie Haas, the Democratic incumbent, faces a challenge from Republican Fred Postlewait.
- Area 4: Educator Kris Meyer, a Democrat, will face educator Connie O’Brien, who is leading a three-person Republican primary contest after Tuesday’s results.
Johnson County District Attorney
- District Attorney Steve Howe, the four-term Republican incumbent, appears poised to face former assistant district attorney Vanessa Riebli, a Democrat who is leading following Tuesday’s primary results.
Johnson County Sheriff
- Former undersheriff Doug Bedford, a Republican, faces Prairie Village Police Chief Byron Roberson, a Democrat.
Johnson County Commission
There are three county commission seats up for grabs in November, only one of which saw a primary.
- District 2: Retired educator Jeff Meyers, the incumbent, faces accountant/realtor and current Johnson County Community College trustee Mark Hamill.
- District 3: Incumbent commissioner Charlotte O’Hara faces a challenge from Julie Brewer, the former executive director of United Community Services of Johnson County.
- District 6: Incumbent commissioner Shirley Allenbrand appears poised to face a challenge from small business owner Mike Storm, who is in second place in the three-way nonpartisan primary after Tuesday’s results.
