Kansas House District 27 covers a big chunk of southeastern Johnson County, in southern Leawood and Overland Park. See a district map to see its boundaries.
Republican incumbent Rep. Sean Tarwater is running for reelection against Democrat Sara Kiewiet.
Learn more about the candidates, who are listed in alphabetical order.
Sara Kiewiet (Democratic)
Sara Kiewiet won a two-way Democratic primary in August and lists three years as a Blue Valley PTO secretary as her civic experience. Kiewiet is an attorney specializing in data privacy and artificial intelligence and works for the software company RadarFirst. She opposes the Chiefs stadium deal as structured and wants the state to meet its 92% special education funding obligation, while opposing school vouchers. She would also raise the residential property tax exemption for owner-occupied homes.
Sean Tarwater (Republican, incumbent)
Sean Tarwater is seeking a sixth term in District 27 and has chaired the House Commerce Committee for eight years. A small business owner and consultant, Tarwater runs a captive insurance company for Midwest Trust and has served on his church’s finance council. Tarwater wrote the STAR bond bill that helped pave the way for the Chiefs to come to Kansas. When it comes to curbing property taxes, he supports capping valuation increases and letting voters weigh in on large mill levy hikes. When asked whether he supports public schools, he said schools are constitutionally funded.
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