Kansas House District 17 covers portions of Lenexa and Shawnee in Johnson County. See a district map to see its boundaries.
Democratic incumbent Jo Ella Hoye is running for reelection against Republican Jim Eschrich.
Learn more about the candidates, who are listed in alphabetical order.
Jim Eschrich (Republican)
Jim Eschrich lists no prior political or civic experience in his questionnaires to local chambers of commerce. Eschrich, of Lenexa, runs a market research practice specializing in qualitative research, mostly for business clients. He wants a property tax cap that can work across fast-growing suburbs and rural counties, and he is open to a limited school voucher program with measured results. He’d also pause new data centers until the state sets stronger guidelines, though he says communities should make the final call.
Jo Ella Hoye (Democratic, incumbent)
Jo Ella Hoye has represented District 17 since 2021 and has served as House minority whip since 2025, after six years on the Lenexa Planning Commission. Hoye, who holds a master’s in public administration from the University of Kansas, previously led the Kansas chapter of Moms Demand Action and was a PTA vice president. Hoye opposes state caps on property values and favors a three-year rolling average on valuations instead. She opposes school vouchers and has made special education funding a priority.
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