Election 2022

U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kansas, introduced a bill challenging federal restraint of ranch and energy producers in Kansas following federal listing of the Listing lesser prairie chicken as threatened in Kansas. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of U.S. House channel)

U.S. Rep. Ron Estes: Indicted New York GOP lawmaker should have resigned before forced out

BY: - December 2, 2023

The three Republicans and one Democrat in the Kansas congressional delegation voted to oust ethically challenged New York Republican Rep. George Santos.

Republican strategist Ed Goeas joined Democratic pollster Celinda Lake at the Dole Institute of Politics at the University Kansas to delve into why the U.S. political system was mired in disrespect and how the system could be changed for the better. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Dole Institute's YouTube channel)

GOP, Democrat strategists decry epidemic of distrust in politics, plead for new era of respect

BY: - October 26, 2023

Pair of U.S. political strategists tell Dole Institute audience at KU the nation must pivot to era marked by respect of people with different opinions.

Kansas professors/fans: Musician Taylor Swift poised to raise political voice in 2024

BY: - October 14, 2023

Musician Taylor Swift's profound influence on millions of fans may translate into a greater political advocacy during the 2024 election cycle.

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, right in blue, was the lone member of the six-person Kansas delegation to support legislation broadening state and federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriage. (Submitted)

Davids posts robust $600,000 fundraising total in 2nd quarter, tops among Kansas incumbents

BY: - July 21, 2023

TOPEKA — U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids’ fundraising haul of $600,000 in the second quarter of 2023 was more than twice the total of other members of the Kansas congressional delegation, but U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran easily maintained his financial advantage with a campaign account stuffed with nearly $3.5 million. Davids, the delegation’s lone Democrat, was […]

Rep. Shawn Tarwater, R-Stilwell, and chairman of the joint House and Senate auditing committee led peers through presentation of a review of election security policy and procedures in Kansas counties. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas audit of election security exposes strengths, weaknesses of voting systems

BY: - July 6, 2023

Kansas auditors found no smoking gun in a review of election security in Kansas, but urged the secretary of state to help counties adopt best procedures.

The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, which administers campaign finance reporting law, will consider drafting guidelines for use in considering appeals of financial penalties. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of KGEC's YouTube channel)

Kansas ethics commission to evaluate factors influencing waiver of campaign finance penalties

BY: - May 25, 2023

The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, which handles campaign-finance compliance, will consider guidelines for evaluating appeals of penalties.

Kansas voters, including people using this Lawrence polling station, cast ballots Tuesday in races for U.S. House and U.S. Senate. For the first time, Lawrence residents are part of the 1st District stretching to the Colorado border. The shift devised by the GOP-led Legislature was to dilute influence of left-leaning Lawrence in congressional contests. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas voting rights campaign to combat election fraud conspiracies, promote voter turnout

BY: - May 2, 2023

TOPEKA — Several Kansas voting rights groups have pulled together, starting a campaign in reaction to GOP-backed election fraud theories and voting restrictions.  During the legislative session, several Republican lawmakers pushed for voting restrictions under the false pretense of widespread election fraud. Proposals included a drop-box ban and increased restrictions for mail-in ballots.  Senate Bill […]

Secretary of State Scott Schwab said on the Kansas Reflector podcast that he was eager to see how candidates and voters responded to the state's experiment with a $4.7 million presidential primary in March 2024. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas secretary of state convinced complaints about elections drive county clerks to retire

BY: - May 1, 2023

Secretary of State Scott Schwab happy election law cleanup bill moved through Legislature and eager to see results of Kansas presidential primary.

Voters cast ballots in election office

Kansas to hold presidential primary in 2024, adjust legislative pay by following year

BY: - April 21, 2023

TOPEKA — Kansas will have a presidential primary next March, using up to an estimated $5 million in an attempt to garner more turnout for Kansas’ political parties than usually received through the traditional caucus. Gov. Laura Kelly announced the signing of House Bill 2053 Friday, along with four other pieces of legislation. Republican Secretary […]

Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, convinced a bipartisan majority in the Kansas Senate to support a bill authorizing a March 2024 presidential preference primary in Kansas. The state's two major parties have generally relied on the caucus system since the 1980s. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Proposal for 2024 presidential primary in Kansas draws bipartisan support in Senate

BY: - March 30, 2023

Kansas Senate voted with a bipartisan majority to create a March 2024 presidential primary election rather than conduct the traditional partisan caucus.

Kansas attorney general urges state Supreme Court to reverse 2019 abortion-rights decision

BY: - March 27, 2023

Kansas Supreme Court again reviews a ban on a specific abortion procedure and whether justices stood by a 2019 decision affirming the right to abortion.

Rep. Pat Proctor appears during a committee hearing

Bipartisan support emerges in Kansas House for compromise campaign ethics reform bill

BY: - March 23, 2023

The Kansas House appeared willing to provide bipartisan support for a compromise bill reforming operations of the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission.