(UPDATED to correct the unaffiliated percentage in District 10)
The candidates are now in the gate after the noon deadline for filing for the Legislature lapsed on Monday. Here’s a break down of each of the Senate candidate.
We tried to gather as much string as we could on as many candidates as possible – and in some cases, it wasn’t much.
We will add to this as more candidate information comes available.
Here are the incumbents who did not file for reelection to the Senate:
- Republican Rob Olson, Olathe. Served since 2011 with an earlier stint in in House.
- Republican Sen. Molly Baumgardner, Louisburg. Served since 2014.
- Republican Sen. Rick Wilborn. Served since 2015. Running for the House.
- Republican Sen. Jeff Longbine, Emporia. Served since 2011.
- Republican Sen. Dan Kerschen, Garden Plain. Served since 2013 with earlier stint in the House.
- Republican Sen. Carolyn McGinn, Sedgwick. Served since 2005.
- Democratic Sen. Tom Holland. Baldwin City. Served since 2009 with earlier stint in House.
- Republican Sen. John Doll, Garden City. Served since 2017 with earlier stint in House.
- Repuublican Kristen O’Shea, Topeka. Served since 2021.
- Republican Sen. Alicia Straub, Ellinwood. Served since 2021.
- Republican Sen. Mark Steffen. Served since 2021.
The demographics included in the capsules are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s America Community Survey five-year estimates from 2017-2021.
The estimates are based on data collected over a 5-year period of time and therefore they describe the average characteristics for that 5-year time period. You can examine all the data available for all legislative districts here.
Here is a break down showing how the candidates for governor performed in each Senate district as well as how the “Value Them Both” abortion amendment did in each district.
District 1
Incumbent: Dennis Pyle, Republican, Hiawatha
Amount raised in 2023: $325
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $70,787
Race outlook: Pyle, who ran for governor as an independent in 2022, filed for re-election to the Senate as a Republican. He faces primary opposition from state Rep. John Eplee of Atchison and Craig Bowser of Holton. Eplee reported raising $83,550 last year and had $72,336 in cash on hand at the end of calendar year 2023. Eplee put $50,000 of his own money into the Senate race. Bowser reported raising $71,533 in 2023. He had $100,296 in the bank on Dec. 31. Bowser put $65,000 of his own money into the campaign.
Political makeup: (R) 53.9%, (D) 17.2% (U) 28.1%
District population: 72,423
Unemployed: 1,339
No health insurance: 5,522
Mean household income: $74,429
District 2
Incumbent: Marci Francisco, Democrat, Lawrence
Amount raised in 2023: $12,121
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $38,096
Race outlook: Democratic state Rep. Christina Haswood is mounting a primary challenge against Francisco, who has been in the Senate since 2005. Former Kansas Republican Party Chair David Miller,who at one point was a leading abortion opponent in the state, also has filed for the seat. Francisco is now in her fifth term in the Senate after first being elected in 2004. She served on the Lawrence City Commission from 1979 to 1983 and as mayor of Lawrence from 1981 to 1983. She ran unsuccessfully for Kansas treasurer against Republican Jake LaTurner in 2018. In 2020, Haswood came through a three-way Democratic primary with support from former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Democratic Congresswoman Deb Haaland, who along with Sharice Davids became one of the first Native American women elected to Congress. Miller, 74, previously served in 12 sessions in the Kansas House in the 1980’s. In 1998, Miller unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Gov. Bill Graves, who was seeking re-election. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won 84% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race. Republican Derek Schmidt won 15% of the vote here two years ago.
Political makeup: (R) 17.8%, (D) 52.1%, (U) 28.6%
District population: 74,900
Unemployed: 2,104
No health insurance: 6,370
Mean household income: $70,189
District 3
Incumbent: Tom Holland, Democrat, Baldwin City
Amount raised in 2023: $8,000
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $6,576
Race outlook: Holland is not seeking reelection. Republican Sen. Rick Kloos was moved into this district after new election boundaries were redrawn. Kloos, who previously represented Senate District 19, raised $43,604 and has $46,648 in cash on hand. He faces Democrat Deena Sattler, the former communications director for Gov. Laura Kelly. Sattler reported raising $19,607 last year. She had $13,033 in the bank on Dec. 31. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won 53% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Republican Derek Schmidt won 44% of the vote here.
Political makeup: (R) 45.2%, (D) 25.7%, (U) 27.9%
District population: 70,982
Unemployed: 1,254
No health insurance: 4,272
Mean household income: $92,895
District 4
Incumbent: David Haley, Democrat, Kansas City
Amount raised in 2023: $10,200
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $19,933
Race outlook: Haley has been in the Senate since 2001 and served in the House from 1995 to 2000. Haley has drawn Democratic opposition from Ephren Taylor III, who describes himself as a “dedicated advocate” of social justice and community empowerment. Taylor says his priorities are housing education, Medicaid expansion and defending civil rights. “Now more than ever, it is critical that the people of Senate District 4 will have a senator who will work for their interests, not the interests of wealthy, out-of-state special interest groups.”
Political makeup: (R) 11.9%, (D) 53.%, (U) 34%
District population: 71,922
Unemployed: 2,613
No health insurance: 14,523
Mean household income: $56,779
District 5
Incumbent: Jeff Pittman, Democrat, Leavenworth
Amount raised in 2023: $85,005
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $114,196
Race outlook: Pittman is running for a second term in the Senate. Echo Van Meteren, the wife of Republican political consultant Kris Van Meteren, is running for this seat. In 2016, Van Meteren ran against Democratic state Sen. Tom Holland of Baldwin City and came up short with about 48% of the vote. Van Meteren reported raising $61,694 in 2023 and had $60,086 in cash on hand at the end of the year. Her husband loaned the campaign $50,000. Pittman loaned his campaign $10,000. Van Meteren, however, will face Lansing businessman Jeff Klemp in a Republican primary. Klemp runs a group of small businesses, including He has a bachelor’s in economics from the University of Kansas and a master’s in business administration from Baker University. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won 53% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Republican Derek Schmidt won 43% of the vote here.
Political makeup: (R) 36.1%, (D) 29.7%, (U) 32.8%
District population: 76,221
Unemployed: 1,879
No health insurance: 3,901
Mean household income: $97,383
District 6
Incumbent: Pat Pettey, Democrat, Kansas City
Amount raised in 2023: $12,600
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $45,511
Race outlook: Pettey has opposition from Republican Tabitha Burt, who describes herself on Facebook “pro family.” Pettey has been in the Senate since 2013. She won her last election in 2020 with 64% of the vote. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won 67% of the vote in this district in the last governor’s race. Republican Derek Schmidt won 30% of the vote.
Political makeup: (R) 20.4%, (D) 43.7%, (U) 34.7%
District population: 71,931
Unemployed: 1,822
No health insurance: 13,128
Mean household income: $63,080
District 7
Incumbent: Ethan Corson, Democrat, Fairway
Amount raised in 2023: $110,683
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $146,924
Race outlook: Corson, former executive director of the Kansas Democratic Party, is seeking a second term in the Senate. He is facing a challenge from Dave Dannov, the retired president and chief executive officer of the Seaboard Overseas and Trading Group.
Political makeup: (R) 33.9%, (D) 40.1%, (U) 24.8%
District population: 73,445
Unemployed: 1,192
No health insurance: 3,619
Mean household income: $128,193
District 8
Incumbent: Cindy Holscher, Democrat, Overland Park
Amount raised in 2023: $29,003
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $18,943
Race outlook: Holscher is facing a challenge from Republican Benee’ Hudson, who ran for a seat on the Johnson County Board of Trustees. Hudson finished sixth in an eight-person field seeking one of three seats on the board. Earlier this year, Hudson testified before a Senate committee in favor of a bill banning the use of ranked-choice voting. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won 64% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Republican Derek Schmidt won 34% of the vote here.
Political makeup: (R) 37.4%, (D) 36%, (U) 25.3%
District population: 74,421
Unemployed: 1,500
No health insurance: 4,190
Mean household income: $106,383
District 9
Incumbent: Beverly Gossage, Republican, Eudora
Amount raised in 2023: $33,474
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $50,900
Race outlook: Gossage faces a primary challenge from Bryan Zesiger, who reported raising $2,090 last year. He had no cash on hand at the end of the year. Zesiger and his wife run Z&M Twisted Vines Wines and Winery, which has a winery in Leavenworth and vineyard and tasting room in Lawrence. Norman Mallicoat has filed to run for the seat as well. Mallicoat is a retired telecommunications engineer who earlier this year interviewed for an open seat on the Olathe School Board. In a questionnaire for the position, Mallicoat said he was a Democratic precinct leader who backed candidates who support public education. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won 50% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Republican Derek Schmidt won 47% of the vote here. Independent candidate Dennis Pyle received 2% of the vote.
Political makeup: (R) 44.8%, (D) 26.3%, (U) 27.3%
District population: 76,376
Unemployed: 1,499
No health insurance: 4,725
Mean household income: $113,053
District 10
Incumbent: Mike Thompson, Republican, Shawnee
Amount raised in 2023: $66,515
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $63,211
Race outlook: Thompson, chair of the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, is seeking a second term. Democrat Andrew Mall announced his candidacy last June. Named 2016 Realtor of the Year by the Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors, Mall received a bachelor’s in marketing and international business from Kansas State in 2000. He is a licensed real estate agent in Kansas and Missouri since getting a broker’s license from both states in 2005. Mall reported raising $62,713 last year. He had $34,237 in cash on hand on Dec. 31. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won 56% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Republican Derek Schmidt won 41% of the vote here.
Political makeup: (R) 42.2%, (D) 30.5%, (U) 26.1%
District population: 73,989
Unemployed: 1,188
No health insurance: 3,169
Mean household income: $134,603
District 11
Incumbent: Kellie Warren, Republican, Leawood
Amount raised in 2023: $102,971
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $107,653
Race outlook: Warren, who ran for attorney general in 2022, faces a challenge from Democratic attorney Karen Thurlow. Warren, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, defeated Democrat Joy Koesten with 53% of the vote in 2020 and Republican incumbent John Skubal with 64% of the vote. Thurlow said she supports expanding Medicaid, opposes redirecting public funds to private schools and backs “common sense gun reform,” which she described as safe-storage laws and background checks. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won 55% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Republican Derek Schmidt won 44% of the vote here.
Political makeup: (R) 47.5%, (D) 28%, (U) 23.4%
District population: 74,479
Unemployed: 1,108
No health insurance: 2,603
Mean household income: $187,646
District 12
Incumbent: Caryn Tyson, Republican, Parker
Amount raised in 2023: $34,575
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $82,872
Race outlook: Tyson, chair of the Senate tax committee, is running for a fourth term in the Senate. She has Republican primary opposition from Stetson Kern. Tyson ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer in 2022. Four years ago, she defeated Democratic challenger Mike Bruner with 74% of the vote. The last time Tyson had a primary for the Senate was in 2012, and she won that race with 56% of the vote. Republican Derek Schmidt won 64% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly received 32% of the vote.
Political makeup: (R) 55.8%, (D) 15.5%, (U) 27.3%
District population: 73,326
Unemployed: 1,545
No health insurance: 6,252
Mean household income: $74,584
District 13
Incumbent: Tim Shallenburger, Republican, Baxter Springs
Amount raised in 2023: $47,396
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $39,275
Race outlook: Shallenburger faces a Republican primary challenge from Sam Owen of Fort Scott and Democrat Austin Stapleton of Pittsburg. Shallenburger is a brand name in Kansas politics. He served in the Kansas House from 1987 to 1998, including two years as speaker pro tem and four years as speaker. He served as state treasurer from 1999 to 2003 and as chair of the Kansas Republican Party in 2005. In 2002, Shallenburger ran for governor, losing to Democrat Kathleen Sebelius. Owen, who rode bulls for five years, is running for office because he says taxes are too high. Stapleton has been a precinct committee person in Bourbon County, vice chair of the Bourbon County Democratic Central Committee and president of the Crawford County Young Democrats. Currently, he serves as a precinct committee person in Crawford County. Stapleton supports Medicaid expansion, abortion rights, “fair tax reform” and education. Republican Derek Schmidt won 59% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race.
Political makeup: (R) 42.1%, (D) 22.7%, (U) 34.2%
District population: 72,935
Unemployed: 1,166
No health insurance: 7,857
Mean household income: $60,831
District 14
Incumbent: Michael Fagg, Republican, El Dorado
Amount raised in 2023: $43,150
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $94,033
Race outlook: Fagg, chair of the Senate utilities committee, is seeking a second term. He has no opposition.
Political makeup: (R) 59.7%, (D) 14.3%, (U) 24.6%
District population: 75,118
Unemployed: 1,098
No health insurance: 5,162
Mean household income: $73,433
District 15
Incumbent: Virgil Peck, Republican, Havana
Amount raised in 2023: $32,165
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $31,743
Race outlook: Peck is seeking a second term in the Senate. Democrat Jerry Reeves has filed to run for the seat.
Political makeup: (R) 52.9%, (D) 17.6%, (U) 28.4%
District population: 73,687
Unemployed: 1,469
No health insurance: 8,461
Mean household income: $63,086
District 16
Incumbent: Ty Masterson, Republican, Andover
Amount raised in 2023: $93,400
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $208,299
Race outlook: The Senate president has been in the Senate since 2009. He faces a challenge from Democrat Sasha Islam, who lost a race for the Butler County Commission with 23% of the vote in 2022. Republican Derek Schmidt won 53% of the vote in this district in 2022, while Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly received 45% of the vote.
Political makeup: (R) 49.9%, (D) 20.6%, (U) 28.2%
District population: 74,226
Unemployed: 997
No health insurance: 3,883
Mean household income: $122,496
District 17
Incumbent: Jeff Longbine, Republican, Emporia
Amount raised in 2023: $26,800
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $225,129
Race outlook: Longbine is not seeking reelection. Former Southern Lyon County Schools Superintendent Mike Argabright is running as a Republican and will have a primary against David Schneider, former regional director for the Convention of States Project. Meanwhile, Emporia School Board member Lillian Lingenfelter has filed to run as a Democrat. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won 51% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Republican Derek Schmidt won 46% of the vote here.
Political makeup: (R) 40.6%, (D) 23%, (U) 35%
District population: 74,209
Unemployed: 1,343
No health insurance: 6,037
Mean household income: $65,679
District 18
Incumbent: Kristen O’Shea, Topeka, Republican
Amount raised in 2023: $18,628
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $41,653
Race outlook: O’Shea is not seeking a second term. Republican state Rep. Kenny Titus of Manhattan is running for the seat. Democrat Matthew Robin of Wamego has filed to run for the seat as well. Robin is a data analyst for GitHub. He also has been a data scientist for Southern Company Gas. He has bachelor’s degrees from the University of Central Florida in economics and international relations and affairs. He has a master’s from Florida State in applied economics.Titus previously served as chief counsel to the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Republican Derek Schmidt won 51% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly received 45% of the vote. Independent Dennis Pyle received 2.7% of the vote in the governor’s race.
Political makeup: (R) 52.3%, (D) 19.7%, (U) 26.8%
District population: 72,623
Unemployed: 1,086
No health insurance: 3,931
Mean household income: $86,471
District 19
Incumbent: Rick Kloos, Republican, Berryton
Amount raised in 2023: $43,604
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $46,648
Race outlook: Kloos was moved into District 3 as a result of redistricting. The district is now heavily Democratic. Gov. Laura Kelly carried this district with 72% of the vote in last year’s governor’s race. This race now features House Minority Leader Vic Miller, former congressional candidate Patrick Schmidt and civic activist ShaMecha King Simms, who raised $405. King Simms had $283 on hand at the end of the year. Miller reported raising $22,550 last year and having $23,442 left at the end of the year. Schmidt, who lost his race for Congress last year, raised $125,199 last year and had $114,438 in the bank going into the new year. Republicans Cynthia Smith and Tyler Wible have filed to run for this seat. Smith ran unsuccessfully for the Kansas House in 2018 against Lawrence Democratic state Rep. Mike Amyx. Smith is a board member for the Mainstream Coalition and is volunteer legislative coordinator for Amnesty International in Kansas. She also served as cfor District population: 71,606
Unemployed: 1,939
No health insurance: 8,222
Mean household income: $61,902
District 20
Incumbent: Brenda Dietrich, Republican, Topeka
Amount raised in 2023: $37,866
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $65,236
Race outlook: Dietrich faces a Republican primary challenge from former state Rep. Josh Powell. The winner would face Democrat Candace Ayars, a community health professional who previously worked for the state health department. In 2016, Ayars challenged then Republican state Sen. Vicki Schmidt in Senate District 20. Schmidt, now the insurance commissioner, defeated Ayars with 65% of the vote. Powell served in the Kansas House in 2013-2014. He left office after he was defeated by former Republican state Rep. Fred Patton in the 2014 Republican primary by 62 votes. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won 57% of the vote in this district, while Republican Derek Schmidt won 41% of the vote here.
District 21
Incumbent: Dinah Sykes, Democrat, Lenexa
Amount raised in 2023: $53,084
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $124,979
Race outlook: Sykes, the Senate minority leader, is seeking a third term in the Senate. She has no opposition.
Political makeup: (R) 34.3%, (D) 36.8%, (U) 27.4%
District population: 74,936
Unemployed: 1,447
No health insurance: 6,556
Mean household income: $96,871
District 22
Incumbent: Usha Reddi, Democrat, Manhattan
Amount raised in 2023: $46,946
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $39,440
Race outlook: Reddi replaced former Sen. Tom Hawk last year. She faces a challenge from former Riley County Schools Superintendent Brad Starnes, a Republican. Barnes is now the education coordinator for the workforce development program called Build Up Kansas that was started by the Associated General Contractors of Kansas. He previously served as the superintendent for Riley County schools as well as Reddi, who made an abbreviated run for the U.S. Senate in 2020, is serving out Hawk’s term after he retired from the Legislature in 2023. Hawk had two close races for that seat, including one in 2012 that he won by 382 votes and another in 2020 that he won by 776 votes. Hawk was unopposed in 2016. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly carried this district with about 60% of the vote in 2022, while Republican Derek Schmidt received about 38% of vote. The last Republican to win here was Roger Reitz, a moderate who edged a Democrat by 24 votes in 2008.
Political makeup: (R) 39.7%, (D) 27.8%, (U) 30.4%
District population: 72,602
Unemployed: 1,897
No health insurance: 4,068
Mean household income: $76,348
District 23
Incumbent: Rob Olson, Republican
Race outlook: Olson is not seeking reelection. So far, this is a race between Republican state Rep. Adam Thomas and Stacey Knoell, the executive director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission. Knoell raised $13,740 and had $16,848 in cash on hand at the end of the year. Here are websites for Thomas and Knoell. Thomas’reported raising $22,320 last year and had $20,037 in cash on hand at the end of the year. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won 53% of the vote in this district in the governor’s race, while Republican Derek Schmidt won 44% of the vote here.
Political makeup: (R) 41.3%, (D) 29.2% (U) 28%
District population: 71,246
Unemployed: 1,573
No health insurance: 6,160
Mean household income: $97,808
District 24
Incumbent: J.R. Claeys, Republican, Salina
Amount raised in 2023: $136,925
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $139,820
Race outlook: Claeys is seeking a second term in the Senate after serving four terms in the House. Democrat John Baker, an attorney for a nonprofit public defense law firm, has filed to run for the seat. While in law school, Baker worked in the legal office headquarters of the Communications Workers of America, where he worked on efforts to secure a $15 minimum wage for federal contractors. Republican Derek Schmidt won 54% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly received 42% of the vote. Independent Dennis Pyle received 1.7% of the vote in the governor’s race.
Political makeup: (R) 51.4%, (D) 17.2%, (U) 30%
District population: 72,950
Unemployed: 1,310
No health insurance: 6,500
Mean household income: $72,947
District 25
Incumbent: Mary Ware, Democrat, Wichita
Amount raised in 2023: $27,585
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $26,102
Race outlook: Ware came to the Senate when Democratic precinct leaders elected her in 2018 to replace Lynn Rogers after he was elected lieutenant governor. Ware defeated Republican Vail Fruechting in 2020 to win a full four-year term in the Senate with 55% of the vote. Fruechting is the treasurer for Ware’s Republican rival, Keenen Smith. The Republican challenger characterized himself on his website as a candidate who supports “pro-gun rights, pro-liberty ideals, property rights, a free market, fiscal responsibility, and limited government.” Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won 63% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Republican Derek Schmidt won 34% of the vote here.
Political makeup: (R) 26.6%, (D) 32.1%, (U) 39.3%
District population: 76,078
Unemployed: 2,427
No health insurance: 14,077
Mean household income: $51,972
District 26
Incumbent: Dan Kerschen, Republican, Garden Plain
Amount raised in 2023: $100
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $109,489
Race outlook: Kerschen is not seeking reelection. Republican Sen. Chase Blasi of Wichita has been moved into the district after election boundaries were redrawn. He is running for reelection in this district. He reported raising $83,015 for his reelection campaign to the Senate. Republican J.C. Moore has filed to run against Blasi. In 2018, Moore upset Republican state Rep. John Whitmer in a race for the House. He then turned around in 2020 and lost a Republican primary to state Rep. Brian Bergkamp with about 11% of the vote in a three-candidate field. Democrat Raymond Shore Jr. also has filed for the seat. Republican Derek Schmidt won 59% of the vote in this district in the governor’s race. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly received 38% of the vote.
Political makeup: (R) 52.1%, (D) 16.9%, (U) 29.6%
District population: 72,063
Unemployed: 1,695
No health insurance: 4,711
Mean household income: $101,014
District 27
Incumbent: Chase Blasi, Wichita, Republican
Amount raised in 2023: $83,015
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $96,161
Race outlook: Blasi has been moved to Senate District 26 because of redistricting. The brother of state Sen. J.R. Claeys — Joe Claeys — is running for this seat. Joe Clayes reported raising $69,145 last year. He had $68,119 left at the end of the year. He loaned his campaign $50,000. Jennifer Herington, president of the Maize City Council, has filed as a Democrat for this seat. Herington is a credentialing specialist at the KU Wichita Medical Practice Association, where she has been employed for more than 17 years. She is the president-elect for the Kansas Association of Medical Staff Services. She has also served on the Maize Park and Tree Board and the Maize Planning Commission. Republican Derek Schmidt won 50% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly received 47% of the vote. Independent Dennis Pyle received 2% of the vote in the governor’s race.
Political makeup: (R) 47%, (D) 21.8%, (U) 29.8%
District population: 71,837
Unemployed: 1,781
No health insurance: 4,581
Mean household income: $87,280
District 28
Incumbent: Mike Petersen, Republican, Wichita
Amount raised in 2023: $39,299
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $56,035
Race outlook: Petersen, chair of the Senate transportation committee, has been in the Senate since 2005. He has no opposition.
Political makeup: (R) 34.1%, (D) 24.3% (U) 39.8%
District population: 71,988
Unemployed: 2,409
No health insurance: 9,495
Mean household income: $63,114
District 29
Incumbent: Oletha Faust-Goudeau, Democrat, Wichita
Amount raised in 2023: $17,461
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $71,852
Race outlook: Faust-Goudeau has been in the Senate since 2009 and served in the House from 2003 to 2008. She has no opposition.
Political makeup: (R) 18.9%, (D) 42.3%, (U) 37.3%
District population: 73,030
Unemployed: 3,250
No health insurance: 12,360
Mean household income: $55,388
District 30
Incumbent: Renee Erickson, Republican, Wichita
Amount raised in 2023: $53,006
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $69,837
Race outlook: Erickson, chair of the Senate commerce committee, is seeking a second term in the Senate. Erickson’s primary challenger, businessman Sam Jones, withdrew on Monday. Richard Smith, a longtime engineer who served as the past president of the Mid Kansas Jewish Federation, also has filed to run as a Democrat. Republican Derek Schmidt won 49% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly received 49% of the vote. Independent Dennis Pyle received 1.7% of the vote in the governor’s race.
Political makeup: (R) 41.2%, (D) 24.2%, (U) 32.6%
District population: 69,050
Unemployed: 1,656
No health insurance: 5,063
Mean household income: $102,133
District 31
Incumbent: Carolyn McGinn, Republican, Sedgwick
Amount raised in 2023: $27,793
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $117,941
Race outlook: McGinn is not running again after 20 years in the Senate. Republican state Rep. Stephen Owens of Hesston announced last year he was running for the Senate. Owens reported raising $168,284 last year. He had $164,205 in cash on hand as of Dec. 31. He loaned his campaign $150,000. Jason Miller, director of Mennonite Abuse Prevention, has filed to run as a Democrat for this seat. Miller also works at Grazing Plains Farm, a fifth-generation family business that is one of the last two dairy farms in Harvey County. Republican Derek Schmidt won 52% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly received 45% of the vote.
Political makeup: (R) 48.5%, (D) 21.7%, (U) 28.2%
District population: 75,453
Unemployed: 1,416
No health insurance: 5,895
Mean household income: $81,534
District 32
Incumbent: Larry Alley, Republican, Winfield
Amount raised in 2023: $26,679
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $94,148
Race outlook: Alley, the Senate majority leader, has been in the Senate since 2017. He faces a challenge from Democrat Lawrence Moreno, who spent 30 years in quality management systems before retiring. Most recently he worked as a quality manager for Columbia Elevator Inc. in Winfield. Michael Soetaert also has filed as Democrat. Soetaert ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022 and finished last in the Democratic primary with 3.6% of the vote. He ran in the Republican primary for Congress in the 1st District in 2020 and received about 5% of the vote that year.
Political makeup: (R) 53.8%, (D) 17.2% (U) 27.8%
District population: 76,499
Unemployed: 2,012
No health insurance: 6,520
Mean household income: $72,474
District 33
Incumbent: Alicia Straub, Republican, Ellinwood
Amount raised in 2023: $2,445
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $647
Race outlook: Straub did not file for re-election. Republican state Rep. Tory Marie Blew of Great Bend is running for this seat. Blew raised $21,721 last year and had $20,662 in cash on hand at the end of the year. Ellinwood School Board member John Sturn is running as a Republican as well. Matthew Westenfeld has filed as a Democrat. Westenfeld is a hardware store manager in Lyons, Kansas. He graduated from Cowley College and serves on the board of the Lyons Chamber of Commerce. Republican Derek Schmidt won 62% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly received 33% of the vote.
Political makeup: (R) 65%, (D) 12.3%, (U) 21.7%
District population: 74,080
Unemployed: 1,257
No health insurance: 6,940
Mean household income: $68,686
District 34
Incumbent: Mark Steffen, Republican, Hutchinson
Amount raised in 2023: $1,250
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $9,553
Race outlook: Steffen is not running for reelection. The seat is now sought by Republican state Rep. Michael Murphy of Sylvia and Hutchinson businessman Bob Fee. Murphy raised $2,300 last year and had $4,904 in cash on hand at the end of the year. Fee took in $51,370 last year and had $46,999 in cash on hand as of Dec. 31. He put $2,500 of his own money into the campaign. Democrat Shanna Henry has filed for this seat. She has a bachelor’s in business administration with a career in telecommunications and solar energy. She served on the Kingman County Economic Development Council. Henry lost to Steffen with 30% of the vote in 2020.
Political makeup: (R) 53.8%, (D) 18%, (U) 27%
District population: 73,744
Unemployed: 1,466
No health insurance: 6,606
Mean household income: $70,721
District 35
Incumbent: Richard Wilborn, Republican, McPherson
Amount raised in 2023: $6,870
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $79,868
Race outlook: Wilborn is not running for reelection to the Senate. This district has been moved to Johnson County to account for population shifts after redistricting. Republican T.J. Rose has filed for the seat. Rose earned a degree in secondary education mathematics from K-State. He said he has taught school, underwritten mortgages and served as a pastor in churches. He said he was in ministry full-time for eight years before becoming a health insurance agent. Rose raised $48,384 and had $41,582 in cash on hand as of Dec. 31. He will face Democrat Jason Anderson of Overland Park. He is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts where he majored in computer science. He earned a master’s in business administration from the University of California at Berkeley, where he started and sold businesses in data and research. He also was treasurer of the Freedom to Learn political action committee, which battled against conservative school board candidates endorsed by the 1776 Project PAC. He is leaving the organization and will not have any role going forward. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won 53% of the vote in this district in the governor’s race. Republican Derek Schmidt won 45% of the vote here.
Political makeup: (R) 47.7%, (D) 26.7%, (U) 24.6%
District population: 72,312
Unemployed: 704
No health insurance: 1,856
Mean household income: $163,432
District 36
Incumbent: Elaine Bowers, Republican, Concordia
Amount raised in 2023: $16,574
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $41,929
Race outlook: Bowers, chair of the Senate ethics committee, is seeking a fourth term in the Senate. Republican Robert Bonanata has filed for this seat.
Political makeup: (R) 69.2, (D) 10.8%, (U) 19.1%
District population: 71,913
Unemployed: 1,014
No health insurance: 4,927
Mean household income: $67,277
District 37
Incumbent: Molly Baumgardner, Republican, Louisburg
Amount raised in 2023: $31,655
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $63,022
Race outlook: Baumgardner, chair of the Senate education committee, did not file for re-election. Republican Douglas Shane of Louisburg has filed to run for the seat. Shane is an active member of the Kansas Republican Party. He chairs the Miami County Republican Party and is treasurer for the party’s 3rd Congressional District. He is a teaching assistant professor of animal health at Kansas State University’s Olathe campus. He teaches several graduate-level courses and serves as the major professor or as a supervisory committee member to graduate students in animal health degree and certificate programs and tracks at the Olathe campus. Democrat Sherry Giebler, a licensed professional counselor and community volunteer, has filed for the seat. She previously worked as a college professor at Fort Hays State University in the education specialist department and worked as a counselor in the Student Success Center at Johnson County Community College. She volunteers for Moms Demand Action and Game On for Kansas Schools. Four years ago, Baumgardner won her general election with 65% of the vote.
Political makeup: (R) 46.4%, (D) 24.7%, (U) 27.3%
District population: 70,062
Unemployed: 1,322
No health insurance: 5,256
Mean household income: $109,947
District 38
Ron Ryckman, Republican, Meade
Amount raised in 2023: $10,950
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $20,490
Race outlook: Jose Lara, mayor of Liberal, has filed for this seat as a Democrat. He’s an insurance agent and previously served on the Board of Trustees for Southwest Medical Center. Lara ran against Ryckman in a special election for the seat in 2022. Ryckman, the father of former House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., won with 75% of the vote.
Political makeup: (R) 48.9%, (D) 19.2%, (U) 30.1%
District population: 74,106
Unemployed: 1,273
No health insurance: 10,109
Mean household income: $77,393
District 39
Incumbent: John Doll, Republican, Garden City
Amount raised in 2023: $8,169
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $13,427
Race outlook: Doll is not seeking reelection. Republican state Rep. Bill Clifford of Garden City is running for the seat. Clifford is a 1976 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate who flew F-15s in Germany. He also has served on the Finney County Commission and the Garden City Community College Board of Trustees. Clifford raised $37,500 last year. He was sitting on $36,636 at the end of the year. He loaned his campaign $47,500. Democrat Isidro Marino has filed to run for this seat. Marino is a crisis service provider for Compass Behavioral Health. He also was the Garden City coordinator for the civic group Loud Light. He also was the southwest Kansas organizer for the Kansas Democratic Party.
Political makeup: (R) 52.3%, (D) 17%, (U) 30%
District population: 72,585
Unemployed: 1,481
No health insurance: 9,577
Mean household income: $76,114
District 40
Incumbent: Rick Billinger, Republican, Goodland
Amount raised in 2023: $19,850
Cash on hand as of Dec. 31: $118,463
Race outlook: Billinger, who chairs the Senate Ways & Means Committee, is unopposed.
Political makeup: (R) 64%, (D) 13%, (U) 22.4%
District population: 72,434
Unemployed: 1,112
No health insurance: 5,289
Mean household income: $79,198
