(Updated to include information about candidate seeking to replace Barrett_
Republican state Rep. Brad Barrett of Osage City on Wednesday became the 12th House member to decide against running for reelection this year.
Barrett on Wednesday morning withdrew his filing to run for the House District 76 seat, opening the door for Russel Stukey of Waverly to file for the seat.
Stukey is currently the emergency services director and fire chief for Riley County. He will retire Oct. 1st after 32 years in professional emergency services.
He attended Hutchinson Community College and graduated with an associate degree in fire science in 1994. He started his professional career in 1994 with the Emporia Fire Department.
Barrett is now a special investigator for the Shawnee County district attorney and wants to spend more time focusing on developing his career in law enforcement.
“I’m too busy to do both and I want to focus on growing my law enforcement career,” he said. “I can’t do that doing both jobs.”
Barrett was elected in 2024 to replaced Eric Smith, who served eighth years in the House. Barrett was unopposed for the 2024 election.
During his one term in office, Barrett backed a bill criminalizing the possession, creation and distribution of child sexual abuse material generated by artificial intelligence.
The new bill clarified the crime of sexual exploitation of a child to include using computer software or digital manipulation to create an image or video depicting a child shown or heard engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Barrett has previously worked as a deputy sheriff in Coffey County and as a part-time deputy sheriff in Lyon County.
He received a law enforcement certification from the Johnson County Regional Police Academy and earned a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Pittsburg State.
Barrett is the 12th House member to decide not to seek reelection in 2026.
He raised $2,150 during 2025 and had $580 in cash on hand at the end of the year.
President Donald Trump won 73.2% of the vote in this district in 2024.
Republican Derek Schmidt won 59% of the vote in this district in the 2022 governor’s race, while Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly received 37% of the vote.
He follows Democratic state Rep. Lindsay Vaughn of Overland Park, who announced Monday she would not run for a fourth term this year.
Reed Krewson, the president of Kansas Young Democrats, has filed to run for Vaughn’s seat.
Republican state Rep. Angel Roeser announced last week she would not run again in House District 67.
Brenda Bandy, co-founder and executive director of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, filed as a Democrat for the House District 67 seat.
Meanwhile, Stacy Kohlmeier, a recently retired business leader from the Florence Corp., has filed to run as a Republican for the District 67 seat as well.
Republican state Rep. Paul Waggoner of Hutchison also announced that he would not seek reelection.
Reno County Commissioner Randy Parks has filed to run for the seat as a Republican.
Among those also leaving the House are Speaker Dan Hawkins of Wichita, who is running for insurance commissioner, as well as Reps. Pat Proctor of Leavenworth and Ken Rahjes of Agra, who are running for secretary of state.
Other lawmakers leaving the House include Will Carpenter of El Dorado, Dan Goddard of Parsons, Doug Blex of Independence, Rick Wilborn of McPherson and Ron Ellis of Meriden.
