By: SCOTT HILL
Kansas Senator 24th District
If you were playing a trivia game and the question was: “What song topped the Billboard chart on December 4, 1965?” You would be a select group if you correctly answered: “Turn, Turn, Turn.” A short-lived (1964-1973) five-member band recorded the song and watched it skyrocket up the charts. It would be incorrect to say that The Byrds actually wrote that song because it was essentially taken word for word from Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. The words that resonated with listeners in 1965 was the call for peace in the song. If you read the lyrics, though, they will tell you that there is a season for everything. As a farmer I am very aware of each season of the calendar and the corresponding farming activity associated with it.
Starting this week, the Kansas political season officially opened. The filing deadline on June 1 at precisely 12:00 noon determined who will and who won’t be seeking political office this year. For some in the Kansas House the “Season of Representing the people is over.” Nearly 25% of last year’s House of Representatives are not returning for the 2026-27 session. There are many contested primary and general elections for House members. The total number of candidates filed for 125 seats is 260. It will be a busy election season and even more interesting is the race to see who will replace Governor Kelly as the next Governor.
When the clock struck noon in Topeka on June 1st, ten separate teams of governor and lieutenant governor had filed. Three of those teams are on the Democrat side and seven filed as Republicans. The following list in alphabetical order will help acquaint you with their names:
Ethan Corson and Renee Duxler (D). Ethan is currently a member of the Kansas Senate and Renee is serving as the director of the Salina Chamber of Commerce.
Cindy Holscher and KC Ohaebosim (D). Cindy is currently a member of the Kansas Senate and KC is a member of the House of Representatives.
Ty Masterson and Jeffrey Klemp (R). Ty and Jeffrey are both currently members of the Kansas Senate.
Charlotte O’Hara and Michelle Drombrosky (R). Charlotte is a former member of the Kansas House of Representatives and Michelle is currently serving on the State Board of Education.
Nick Reinecker and Katy Reinecker (R). The Reineckers are a married couple who own a business in McPherson county.
Stacy L Rogers and Michael W. Smith (R). Stacy is a business owner from Wichita and Michael from Lansing has nearly four decades of experience in local and county government.
Philip Sarnecki and Joy Eakins (R). Philip is a businessman from Bucyrus. Joy is a businesswoman and former school board member from Wichita.
Vicki Schmidt and Joe Newland (R). Vicki is the Insurance Commissioner for Kansas and Joe is the President of Kansas Farm Bureau.
Scott Schwab and Ken Rahjes (R). Scott is the Kansas Secretary of State and Ken is a member of the Kansas House of Representatives.
Curt Skoog and Jennifer Bacani McKenney (D). Curt is the mayor of Overland Park and Jennifer is a physician from Fredonia.
There will be a considerable amount of information available on each of these teams and I encourage you to research well so that you can be an informed voter on August 4th.