Local, state level election races taking shape

As the noon Monday deadline for candidates to file looms, the current roster of local candidates is starting to take shape.

At the local level, incumbent Riley County commissioners Greg McKinley and Kathryn Focke are unopposed in the second and third districts. All other county level races feature incumbents who are running unopposed.

Pottawatomie County has four seats on the upcoming primary ballot for the county commission, which is expanding from three to five seats. In district two, former county clerk Nancy McCarter and resident Merl Page have filed. Both are registered Republicans. Incumbent Pat Weixelman is not seeking re-election. In district three, Republican incumbent Greg Riat is opposed by Bill Drew. The newly formed district four features five total candidates, including Republicans Michel Kerwood, Paul Strunk, Hans Tessmann and Gary Yenzer. Judd McCormack has also filed as an independent and will automatically advance to the November ballot. District five has three Republican candidates, including Armon Bosse, Chuck Depew and Terry Force.

Pottawatomie County voters will also elect a new Sheriff this year. Current Undersheriff Doug Adams will be opposed on the ballot by St. Marys Police Chief Derek Cid. The County Attorney candidates include newcomers Chris Biggs and John Paul Washburn. All other county level races feature incumbents who are running unopposed.

At the state level in the Manhattan area, the following candidates have filed for the upcoming election

51st – East Manhattan to Wamego/rural Pottawatomie County

Eli Kormanik (R-Alta Vista)

Megan Steele (R-Manhattan)

(Incumbent is Kenny Titus, but he’s seeking a Senate seat in district 18)

Bill Bloom (R-Clay Center) – incumbent

Sydney Carlin (D-Manhattan) – incumbent

Kim Zito (D-Manhattan)

Angel Roeser (R-Manhattan)

(Mike Dodson is the Republican incumbent from Manhattan, but is not seeking re-election)

Mike Argabright (R-Olpe)

Lillian Lingenfelter (D-Emporia)

David Schneider (R-Milford)

(Incumbent Jeff Longbine is retiring from his Senate seat)

Kenny Titus (R-Manhattan) (currently House Rep. from 51st District)

Matthew Robin (D-Wamego)

(Incumbent Republican Kristen O’Shea, of Topeka announced she is not seeking re-election)

Usha Reddi (D-Manhattan) incumbent

Brad Starnes (R-Riley)

(Reddi was appointed

Tracey Mann (R-Salina) incumbent

Paul Buskirk (D-Lawrence)

Matt Kleinmann (D-Kansas City)

Jeff Kahrs (R-Topeka)

*Derek Schmidt (R-Independence)

Shawn Tiffany (R-Delavan)

Chad Young (R-Lawrence)

(Incumbent Jake LaTurner is not seeking re-election. Schmidt is the former Kansas Attorney General and a 2022 gubernatorial candidate)

Sharice Davids (D-Kansas City) incumbent

Karen Crnkovich (R-Olathe)

Prasanth Reddy (R-Lenexa)

Esau Freeman (D-Sedgwick)

Ron Estes (R-Wichita) incumbent

Melanie Haas (D-Overland Park) incumbent

Fred Postlewait (R-Kansas City)

Kris Meyer (D-DeSoto)

Beryl Ann New (D-Topeka)

Bruce Schultz (R-Wamego)

Betty Arnold (D-Wichita) – incumbent

Marvin Miller (R-Wichita)

Debby Potter (R-Garden Plain)