Act Today to Stand Up for Your Small Business -  Online PRIMARY Voter Registration closes today at midnight.  Register online here.

Election Season is Here - Are You Prepared? 

Advocacy during Campaign Season

Many of us strive to be effective advocates - for our family, for our business, for our communities. Candidates are running right now for important decision-making positions and are asking for our support. So, why do so many of us find election season intimidating?

Effective advocacy is creating relationships and becoming a reliable resource for decision-makers. How many elected officials understand the complexities of a retail alcohol business?  Campaign season is a wonderful opportunity to begin or build those relationships. KABR is here to help you with your advocacy and we will be sharing information in the next few months about this election and we hope it helps you to become more comfortable to stand up for your business.

The first and most important step is voting. In order to vote, you must be registered!  

2026 Election Basics

2026 is an election year.  In Kansas, that includes all statewide offices – Governor, Treasurer, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Insurance Commissioner and five Board of Education positions.  There are races for U.S. Senate (Marshall) and Congress (all seats).  All Kansas House of Representatives terms end in 2026 and two Kansas Senate seats are on the ballot.

The primary election is August 4 and all ballots must be received by close of polls on August 4.  The primary election narrows down the candidates to one from each party.  Candidates must campaign for primary election when other candidates file to be elected from their own party. 

The General Election is November 3. 

If you are not already registered, voters must register by July 14 to vote in the Primary Election.  This is also the deadline to change the name or address on your voter registration.  See important primary dates here: https://sos.ks.gov/Pubs/Elections/2026-Primary-Election-Dates.pdf

Voters must register by October 13 to vote in the General Election.  This is also the deadline to change the name or address on your voter registration.  See important general dates here: https://www.sos.ks.gov/Pubs/Elections/2026-General-Election-Dates.pdf 

Already registered? Look up your voter registration information here:  https://kansasvoterinfo.gov/VoterView   If you are registered, this link will show you where to vote and provide a sample ballot that shows the candidates and constitutional questions on your ballot.  This is a great resource to help you prepare before Election Day.

What if you need to vote before Election Day or vote by mail?  Advance voting locations must open by July 15 for the primary.  Local election offices offer varying times and days of the week.  Advance Mail ballots are sent out beginning July 15.  Apply for an Advance Mail Ballot for the Primary Election by July 28:  https://www.sos.ks.gov/forms/elections/AV1.pdf.

The 2026 Kansas Legislature changed the deadline for returning mail ballots – ballots must be received by close of voting on Election Day.  So, if you vote by mail, you may want to drop in the mail more than a week before Election Day or use the drop box provided by your local elections office.

DID YOU KNOW?  Candidates use voter lists to organize their door-to-door campaigning and mailers.  The voter lists include names, party affiliation and voting history.  While candidates can not see who you voted for, they can see IF you voted.  The most valued constituents are voters who show up (or mail ballots) for primary elections as well as general elections.  “Likely primary voters” are often targeted by candidates because of the likelihood that they will participate in the elections.  What can we learn from this?  If you want your elected officials to take notice, voting at all primary and general elections is an easy first step.

WHO IS ON THE BALLOT? 

There are two liquor store owners running for re-election to the Kansas House of Representatives:

Mike Storm was elected a few months ago through the precinct committee process to fill the District 121 House seat left vacant by the death of Rep. John Resman. Mike is a fourth generation Kansan and a forty year resident of Johnson County. Mike and his wife, Jennie, have been married for 24 years and have three daughters and they own On The Rocks in Lawrence, Kansas.  Support Mike Storm by sending a contribution check* to Storm for Kansas, 24465 W 135th Street, Olathe, KS 66061.  Contact Mike at mike@stormforkansas.com.  Mike does have a primary challenger - so please send as soon as possible.

Tom Kessler grew up in south Wichita, raised his family in south Wichita, and owns Toms Wine & Spirits.  Tom and his wife Rachel have three adult children.  Tom has served District 96 in the Kansas House of Representatives since 2021 and chairs the House Federal and State Affairs Committee.  He provides regular updates to Kansas retailers and has been involved in KABR for decades.  Support Tom Kessler with an online contribution* at https://kesslerforkansas.com.  Contact Tom at tom@tomswineandspirits.com. 

*Contributions to candidates for House of Representatives are capped at $1000 during the primary period and $1000 during the general election period.  Candidates are happy to receive contributions from $25 to $1000.

U.S. Senate and State Governor's Races are Leading the News:

The most high profile races in the Kansas Primary include the Governor’s race and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall’s race.  More information about Kansas races will be highlighted in future updates.  See a list of all candidates here:  https://sos.ks.gov/elections/elections_upcoming_candidate.aspx

The Senate race includes two Republicans and 11 Democrats.  On the Republican side, Roger Marshall, St. John, is challenged by Pond Naramore of Lawrence. Pond did not list a website, but his email is pondrhinorepublicrat8647ks@gmail.com.  

The Democrat candidates for U.S. Senate include: 

• Damon Anderson, Shawnee, www.andersonforkansas.com 
• Christy Davis, Cottonwood Falls, christydavisforkansas.com
• Adam Hamilton, Stilwell, hamiltonforkansas.com 
• Jason Hart, Wichita, hartforsenate.com
• Kevin Latz, Mission Hills, https://www.latz4kansas.org/
• Erik Murray, Kansas City, erikforkansas.com
• Sandy Spidel Neumann, Overland Park, sandyforkansas.com
• Anne Parelkar, Overland Park, www.anneforkansas.com
• Patrick C. Schmidt (State Senator), Topeka, patrickforkansas.com
• Michael "Mike" Soetaert, Wellington, http://mikeforkansas.my.canva.site
• Noah Taylor, Kechi, noahforkansas.com 

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2026 Governor’s race occurred when former Republican Governor and Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer did not file for election June 1 – dropping out of the race.  Some said Colyer had strong poll numbers and there is a lot of speculation about what President Trump might have offered him to step away.  Trump has endorsed sitting Senate President Ty Masterson.  Outsider Philip Sarnecki has attracted attention through his early media ads highlighting his outside status and business background.  However, aggressive ads targeting sitting Insurance Commissioner and former State Senator Vicki Schmidt may indicate that Masterson sees her as his biggest primary challenge.  Sitting Secretary of State Scott Schwab is fighting for attention in a loaded field.  He is a former state representative and teamed with current House Representative Ken Rahjes as his running mate.  Rahjes had been slated to run for Secretary of State, but accepted the Lt. Governor offer instead.

Republican Governor/Lt. Governor candidates:

• Ty Masterson, Andover / Jeffrey Klemp, Lansing - mastersonforgovernor.com
• Charlotte O'Hara, Overland Park / Michelle Dombrosky, Olathe - oharaforkansas.com
• Nick Reinecker, Inman / Katy Reinecker, Inman – www.kansasunderdog.com
• Stacy L Rogers, Wichita / Michael W Smith, Lansing - www.stacyrogersforks.com
• Philip Sarnecki, Overland Park / Joy Eakins, Wichita - philipsarnecki.org
• Vicki Schmidt, Topeka / Joe Newland, Neodesha - vickiforgovernor.com
• Scott Schwab, Overland Park / Ken Rahjes, Agra - scottschwab.com

Three Democrat candidates are fighting it out for the Democrat nomination.  Governor Kelly endorsed State Senator Ethan Corson, creating a rift within the party.  Cindy Holscher is also a sitting state senator and has been travelling the state energetically – in mid-June a poll of Democratic and left-leaning independent voters ranked Cindy Holscher as the frontrunner in the Democrat primary, but the same poll indicated 44% of those polled had not decided.  It is worth noting that because state senate seats are not up for election this year, Corson and Holscher would resume their roles in the senate if defeated in the primary or general election.

• Ethan Corson, Fairway / Renee Duxler, Salina - www.ethanforkansas.com
• Cindy Holscher, Overland Park / KC Ohaebosim, Wichita - www.cindyforkansas.com
• Curt Skoog, Overland Park / Jennifer Bacani McKenney, Fredonia - www.curtskoog.com

Watch your inbox for more election information in future weeks!

Have questions? Reach out to Amy Campbell here.