Sunflower Democrats

 

Considering Trump’s constant abuses of power and mismanagement of the economy, 2026 could be a great election year for Democrats.

Let’s make sure we make the most of that opportunity by electing as many Democrats as we can, up and down the ballot.

Seats for the Kansas House are up for reelection this year, which means we have another opportunity to break the Republican Supermajority in the Kansas Legislature.

In 2024, I raised money for Democrats running for the Kansas Legislature.

I created and promoted an ActBlue fund called, “Breaking the Republican Supermajority in the Kansas Legislature.”

Five people collectively donated $618.33 to the fund.

I discussed those donations in my 2024 Political Fundraising Report, which I published last year.

In another article, I covered the results of the 2024 elections for the Kansas Legislature.

This year, I’m raising money for Democrats running for the Kansas Legislature, again.

The sunflower is the state flower of Kansas.

I created an ActBlue fund called, “Sunflower Democrats.”

The fund will raise money for Democrats running for office in Kansas.

Caption: A close-up photo of a pin that displays the Kansas State Seal. The pin is part of my button collection. 

 

 

This article will focus on Democrats running for the Kansas Legislature.

In a future article, I will discuss the other Kansas candidates and causes I am fundraising for.

Breaking the Supermajority

Since 2011, Republicans have held two-thirds supermajorities in both chambers of the Kansas Legislature.

The Kansas Legislature passes consequential laws that affect the state budget, healthcare, education, abortion rights, and transgender rights.

The Republican supermajority allows Republican legislators to override a governor’s veto with only Republican votes.

This grants Republicans the ability to pass laws without support from any Democrats.

The Republican two-thirds supermajority also allows Republicans to advance constitutional amendments to a public vote, without the need to secure support from any Democrats in the Legislature.

Members of the Kansas House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the State Legislature, are up for reelection in 2026.

Members of the Kansas Senate, the upper chamber of the State Legislature, won’t be up for reelection until 2028.

Democrats need to flip five seats in the Kansas House to break the Republican Supermajority in the chamber.

If Democrats break the supermajority, Republicans wouldn’t be able to override a governor’s veto, or advance constitutional amendments to a public vote, without receiving support from Democratic lawmakers.

So, let’s break the Republican supermajority.

Our best chance to do that will be flipping districts won by Republicans by narrow margins in recent elections.

I have monitored districts decided by less than 10% in 2024 and 2022.

Some of these districts have contested Democratic primaries.

Others have candidates who haven’t yet published their campaign websites.

The Democrats listed in the table below are running in competitive districts, don’t have contested primaries, and have published their campaign websites.

Each of these districts is currently represented by a Republican.

These six candidates are included in the Sunflower Democrats fund.

I will discuss these six candidates, and their races, later in this article.

After additional candidates publish their campaign websites, they will be added to the fund.

If you plan to donate to Kansas Democrats, I recommend allocating your planned total donation across multiple donations throughout the campaign cycle.

Candidates can make the most of your donation early in the cycle, so donate part of your total donation, now.

Come back in a month or so, and donate again, after additional candidates have launched their campaign websites, to support them too.

Finally, save part of your donation for the general election, after we know who our nominees will be in important races with contested Democratic primaries.

The Kansas Primary election will take place on Aug. 4.

Remember, if we flip five seats, we can break the Republican Supermajority in the Kansas Legislature.

So, let’s take a look at some of those flippable seats.

Allison Hougland — Dist. 15

Allison Hougland, a former member of the Kansas Legislature, is running for her former seat, after narrowly losing it in 2024.

Hougland is a real estate agent in Olathe.

On her campaign website, Hougland says she supports expanding Medicaid and fully funding schools.

In 2022, Allison Hougland won a close election in Dist. 15, which is located in Johnson County.

Hougland (D) received 50.7%, and Matt Bingesser (R) received 49.3%.

Hougland won by 78 votes, or 1.4%.

In 2024, Hougland was narrowly defeated in Dist. 15.

Lauren Bohi (R) received 50.7%, and Hougland (D) received 49.3%.

Bohi won by 106 votes, or 1.4%.

Dist. 15 was one of three Kansas House districts flipped by Republicans in 2024.

In 2026, Hougland is running for her old seat in Dist. 15.

The election will be a rematch between Hougland and Bohi, neither of which have a contested primary.

Sherry Giebler — Dist. 14

Sherry Giebler is a retired counselor, who worked at elementary and middle schools, for Johnson County Community College, and in private practice.

She also served as an adjunct professor at Fort Hays State University.

Giebler lives in Olathe. 

On her campaign website, Giebler advocates for fully funding special education, keeping public dollars in public schools, and providing access to high-quality affordable healthcare.

Dist. 14 is located in Johnson County.

In 2022, Democrat Dennis Miller narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Charlotte Esau in Dist. 14.

Miller (D) received 51.0%, and Esau (R) received 49.0%.

Miller won by 221 votes, or 2.0%.

The 2024 election was a rematch between Miller and Esau, and this time, Esau won.

Esau (R) received 51.4%, and Miller (D) received 48.6%.

Esau won by 404 votes, or 2.7%.

Dist. 14 was one of three Kansas House districts flipped by Republicans in 2024.

In 2026, Esau (R) will run against Sherry Giebler (D) in the general election.

Neither Esau nor Giebler have a contested primary.

Brenda Bandy — Dist. 67

Brenda Bandy co-founded the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, a non-profit that promotes breastfeeding in Kansas. 

Bandy lives in Manhattan.  

On her campaign website, Bandy expresses support for quality afforadable healthcare, supporting families, and lowering costs.

Dist. 67 is located in Riley County.

In 2022, incumbent Republican Mike Dodson narrowly won reelection in Dist. 67.

Dodson (R) received 52.4%, and Kim Zito (D) received 47.6%.

Dodson won by 420 votes, or 4.8%.

I covered the 2022 State House race in Dist. 67 in an article that discussed debates surrounding Medicaid expansion, abortion rights, and transgender rights.

In 2024, a different Republican, Angel Roeser, narrowly won Dist. 67.

Roeser (R) received 52.4%, and Kim Zito (D) received 47.6%.

Roeser won by 529 votes, or 4.9%.

In 2026, Stacy Kohlmeier and Kaleb James are running in the Republican Primary in Dist. 67.

Democrat Brenda Bandy will run against the winner of the Republican Primary in the general election.

Jeff Pittman — Dist. 41

 

Jeff Pittman previously served in both chambers of the Kansas Legislature. He is running for the Kansas House, after narrowly losing a race for the Kansas Senate in 2024.

Pittman lives in Leavenworth.

According to his campaign website, Pittman supports fully funding special education, increasing teacher pay, and expanding Medicaid.

In 2016, Pittman won the Kansas House election in Dist. 41, in Leavenworth County, against incumbent Republican Tony Barton.

Pittman (D) received 55%, and Barton (R) received 45%.

Pittman won by 10%, or 624 votes.

In 2018, Pittman was reelected in Dist. 41, after a rematch with Barton.

Pittman (D) received 57.4%, and Barton (R) received 42.6%.

Pittman won by 14.8%, or 781 votes.

In 2020, Jeff Pittman was elected in Dist. 5 to the Kansas Senate.

Dist. 5 is located in Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties.

Pittman (D) recevied 53.1%, and Kevin Braun (R) received 46.9%.

Pittman won by 6.1%, or 1,935 votes.

In 2024, Pittman lost reelection to the Kansas Senate by only 31 votes.

The election in Dist. 5 was the closest Kansas Senate race in the state.

Jeff Klemp (R) received 50.05%, and Jeff Pittman (D) received 49.95%.

Klemp won by 31 votes, or 0.1%.

This year, Pittman is running for his old seat in the Kansas House, representing Dist. 41, which has been competitive in recent elections.

In 2020, Republican Pat Proctor was elected in Dist. 41.

Proctor (R) received 53%, and Mike Griswold (D) received 47%.

Proctor won by 6.0%, or 435 votes.

In 2022, Pat Proctor was narrowly reelected in Dist. 41.

Proctor (R) received 51.6%, and Harry Schwarz (D) received 48.4%.

Proctor won by 144 votes, or 3.2%.

In 2024, Pat Proctor won another narrow reelection.

Proctor (R) received 52.6%, and Aimee Bateman (D) received 47.4%.

Proctor won by 324 votes, or 5.1%.

This year, Pat Proctor is running for Kansas Secretary of State.

Therefore, the election for Dist. 41 will be for an open seat.

The general election in Dist. 41 will be between Jeff Pittman (D) and Ann Reinhart (R).

Neither Pittman nor Reinhart have a contested primary.

Megan Phillips — Dist. 8

Megan Phillips is a licensed clinical psychologist who works in the Kansas state hospital system.

Phillips lives in Overland Park.

On her campaign website, Phillips advocates for increasing state investment in community mental health, reducing wait times for psychiatric care, protecting public education, and expanding Medicaid.

Dist. 8 is located in Johnson County.

It’s not as competitive as the districts we have previously discussed, but in a good year for Democrats, the district could be in play.

In 2022, incumbent Republican Chris Croft was reelected in Dist. 8.

Croft (R) received 54.4%, and Pam Shernuk (D) received 45.5%.

Croft won by 9.0%, or 896 votes.

The 2024 election was a rematch between Croft and Shernuk.

Croft (R) received 55.3%, and Shernuk (D) received 44.7%.

Croft won by 10.5%, or 1,388 votes.

In 2026, the general election in Dist. 8 will be between incumbent Chris Croft (R) and Megan Phillips (D).

Neither Croft nor Phillips have a contested primary.

Kelsey Stock — Dist. 121

Kelsey Stock is a program manager for the Kansas Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She has also worked for child protective services.

Kelsey Stock and her husband have five children, two of whom are deaf.

Stock is currently pursuing a PhD in Population Health at the KU School of Medicine. She is researching healthcare accessibility for people who are deaf.

Stock lives in Olathe.

According to her campaign website, Stock supports fully funding public schools and special education, and making Kansas more affordable.

Dist. 121 is located in Johnson County.

It’s not as competitive as the first four districts we discussed, but in a good year for Democrats, the district could be in play.

In 2022, incumbent Republican John Resman was reelected in Dist. 121.

Resman (R) received 54.6%, and Mel Pinick (D) received 45.4%.

Resman won by 9.2%, or 839 votes.

The 2024 election was a rematch between Resman and Pinick.

Resman (R) received 55.5%, and Pinick (D) received 44.5%.

Resman won by 11.0%, or 1,346 votes.

Resman is not running for reelection in 2026.

Two Republican candidates, Thomas Palenske and Mike Storm, will compete in the Republican primary in Dist. 121.

Democrat Kelsey Stock, who doesn’t have a contested primary, will run against the winner of the Republican primary in the general election.

What You Can Do

 

As you can see, elections for the Kansas Legislature are often decided by narrow margins.

You can support the candidates featured in this article through Sunflower Democrats. 

 

I plan to write about Kansas candidates, included in the fund, who are running for other positions, in a future article.