Douglas County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
18 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 12 Douglas County races, led by the Commissioner District 1 contest.
County offices
Commissioner District 1Patrick Kelly (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Patrick Kelly (Democratic) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Commissioner District 1.
Patrick Kelly Democratic Incumbent
- Affordable housing and everyday costs through responsible budgeting
- Protecting natural and cultural resources with community-driven growth expectations
- Partnerships for behavioral health and aging services
Per the Lawrence Times questionnaire.
About Patrick Kelly
A retired public school educator who teaches for the Kansas Leadership Center and has served as a commissioner for eight years, per the Lawrence Times candidate questionnaire. He points to reduced county mill levies in each of the last four years, per his campaign site.
August 4 primary result: Patrick Kelly (52.1 percent) won the Democratic nomination over Milton Scott (47.9 percent) and advances to the November 3 ballot, per the official results. Douglas County's official election-results portal (linked from dgcoks.gov/county-clerk/voting-and-elections as 'the official totals are now posted on our results page', certified by the Board of Canvassers 8/17/26). Vote totals here are summed across the district's precinct rows from that live-results page (a JS precinct-by-precinct report, not a single summary total), so the county total may be off by a precinct or two; the resulting 52.1%/47.9% split matches incumbent Patrick Kelly's win reported by the Lawrence Times (52.2%/47.8%, https://lawrencekstimes.com/2026/08/04/dgcocomm-202608-results/) within rounding. Winner (Kelly) is not in doubt. A contested August 4 Democratic ballot; with no Republican filed, the winner is positioned to take the seat, per the Douglas County Clerk's certified list and the Lawrence Times. Appears only on District 1 ballots.
Full race pageCommissioner District 4Ethan Spurling (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Ethan Spurling (Democratic) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Commissioner District 4.
Ethan Spurling Democratic
- Affordable housing through partnerships with cities and nonprofits
- Opposing large-scale data centers while supporting job-creating businesses
- Scrutinizing tax abatements to ease the burden on homeowners
Per the Lawrence Times questionnaire.
About Ethan Spurling
Works in public policy and government relations for a Lawrence-based education nonprofit, after four years on the Frontenac City Council and nearly four years in Gov. Laura Kelly's administration, per the Lawrence Times questionnaire.
August 4 primary result: Ethan Spurling (55.5 percent) won the Democratic nomination over Gene Dorsey (44.5 percent) and advances to the November 3 ballot, per livevoterturnout.com reporting of the official results (re-verify against the certified canvass). A contested August 4 Democratic ballot with no Republican filed, per the certified list and the Lawrence Times. Appears only on District 4 ballots.
Full race pageCommissioner District 5Erica Anderson (D) · Kirsten Kuhn (Libertarian)
Erica Anderson (Democratic) and Kirsten Kuhn (Libertarian) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Commissioner District 5.
Erica Anderson Democratic Incumbent
- Outcomes-focused scoring for community partner funding
- Easing property taxes while helping residents age in place
- Direct constituent engagement
Per the Lawrence Times questionnaire.
About Erica Anderson
Anderson has lived in Douglas County for more than 40 years and holds a B.S. in business, per the campaign site. She and her husband, a small-business owner, raised two children in Baldwin City, and she is the sitting commissioner for District 5, per the campaign site.
Kirsten Kuhn Libertarian
- Reduce county expenditures and property taxes
- Restore commissioners' authority over staffing recommendations
- Focus county government on core services
Per the campaign site.
About Kirsten Kuhn
Kuhn has lived in Douglas County for 13 years after moving from Wisconsin and holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Kansas, per the campaign site.
No August 4 contest: Erica Anderson was the only Democratic filer, so this race goes straight to a November 3 matchup with Libertarian Kirsten Kuhn, per the certified list and the Lawrence Times. Appears only on District 5 ballots.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Douglas County is split across 9 Kansas House districts.
Find your districts by addressKansas House: 9 districtsDistricts 5, 10, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 117
Kansas House District 5Henry Johns (D) · Courtney Sappington (R)
Henry Johns Democratic
- Fair and equitable treatment for all Kansans, including health care and social services
Per the campaign site.
About Henry Johns
Johns served a decade in the U.S. Army Reserves Medical Corps before a 48-year career as a licensed respiratory therapist, pulmonary function technologist, registered polysomnographer, and manager, per the campaign site.
Courtney Sappington Republican Incumbent
Courtney Sappington is the Republican nominee for Kansas House District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
August 4 primary result: Henry Johns was unopposed for the Democratic nomination; Courtney Sappington won the Republican nomination with 55.5 percent over Courtney L. Crawford, Jon Chitwood. The nominees meet on the November 3 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's official primary results. The field matches the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list as of September 6, 2026. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageKansas House District 10Suzanne Wikle (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Suzanne Wikle Democratic Incumbent
- Expand affordable healthcare in Kansas, including Medicaid expansion
- Expand access to naloxone and overdose-prevention resources
- Support strong public schools, a fairer tax system, and public investment in child care and early education
Per the campaign site.
About Suzanne Wikle
Wikle is a mom, social worker and fifth-generation Kansan who has long advocated for children and working families, per the campaign site. She is the sitting state representative for House District 10 and has introduced legislation on Medicaid expansion and opioid-overdose response, per the campaign site.
August 4 primary result: Suzanne Wikle won the Democratic nomination with 78.3 percent over T.J. Campsey; no Republican candidate filed. Suzanne Wikle is the only nominee on the November 3 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's official primary results. The field matches the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list as of September 6, 2026. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageKansas House District 42Brandon Wendt (D) · Lance W. Neelly (R)
Brandon Wendt Democratic
- Keeping Kansas tax dollars in the state
- Supporting affordable health care access
- Quality public education and property tax relief for homeowners
Per the campaign site.
About Brandon Wendt
Wendt is a sheet metal worker with 16 years of experience in Sheet Metal Local 2 who lives in Tonganoxie, Kansas, with his wife Summer and their daughter, per the campaign site.
Lance W. Neelly Republican Incumbent
Lance W. Neelly is the Republican nominee for Kansas House District 42 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
August 4 primary result: Brandon Wendt was unopposed for the Democratic nomination; Lance W. Neelly won the Republican nomination with 50.5 percent over Mike Stieben. The nominees meet on the November 3 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's official primary results. The field matches the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list as of September 6, 2026. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageKansas House District 43Kristen Schultz (D) · William (Bill) Sutton (R)
Kristen Schultz Democratic
Kristen Schultz has been elected twice to the Gardner Edgerton school board, per the Sunflower State Journal. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
William (Bill) Sutton Republican Incumbent
William (Bill) Sutton is the Republican nominee for Kansas House District 43 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
August 4 primary result: Kristen Schultz was unopposed for the Democratic nomination; William (Bill) Sutton was unopposed for the Republican nomination. The nominees meet on the November 3 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's official primary results. The field matches the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list as of September 6, 2026. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageKansas House District 44Barbara W. Ballard (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Barbara W. Ballard Democratic Incumbent
Barbara W. Ballard is the Democratic nominee for Kansas House District 44 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
August 4 primary result: Barbara W. Ballard was unopposed for the Democratic nomination; no Republican candidate filed. Barbara W. Ballard is the only nominee on the November 3 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's official primary results. The field matches the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list as of September 6, 2026. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageKansas House District 45Mike Amyx (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Mike Amyx Democratic Incumbent
Mike Amyx is the Democratic nominee for Kansas House District 45 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
August 4 primary result: Mike Amyx was unopposed for the Democratic nomination; no Republican candidate filed. Mike Amyx is the only nominee on the November 3 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's official primary results. The field matches the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list as of September 6, 2026. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageKansas House District 46Brooklynne Mosley (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Brooklynne Mosley Democratic Incumbent
- Food security and hunger relief, including SNAP benefits
- Voter registration and election access
Per the campaign site.
About Brooklynne Mosley
Brooklynne Mosley is a candidate for Kansas House District 46, per her campaign site. No further campaign website detail on her career background was found as of September 27, 2026.
August 4 primary result: Brooklynne Mosley was unopposed for the Democratic nomination; no Republican candidate filed. Brooklynne Mosley is the only nominee on the November 3 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's official primary results. The field matches the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list as of September 6, 2026. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageKansas House District 47Mary T. Williams (D) · Paula Newell Ellis (R)
Mary T. Williams Democratic
- Hold property taxes in check while still funding necessary state services
- Support family farms against pressure from corporate agriculture
- Fund education from early childhood through special education and ensure affordable child care
Per the campaign site.
About Mary T. Williams
Williams has taught and coached at Jefferson West Middle and High Schools for 24 years and serves as a Teacher Leader Consultant for the Kansas State Department of Education, and holds National Board Certification, per the campaign site.
Paula Newell Ellis Republican
Paula Newell Ellis is the Republican nominee for Kansas House District 47 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
August 4 primary result: Mary T. Williams was unopposed for the Democratic nomination; Paula Newell Ellis won the Republican nomination with 44.7 percent over Christopher W. Feuerborn, Steven Scott. The nominees meet on the November 3 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's official primary results. The field matches the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list as of September 6, 2026. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageKansas House District 117Brandon Holland (D) · Adam Turk (R)
Brandon Holland Democratic
Brandon Holland is the Democratic nominee for Kansas House District 117 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Adam Turk Republican Incumbent
- Provide real tax relief for seniors, families, and working Kansans
- Fully fund schools and get more money into the classroom
- Support law enforcement and protect communities from fentanyl trafficking
Per the campaign site.
About Adam Turk
Turk is a 20-year military veteran and small business owner who serves as a security forces master sergeant in the Kansas Air National Guard, including overseas service in Afghanistan, per the campaign site.
August 4 primary result: Brandon Holland was unopposed for the Democratic nomination; Adam Turk was unopposed for the Republican nomination. The nominees meet on the November 3 ballot, per the Kansas Secretary of State's official primary results. The field matches the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list as of September 6, 2026. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Kansas nominees were set by the August 4 primary, one per party, and meet on the November 3 ballot; all 125 state House seats are up, the state Senate is not, and county row officers (clerk, treasurer, register of deeds, county attorney, sheriff) are on the 2024/2028 cycle, so county pages carry commission seats, retention questions and local questions, per the Secretary of State.
Who is on the ballot in Douglas County, Kansas on November 3, 2026?
Douglas County sample ballot 2026: see where the commissioner and kansas house candidates stand on housing, taxes and health care. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Kansas?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Kansas are listed on the Kansas election hub. Kansas election hub →
How do I see my exact Douglas County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
Kansas statewide racesEvery Kansas race on this county's ballot.All Kansas ballot measures1 statewide ballot measureCandidate roster last updated Oct 2, 2026 from official election sources.