Douglas County, Kansas

Commissioner District 5

2 candidates are tracked for Commissioner District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Erica Anderson and Kirsten Kuhn. Candidate information follows official Douglas County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

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.

What this office does

County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Erica Anderson, is on the ballot.

Kansas › Douglas County › Commissioner District 5

Erica Anderson

Democratic Incumbent

Top priorities

Outcomes-focused scoring for community partner funding
Easing property taxes while helping residents age in place
Direct constituent engagement

Per the Lawrence Times questionnaire.

Biography

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.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Kirsten Kuhn

Libertarian

Top priorities

Reduce county expenditures and property taxes
Restore commissioners' authority over staffing recommendations
Focus county government on core services

Per the campaign site.

Biography

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.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotKansas House District 5

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Commissioner District 5 in 2026?

When is the Commissioner District 5 election in Kansas?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Kansas are on the Kansas election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Douglas County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Douglas County and state election office filings, last verified October 2, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Kansas election office, or see the full Douglas County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Douglas County ballot

12 tracked races in Douglas County, Kansas. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Kansas House District 10 Kansas House District 42 Kansas House District 43 See all 12 Douglas County races

Candidate profiles

Erica Anderson, full profile Kirsten Kuhn, full profile Official Kansas election office