Gray County, Kansas

Member, Kansas State Board of Education, District 5

2 candidates are tracked for Member, Kansas State Board of Education, District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Lorie Wood and Jean Clifford. Candidate information follows official Gray County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Lorie Wood (Democratic) and Jean Clifford (Republican) are running for Kansas State Board of Education District 5, per the Kansas Secretary of State's certified 2026 general election candidate list. District 5 covers all or part of a group of Kansas counties, per the Kansas State Department of Education's official district map; this seat covers a multi-county district, not just this county.

What this office does

State board of education member. A state board of education sets statewide academic standards, approves graduation requirements and teacher-licensing rules, adopts the state's school accountability system and, in many states, hires the state superintendent. Members represent districts drawn across the state. Local school boards still run the schools day to day. A regional superintendent of schools handles teacher certification, school safety inspections and other state-mandated services for the school districts in a multi-county region.

Kansas › Gray County › Member, Kansas State Board of Education, District 5

Lorie Wood

Democratic

Top priorities

Early literacy and math intervention
Teacher recruitment and compensation in rural districts
Equitable school funding for rural counties

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Lorie Wood has more than 30 years of teaching experience across K-12 and higher education, per her campaign site. She has taught English language learners, high school literature and college composition, including seven years teaching English for the U.S. Navy in Japan, per the same source. Wood holds a bachelor's degree in English secondary education and a master's degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages, and has authored four textbooks.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Jean Clifford

Republican

Biography

Jean Clifford is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member, Kansas State Board of Education, District 5, per the Kansas Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 23, 2026.

Next on your ballotDistrict Magistrate Judge, 16th Judicial District

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Member, Kansas State Board of Education, District 5 in 2026?

When is the Member, Kansas State Board of Education, 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 Gray 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 Gray County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Gray County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Kansas House District 115 District Court Judge, 16th Judicial District, Division 1 See all 4 Gray County races

Candidate profiles

Lorie Wood, full profile Jean Clifford, full profile Official Kansas election office