Johnson County, Kansas

Kansas House District 17

2 candidates are tracked for Kansas House District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jo Ella Hoye and Jim Eschrich. Candidate information follows official Johnson County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

August 4 primary result: Jo Ella Hoye was unopposed for the Democratic nomination; Jim Eschrich 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.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

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

Kansas › Johnson County › Kansas House District 17

Jo Ella Hoye

Democratic Incumbent

Top priorities

Support sensible gun laws that save lives while upholding Second Amendment rights
Value quality public education, teachers, and school staff
Keep families safe through legislative action in Topeka

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Hoye has a background in nonpartisan, professional local government management and became a gun violence prevention advocate after hearing a 911 call from a November 2015 shooting in Colorado Springs, joining Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Jim Eschrich

Republican

Top priorities

Capping local property tax revenue growth
Addressing declining student outcomes and curriculum transparency
Oversight of data center development

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Eschrich is a professional focus group moderator with a market research background who has lived in Johnson County for 38 years, per the campaign site. He and his wife raised two daughters who graduated from Shawnee Mission West and the University of Kansas, and he became a grandfather in 2024, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotKansas House District 18

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Kansas House District 17 in 2026?

When is the Kansas House District 17 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 Johnson 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 Johnson 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 Johnson County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Johnson County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Kansas House District 19 Kansas House District 20 Kansas House District 21 See all 29 Johnson County races

Candidate profiles

Jo Ella Hoye, full profile Jim Eschrich, full profile Official Kansas election office