Reno County, Kansas

District Court Judge, 27th Judicial District, Division 1

One candidate is tracked for District Court Judge, 27th Judicial District, Division 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Thomas A. "Tad" Dower. Candidate information follows official Reno County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

August 4 primary result: Thomas A. "Tad" Dower won the Republican nomination with 76.5 percent over Shawnah K. Bennett. Thomas A. "Tad" Dower is the only nominee on the November 3 ballot for this partisan district court bench, which serves Reno County, per the Kansas Secretary of State's official primary results.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

Kansas › Reno County › District Court Judge, 27th Judicial District, Division 1

Thomas A. "Tad" Dower

Republican

Biography

Thomas A. "Tad" Dower is a member at Gilliland Green LLC in Hutchinson, admitted to the Kansas bar in 1986 after earning his law degree from Washburn University School of Law, per his Martindale-Hubbell profile. He currently serves on the Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education and is seeking the 27th Judicial District, Division I seat being vacated by retiring Judge Trish Rose, per the Hutchinson Post. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.

Next on your ballotDistrict Court Judge, 27th Judicial District, Division 3

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Questions about this race

Who is running for District Court Judge, 27th Judicial District, Division 1 in 2026?

When is the District Court Judge, 27th Judicial District, Division 1 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 Reno 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 Reno County and state election office filings, last verified September 25, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Reno County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Member, Kansas State Board of Education, District 7 Reno County Commissioner District 1 Reno County Commissioner District 4 See all 10 Reno County races

Candidate profiles

Thomas A. "Tad" Dower, full profile Official Kansas election office