Sedgwick County, Kansas

District Court Judge, 18th Judicial District, Division 17

One candidate is tracked for District Court Judge, 18th Judicial District, Division 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Michael L. Fessinger. Candidate information follows official Sedgwick County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

August 4 primary result: Michael L. Fessinger won the Republican nomination with 61.3 percent over Derrick P. Smith. Michael L. Fessinger is the only nominee on the November 3 ballot for this partisan district court bench, which serves Sedgwick 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 › Sedgwick County › District Court Judge, 18th Judicial District, Division 17

Michael L. Fessinger

Republican

Top priorities

Interpret the law rather than create it
Uphold constitutional rights as written
Bring courtroom experience and a commitment to public safety and the rule of law to the bench

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Michael L. Fessinger began his career as a law clerk for Kansas Court of Appeals Judge Anthony J. Powell, later served as a Sedgwick County assistant district attorney and county court prosecutor, and currently leads the City of Wichita's labor and employment law practice, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotDistrict Court Judge, 18th Judicial District, Division 18

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Questions about this race

Who is running for District Court Judge, 18th Judicial District, Division 17 in 2026?

When is the District Court Judge, 18th Judicial District, Division 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 Sedgwick 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 Sedgwick 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 Sedgwick County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Sedgwick County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

District Court Judge, 18th Judicial District, Division 19 District Court Judge, 18th Judicial District, Division 29 District Court Judge, 18th Judicial District, Division 30 See all 40 Sedgwick County races

Candidate profiles

Michael L. Fessinger, full profile Official Kansas election office