Local Races in 2026
In Kansas, elections for city and school board positions occur in odd-numbered years, while county elections take place in even-numbered years. In 2026, local offices up for election include part of the Board of County Commissioners, some District Court Judges, and the District Magistrate Judge. There will be two ballot questions for voters in the Wichita school district.
Local Offices
Wichita City Council
The Wichita City Council is Wichita's top legislative body. It is composed of seven members: six who are elected by district and a mayor elected at-large. The mayor's position is full-time, while other council members are part-time. Council members are elected to a 4-year term for up to two consecutive terms. While candidates may belong to a political party, elections are nonpartisan, meaning the candidate's political affiliation will not appear on the ballot. The Wichita City Council's responsibilities include:
- Enacting ordinances and policies
- Adopting the City of Wichita annual budget and Capital Improvement Program
- Levying taxes
- Appointing members to citizen advisory boards and commissions like District Advisory Boards and Library Board of Directors
City Council meetings are typically held at 9 a.m. on the first, second, and third Tuesday of each month. The fourth Tuesday is reserved for workshop sessions where council members have the opportunity to review and discuss one or two focused topics. Four City Council seats, including the Mayor's position, are up for election in 2027.
Wichita Public Schools Board of Education
The Wichita Public Schools Board of Education consists of seven members: six members who must live within certain geographic boundaries and a seventh who can live anywhere in the school district, also called an at-large position. Members are elected to 4-year unpaid terms. Voters may vote for the position in their voting district as well as the at-large position.
The Board of Education is responsible for setting policies, approving financial agreements, and setting the annual budget for USD 259, Wichita Public Schools. The board's regular meetings are held once a month on Monday at 6 p.m. at the North High Lecture Hall. Three Wichita Public Schools Board of Education seats, including the at-large position, are up for election in 2027.
Sedgwick County Commission
Sedgwick County is divided into five districts. Voters from each district elect one person to serve on the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). Commissioners are elected to a 4-year term. The BOCC has a number of legislative and administrative powers, including:
- Approval of the county's annual budget
- Levying of county taxes
- Construction and maintenance of county roads and bridges
- Serving as the local board of health
- Providing a jail, courthouse, office space, and supplies for all county officers and the district court
BOCC meetings are typically held at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays, except for the last Wednesday of the month. Three Board of County Commission seats are up for election in 2026.
List of Sedgwick County Commission Candidates
Sedgwick County Clerk
The County Clerk is the official secretary for the Board of County Commissioners, recording county commission meeting minutes and producing written minutes for all commission meetings. The County Clerk's office is responsible for maintaining land records, issuing certain licenses and permits, and has duties related to property tax levies and tax roll preparation. The Sedgwick County Clerk is elected to a 4-year term. The position is listed on every Sedgwick County ballot and is next up for election in 2028.
Sedgwick County Register of Deeds
The office of the Register of Deeds is responsible for recording all real estate transactions within the county. The office maintains an online repository of land records dating back to January 1, 1969. The Sedgwick County Register of Deeds is elected to a 4-year term. The position is listed on every Sedgwick County ballot and is next up for election in 2028.
Sedgwick County Sheriff
The Sheriff's Office carries out law enforcement functions that local police departments do not, including district court security, civil process service, and operation of the Adult Detention Facility and Annex. The Sedgwick County Sheriff is elected to a 4-year term. The position is listed on every Sedgwick County ballot and is next up for election in 2028.
Sedgwick County Treasurer
The County Treasurer's office is responsible for collecting real estate, personal property, and motor vehicle taxes; commercial vehicle fees; special assessments; and other miscellaneous taxes for Sedgwick County cities, townships school districts, and other taxing jurisdictions. The County Treasurer is elected to a 4-year term. The position is listed on every Sedgwick County ballot and is next up for election in 2028.
District Attorney
The Office of the District Attorney prosecutes violations of criminal, juvenile, and traffic laws; enforces the Kansas Consumer Protection Act; initiates proceedings to protect abused and neglected children; and secures care and treatment in mental commitment cases. The District Attorney is elected to a 4-year term. The position is listed on every Sedgwick County ballot and is next up for election in 2028.
District Court Judge and District Magistrate Judge
Kansas has 31 judicial districts with varying numbers of judges. District courts are trial courts, with general original jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases, including divorce and domestic relations, damage suits, probate and estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, care of the mentally ill, juvenile matters, and small claims. District Court Judges must be attorneys admitted to practice in the state and engaged in the practice of law for at least 5 years. A District Magistrate Judge must be either a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas or able to pass an examination given by the Supreme Court to become certified within 18 months. These judges are elected to a 4-year term with no term limit. District 18, which has jurisdiction over Sedgwick County, has 30 district judges and one magistrate judge. All Sedgwick County voters will have all positions listed on their ballot, but not at the same time. Ten of the 30 District Court Judge seats and the single District Magistrate Judge seat in Sedgwick County will be up for election in 2026.
List of District Court and Mnd Magistrate Judge Candidates
Precinct Committeeman & Precinct Committeewoman
Every two years, voters who have registered as either a Democrat or Republican vote to elect one man and one woman who live within their voting precinct and are members of their party to the position of precinct committeeman and woman. The work of these positions can vary, but generally includes:
- Supporting the county and state political party's endorsed candidates
- Volunteering in political campaigns
- Voting on party leadership
When a seat in the state legislature becomes vacant, the precinct committee members from that legislator's district and party vote on a replacement to serve the remainder of their term. Sedgwick County has 429 voting precincts with a total of 1,716 precinct committee positions. Every precinct committee position will be up for election in the August 2026 Primary Election.
Local Ballot Measures
During the November 2026 General Election, there will be two ballot measures for voters in the Wichita school district.
Learn about the Ballot Measures
Candidates for Local Offices in 2026
Sedgwick County Commission Candidates
District 1
District 1 includes central and eastern portions of Wichita, as well as Bel Aire, Eastborough, portions of Kechi, and unincorporated parts of northeastern Sedgwick County.
District 4
District 4 includes central and northern portions of Wichita, as well as Park City, Valley Center, Maize, portions of Kechi, the part of the city of Sedgwick that is in Sedgwick County, and unincorporated parts of northern Sedgwick County.
- Ryan Baty (R - Maize) (incumbent)
District 5
District 5 includes southeastern portions of Wichita, as well as Derby, the part of Mulvane that is in Sedgwick County, and unincorporated parts of southeastern Sedgwick County.
District Court Judge Candidates
Division 4
Robb Rumsey, the incumbent in Division 4, is not listed as a candidate on Sedgwick County or the Kansas Secretary of State's website.
Division 5
- Seth L. Rundle (R) (incumbent)
Division 7
- Rodger L. Woods, Jr. (R) (incumbent)
Division 8
- Richard A. "Rick" Macías (R) (incumbent)
Division 10
- Grant Brazill (R) (incumbent)
Division 15
- Kathleen Watson (R) (incumbent)
Division 17
Linda Kirby, the incumbent in Division 17, did not seek re-election.
Division 18
- Faith Johnson (R) (incumbent)
Division 19
- Michael Jeffrey Hoelscher (R) (incumbent)
Division 29
- Shawn Elliott (R) (incumbent)
Division 30
- Francessca Montes-Williams (R) (incumbent)
District Magistrate Judge
Judge David Kaufman (Division 15) retired in 2025. Governor Laura Kelly appointed District Magistrate Judge Kathleen Watson to complete Kaufman's term. The Governor later appointed Elizabeth L. Henry to fill Watson's term as District Magistrate Judge until the next general election. The winner of this election will serve the remainder of the unexpired term. Henry did not seek re-election.
This Year's Local Ballot Measures
There will be two questions on the ballot for all voters whose address is in the Wichita Public Schools district. USD 259 has set up a site with information about the proposed two-question bond issue.
There are two primary groups organized around this topic:
The text of the measures, as they will appear on ballots:
USD 259 Proposition 1
Shall the following be adopted?
Shall Unified School District No. 259, Sedgwick County, Kansas (Wichita) (the “District”), issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $407,100,000, to pay the costs to make improvements in the District, including the following:
1. Construct, furnish and equip a new Trades Future Ready Center;
2. Construct, furnish, equip:
- HVAC and air quality improvements at five high schools, eleven middle schools, and Manufacturing FRC;
- Vehicle and pedestrian improvements at existing District facilities, including Isely K-8 Academy, Seltzer Elementary School and Christa McAuliffe K-8 Academy;
3. Preservation improvements at:
- North High School;
- East High School;
4. Rebuild, renovate, construct, furnish, and/or equip for:
- Truesdell Middle School;
- Black Elementary School;
- McLean Magnet Elementary School;
- Chisholm Trail Elementary School into a new K-8 facility;
- Cessna Elementary School including a middle school addition;
5. Construct, furnish, renovate and equip other necessary building, technology, efficiency, and utility improvements at District facilities from remaining proceeds of the bonds; and pay fees, costs and expenses incidental thereto; all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 10-101 et seq., K.S.A. 25-2018(f), K.S.A. 72-5457, and K.S.A. 72-5458 et seq.?
USD 259 Proposition 2
Shall the following be adopted?
Shall Unified School District No. 259, Sedgwick County, Kansas (Wichita) (the “District”), issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $207,900,000, to pay the costs to make improvements in the District, including the following:
1. Upgrade, remodel, rebuild, renovate, furnish, equip, and/or construct improvements to:
- repurpose the existing Hadley facility to serve as the new Horace Mann Dual Language K-8 Magnet;
- repurpose the existing Horace Mann facility to serve as the new Irving Elementary School;
- repurpose the existing OK Elementary School to serve as a new early childhood center;
2. Preservation improvements at high schools aged 50 years and older;
3. Construct, furnish and equip improvements to career and technical education facilities at South, Northwest, Heights, and West High Schools, auditorium improvements at Heights High School, and parking improvements at West High School;
4. Rebuild, renovate, furnish, equip, and/or construct improvements to:
- Rebuild a new Coleman Middle School, renovate the existing school to repurpose for alternative programs;
- Adams Elementary School;
5. Construct, furnish, renovate and equip other necessary building, technology, efficiency, and utility improvements at District facilities from remaining proceeds of the bonds; and pay fees, costs and expenses incidental thereto; all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 10-101 et seq., K.S.A. 25-2018(f), K.S.A. 72-5457, and K.S.A. 72-5458 et seq.?
