Kansas State Senate elections, 2012
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Kansas's 2012 elections U.S. House • State Senate • State House • State ballot measures • Candidate ballot access |
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Elections for the office of Kansas State Senate were held in Kansas on November 6, 2012. A total of 40 seats were up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was June 11, 2012. The date was originally set for June 1, but a delay in the redistricting process caused the state to push back the filing deadline.[1] The primary Election Day was August 7, 2012.
The 2012 elections gained national attention as conservative members of the Republican Party vowed to defeat more moderate GOP legislators in an attempt to move the entire state in a more conservative direction.[2][3] Thus, the primaries in Kansas took on great importance as many elections would be decided prior to the general election.[4][5] Leading the movement for the conservative wing was current Gov. Sam Brownback, while former Gov. Bill Graves has worked to rally moderates.[6] Results from the August 7 primary election left a total of 9 incumbent senators - all Republicans - defeated. Eight of those defeated incumbents had been targeted by conservatives for being too moderate.[7]
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 6 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the Kansas State Senate:
| Kansas State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 8 | 9 | |
| Republican Party | 32 | 31 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
Incumbents retiring
A total of four incumbents did not run for re-election in 2012. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Current Office |
|---|---|---|
| Terrie Huntington | Senate District 7 | |
| John Vratil | Senate District 11 | |
| Mark Taddiken | Senate District 21 | |
| Ray Merrick | Senate District 37 |
Impact of redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Kansas
The Kansas Legislature is responsible for legislative, congressional, and state Board of Education redistricting. The House and Senate each appoint members to a committee to develop plans which are then presented to the respective chambers for consideration. Kansas redistricting is based on figures adjusted by the secretary of state. These figures are adjusted for the student, prison, and military populations using state survey data. Redistricting plans are subject to mandatory judicial review by the Kansas Supreme Court.[8][9]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Kansas' population rose from 2.69 million to 2.85 million between 2000 and 2010, with most of the state's population clustered in the east (near Kansas City, Topeka, and Lawrence) and around Wichita.[10] Despite this overall growth of 6.1 percent, seventy-seven of Kansas' 105 counties experienced a decrease in population over the course of the decade. Most of the growth was in urban and suburban areas, and minority populations increased.[11]
The legislature did not approve new maps by the legal deadline, so the map-making process went to the courts. The court-drawn map created four Senate districts with two incumbents and four open seats. Three of the new open seats were in rural districts, and one was in urbanizing Johnson County.[12]
In Kansas, there were seven state senate districts where the partisan registration of Democratic and Republican voters was less than 10 percentage points apart. These districts would be considered "competitive" when looked at strictly with respect to vote party affiliation. The seven districts in Kansas were districts 2, 3, 5, 13, 19, 25, and 28.
Targeted incumbents
- See also: Kansas Game Changers
Kansas Chamber of Commerce
The Kansas Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee targeted eight Republican incumbents for defeat, donating $1,000 and making in-kind contributions to eight Republican challengers. It saw the eight incumbents as being impediments to private sector job creation.
Chamber Political Action Chairman Ivan Crossland stated, “Bloated state budgets, increased taxes and growing union and trial lawyer support are not the ingredients for private sector job creation. The candidates we have chosen to support are willing to do what it takes to turn things around in Kansas.”[13]
The eight targeted Republican incumbents were:
- Terrie Huntington (District 7) - Did not seek re-election
- Tim Owens (District 8) - Defeated in primary
- John Vratil (District 11) - Did not seek re-election
- Vicki Schmidt (District 20)
- Pete Brungardt (District 24) - Defeated in primary
- Jean Schodorf (District 25) - Defeated in primary
- Carolyn McGinn (District 31)
- Stephen Morris (District 39) - Defeated in primary
List of candidates
District 1
August 7 Democratic primary:
August 7 GOP primary:
- Marje A. Cochren: 3,407
- Dennis D. Pyle: 6,730
- Incumbent Pyle first assumed office in 2005.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 2
- Marci Francisco
- Marci Francisco
- Ronald B. Ellis: 2,588
- Jeremy Ryan Pierce: 1,493
- Ronald B. Ellis: 2,588
November 6 General election candidates:
District 3
- Tom Holland
- Tom Holland
- James C. "J.C." Tellefson: 1,449
- Anthony Brown: 3,136
November 6 General election candidates:
District 4
- David Haley
- David Haley
November 6 General election candidates:
District 5
- Kelly Kultala
- Kelly Kultala
- Steve Fitzgerald: 2,298
- Mark S. Gilstrap: 1,441
- Steve Fitzgerald: 2,298
November 6 General election candidates:
District 6
- Mario Escobar: 695
- Pat Pettey: 1,842
- Chris Steineger
- Chris Steineger
November 6 General election candidates:
District 7
Note: Incumbent Terrie Huntington did not seek re-election.
- David Harvey: 3,889
- Kay Wolf: 5,176
November 6 General election candidates:
District 8
- Thomas (Tim) C. Owens: 3,161 - Incumbent Owens first assumed office in 2009.
- Jim Denning: 4,796
November 6 General election candidates:
District 9
- Julia Lynn
- Julia Lynn
November 6 General election candidates:
District 10
- Mary Pilcher-Cook: 4,514
- Tom Wertz: 2,509
- Mary Pilcher-Cook: 4,514
November 6 General election candidates:
District 11
Note: Incumbent John Vratil did not seek re-election.
- Jeff Melcher: 5,479
- Pat Colloton: 3,748
- Jeff Melcher: 5,479
November 6 General election candidates:
District 12
- John C. Coen: 4,864
- Caryn Tyson: 6,226
November 6 General election candidates:
District 13
- Jacob LaTurner: 3,857
- Bob Marshall: 2,879 - Incumbent Marshall first assumed office in 2009.
- Jacob LaTurner: 3,857
November 6 General election candidates:
District 14
- John Grange: 5,254
- Forrest Knox: 7,416
November 6 General election candidates:
District 15
- No candidates filed.
- Jeff King: 5,668
- Dwayne Umbarger: 4,224 - Incumbent Umbarger first assumed office in 1996.
- Jeff King: 5,668
November 6 General election candidates:
District 16
- No candidates filed.
- Ty Masterson
- Ty Masterson
November 6 General election candidates:
District 17
- James P. Fawcett: 2,619
- Jeff Longbine: 3,858
November 6 General election candidates:
District 18
- Laura Kelly
- Laura Kelly
- Dick Barta: 5,093
- Cristina L. Fischer: 855
- Gary L. Parnell: 756
- Dick Barta: 5,093
November 6 General election candidates:
District 19
- Anthony Hensley
- Anthony Hensley
- Matthew F. Windheuser: 978
- Casey W. Moore: 4,238
November 6 General election candidates:
District 20
- Joe Patton: 5,587
- Vicki L. Schmidt: 5,747
Libertarian candidates:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 21
Note: Incumbent Mark Taddiken did not seek re-election.
- Joe Beveridge: 3,290
- Greg Smith: 3,581
November 6 General election candidates:
District 22
- Joe Knopp: 2,134
- Bob Reader: 3,318
- Roger P. Reitz: 2,251 - Incumbent Reitz first assumed office in 2005.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 23
- Rob Olson
- Rob Olson
November 6 General election candidates:
District 24
- Tom Arpke: 5,413
- Pete Brungardt: 4,354 - Incumbent Brungardt first assumed office in 2001.
- Tom Arpke: 5,413
November 6 General election candidates:
District 25
- Timothy L. Snow: 957
- Perry Schuckman: 874
- Timothy L. Snow: 957
- Michael O'Donnell: 2,785
- Jean Kurtis Schodorf: 1,949 - Incumbent Schodorf first assumed office in 2001.
- Michael O'Donnell: 2,785
November 6 General election candidates:
District 26
- No candidates filed.
- Dan Kerschen: 3,911
- Dick Kelsey: 2,883 - Incumbent Kelsey first assumed office in 2009.
- Dan Kerschen: 3,911
November 6 General election candidates:
District 27
- Leslie D. "Les" Donovan Sr.
- Leslie D. "Les" Donovan Sr.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 28
- Mike Petersen
- Mike Petersen
November 6 General election candidates:
District 29
- Oletha Faust-Goudeau: 2,103
- KC Ohaebosim: 579
- Oletha Faust-Goudeau: 2,103
November 6 General election candidates:
District 30
- Susan Wagle
- Susan Wagle
November 6 General election candidates:
District 31
- No candidates filed.
- Gary Mason: 3,893
- Carolyn McGinn: 4,770
November 6 General election candidates:
District 32
- No candidates filed.
- Steve E. Abrams: 4,886
- Miranda Allen: 4,425
- Steve E. Abrams: 4,886
November 6 General election candidates:
District 33
- No candidates filed.
- Ruth Teichman: 6,762 - Incumbent Teichman first assumed office in 2001.
- Mitch Holmes: 7,635
November 6 General election candidates:
District 34
- Terry Bruce
- Terry Bruce
November 6 General election candidates:
District 35
- No candidates filed.
- Jesse Bryant: 2,346
- Jay Scott Emler: 6,435
Note: Bryant's name appears twice because he filed as a Republican for the primary election and as a Libertarian for the general election.[14]
November 6 General election candidates:
District 36
- Kyle Abbott: 5,216
- Elaine Bowers: 9,377
November 6 General election candidates:
District 37
Note: Incumbent Ray Merrick did not seek re-election. Instead, he ran for the Kansas House of Representatives in District 27.
- No candidates filed.
- Pat Apple: 4,751
- Daniel B. Campbell: 441
- Charlotte O'Hara: 2,165
- Pat Apple: 4,751
November 6 General election candidates:
District 38
- Garrett Love
- Garrett Love
November 6 General election candidates:
District 39
- No candidates filed.
- Stephen R. Morris: 4,737 - Incumbent Morris first assumed office in 1993.
- Larry Powell: 5,106
November 6 General election candidates:
District 40
- Allen Clark Schmidt
- Allen Clark Schmidt
- John E. Miller: 4,078
- Ralph Ostmeyer: 7,396
November 6 General election candidates:
External links
- Kansas Secretary of State - 2012 Primary Election Candidates
- Kansas Secretary of State - Official 2012 Primary Results
- Kansas Secretary of State - 2012 General Election Candidates
- Kansas Secretary of State - Official 2012 General Election Results
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ fec.gov - 2012 Primary Dates and Candidate Filing Deadlines
- ↑ The New York Times, "In Kansas, Conservatives Vilify Fellow Republicans," August 5, 2012
- ↑ The Wall Street Journal, "Centrist Republicans Feel the Heat in Kansas Primaries," July 19, 2012
- ↑ National Review, "The Battle for Kansas," July 20, 2012
- ↑ National Public Radio, "Kansas GOP Campaigns To Exile Moderates," August 5, 2012
- ↑ The Republic, "Brownback and Graves, both Republicans, take sides in Kansas Senate primary battles," July 12, 2012
- ↑ foxnews.com, "Conservatives win big in Kan. Senate primaries," August 08, 2012
- ↑ Kansas Legislative Research Dept. "Kansas Legislator Briefing Book 2010"
- ↑ Stateline.org, "Where to count prisoners poses redistricting dilemma," March 21, 2011
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "2010 Census: Kansas Profile," accessed August 24, 2012
- ↑ USA Today, "Kansas' urban areas grow at expense of rural counties," March 3, 2011
- ↑ The Associated Press, "Summary of judges' order on Kan. Redistricting," June 8, 2012
- ↑ Lawrence Journal World, "Business lobby, aided by $36,000 from Koch Industries, targets eight Republican incumbents in state Senate for defeat," January 10, 2012
- ↑ Wichita Eagle, "Libertarians post candidates for November election," July 1, 2012
