Normally, primary elections are reserved for either Republicans or Democrats to select their preferred candidates for the November general election.
But this year’s Aug. 4 primary election also carries a question on whether the state should change how its Supreme Court justices are chosen, which means all registered voters — even independents, or off-brand party members will get a chance to have their voices heard.
A “yes” vote amends the state constitution to authorize the direct election of Supreme Court justices and abolish an existing nominating commission.
A “no” vote keeps the current system in place.
KANSAS last amended its constitution in 1958, when Kansas voters overwhelmingly approved a motion to have justices chosen through an independent nominating commission after political shenanigans by higher-ups came to light.
The nine-member commission formulates a list of names for consideration for Supreme Court vacancies by the governor, who has the final say. The commission is made up of appointees by both the governor and Kansas Bar Association and represents every corner of the state and in-between. A majority of the members are appointed by the Bar Association.
Newly appointed judges serve for at least one year before they must stand for retention in the next even-year general election. If retained, the seven justices serve six-year terms, and are subject to retention votes every six years.
Several groups and politicians, including Kansas Attorney General Krisk Kobach and GOP candidate for governor Ty Masterson favor abolishing the current method and going to the elected justices route. The Kansas Republican Party and Americans For Prosperity concur.
“Electing judges will sometimes be messy and yes, involve money and all the other things that go along with elections,” Masterson said in a letter to lawmakers in February. “But, let’s let the people decide if they want the power; if they want to trade an elitist relic for a democratic system where they will hold the reins.”
Among those who have spoken out in favor of keeping the current system are the American Civil Liberties Union, Kansas Appleseed, the Kansas Bar Association, as well as former justices such as Carol Beier.
“The current selection system works well and produces highly qualified justices of whom Kansans consistently approve,” Washburn University of School of Law professor John Francis wrote in the Kansas Reflector. “A 2025 Kansas Speaks survey reports that only 21.1% of Kansans are dissatisfied with the Kansas Supreme Court. Contrary to claims by critics about the current system, Kansas voters do indeed have a voice in who sits on the Supreme Court bench.”
AS FOR the partisan election votes, there is much locally to concern voters.
Allen County Commissioner Jerry Daniels, a Republican, is unopposed in his re-election bid, but there are several state races that will take shape from the Aug. 2 vote.
Sen. Roger Marshall will face Pond Naramore of Lawrence to seek the GOP nomination, while Democrats will sort through 11 hopefuls on their side of the ballot.
Ty Masterson is one of seven Republicans running to replace the term-limited Laura Kelly as Kansas governor. Others include Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, Secretary of State Scott Schwab and Charlotte O’Hara, Nick Reinecker, Stacy Rogers and Phillip Sarnecki.
Three Democrats, Cindy Holscher, Ethan Corson and Curt Skoog are seeking their party’s nomination.
