Kansas

Bitter Democratic primary narrows options in newly crafted Kansas Senate district • Kansas Reflector

Published

1 year ago

August 10, 2024

Bitter Democratic primary narrows options in newly crafted Kansas Senate district • Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — Democrat Patrick Schmidt brought old-fashioned door-to-door campaigning to east Topeka on a sizzling day ahead of the primary election, but the 97-degree temperature was eclipsed by scorched-earth opinions of some voters who stepped onto the porch to talk about the Kansas Senate primary.

Schmidt, who walked a neighborhood east of the Capitol wearing a long sleeved U.S. Navy shirt, reminded folks he was running in the newly formed District 19. He moved through those streets knowing Gov. Laura Kelly’s Middle of the Road PAC had his back. Schmidt’s chief rival was Kansas House Minority Leader Vic Miller, who had spent decades in public life in state and county government and as a Topeka municipal judge.

“Is there anything I could do for you?” Schmidt asked repeatedly. “Can I count on your vote?”

Most declined to share their personal political agenda. There were offers of verbal support for Schmidt. A registered Libertarian wished him well. Others weren’t certain they’d take part in the Aug. 6 primary election. Several who answered their door along Lime and Lake streets said they were exasperated by Miller’s style of politics and ready to see the names of a new generation of Democratic candidates on the ballot.

“We voted for you, dude,” an elderly man told Schmidt.

It was anecdotal evidence the Senate campaign wasn’t shaping up to be a cake walk for Miller, who possessed the most significant name recognition and the deepest reservoir of policy decisions to pick apart.

The Kelly nudge

On Tuesday, registered Democrats put an end to speculation. Schmidt carried 53% of the vote, drawing support of 2,554 Democrats. Miller trailed with 1,638 votes or 34% of the total. In third place was Topeka community activist ShaMecha King Simms, who captured 601 votes or 13%.

“I was just really humbled and grateful for the trust and support of everyone I met,” said Schmidt, who gained financial and voter traction through Kelly’s endorsement. “I knew Laura Kelly is highly respected and accomplished in this district.”

During the campaign, Miller told voters the gap between himself and the governor wasn’t wide. He said he would “be there to help Governor Kelly deliver a safe, secure and fiscally sound Kansas, lower residential property taxes and bring an expanded Medicaid program to 150,000 uninsured Kansans.”

In May, Miller created controversy at a candidate forum by telling Simms, who is Black, she ought to run for office “another day, another place.” The governor’s Middle of the Road PAC denounced Miller for supporting a Republican bill that would have created a single-rate, flat income tax in Kansas that was opposed by Kelly.

Schmidt, an officer in the Navy Reserve, said the 19 percentage point margin between himself and Miller in the primary was somewhat of a surprise.

“It’s hard to read the label from inside the bottle,” Schmidt said. “I kind of thought we were somewhere around that just by what I heard knocking at the doors.”

Schmidt, who was born in Johnson County and moved to Topeka, lost a campaign for the U.S. House by 35,000 votes against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner in 2022. Schmidt filed for the state Senate race in late 2023.

The new Senate district up for grabs extends from central Topeka to northern Lawrence. It includes a swath of rural Shawnee and Douglas counties that takes in the cities of Lecompton and Tecumseh and parts of Kanwaka, Wakarusa and Soldier townships. Overall, the district leans Democrat.

‘Refuse to talk bad’

In the November general election, Schmidt will face Republican Party nominee Tyler Wible, a Topekan who defeated moderate Cynthia Smith in the primary by a comfortable 61% to 39% margin.

Wible said he was a constitutional conservative concerned about erosion of individual rights. He said he brought to the Senate campaign an appreciation for the region in which he attended school, faced poverty, bought his first home and built a construction business.

He said voters there lacked representation from someone committed to lowering taxes and minimizing the size of state government.

“We’ve got to keep government out of private industry,” Wible said. “The bigger that government is, the more interference with our rights.”

Wible said he wasn’t familiar with Schmidt’s positions on key issues, but had no interest in taking part in the style of campaigning illustrated by Miller and Schmidt.

“I refuse to talk bad about anybody,” Wible said, noting Schmidt could come after him during the fall campaign. “I’m ready for it. I’m not going to lose myself to run for politics.”

Miller and Schmidt engaged in back-and-forth assaults with a series of mailers sent to potential Democratic voters. Schmidt included on the postcards a mugshot of Miller’s 2019 DUI booking, while Miller placed an image of Schmidt’s face on the body of a woman spinning yarn on a wooden spindle.

A central element of their conflict was Miller’s vote for a 2017 bill that expanded state regulation of abortion clinics. The law was struck down by the Kansas Supreme Court. Schmidt referred to Miller’s vote as a “betrayal” of women and a vote that helped “extremist Republicans.”

In response, Miller sent out a colorful postcard that claimed “Schmidt and his dark money special interests are working overtime to spin yarn about Vic Miller.” Miller, who didn’t respond to a request for post-election comment, said in his mailers that he voted 16 times in support of abortion rights and reproductive freedom during the past two legislative sessions.

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Related Topics:Featured Kansas Senate Rep. Vic Miller

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Kansas

Kansas powers through Davidson, securing 10th win of season

Published

15 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Kansas powers through Davidson, securing 10th win of season

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Tre White and Flory Bidunga each had 18 points and eight rebounds as No. 17 Kansas used balanced scoring to beat Davidson 90-61 on Monday night.

Six players finished in double figures for the Jayhawks (10-3), including all five starters. Bryson Tiller added 11 points and Jamari McDowell scored 10. Melvin Council Jr. had 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

Kohl Rosario provided 13 points off the bench as Kansas shot 58% from the field, including 11 for 21 (52%) on 3-pointers. The Jayhawks had 27 assists on 37 baskets and outrebounded Davidson 42-31. White nabbed four of the team’s 13 steals.

Roberts Blums was the only player in double figures for the Wildcats (8-4) with 13 points off the bench. Davidson was limited to 36% shooting from the floor and went 2 for 6 at the free-throw line.

Kansas played its second consecutive game without Darryn Peterson. The freshman star, who missed seven straight games earlier this season due to injury, is averaging 25 points in four games.

But the Jayhawks barely missed him.

Kansas led by 19 before Davidson went on a 10-2 run to trim it to 36-25. The Wildcats hit six straight shots during one stretch, though they never cut the deficit to single digits. When White hit his fourth 3 of the first half, the lead was back up to 46-26.

Kansas went to the locker room with a 51-30 cushion. The Jayhawks were led by White’s 16 points. Bidunga and Council each had 10.

The second half didn’t start much better for Davidson, as the Wildcats were outscored 7-2 in the first 2:51, leading coach Matt McKillup to exhaust his timeouts with 17:09 left.

Kansas wasted no time distancing itself from the overmatched Wildcats. When Bidunga threw down an alley-oop dunk with 13:03 left in the opening half, the Jayhawks already had stretched the lead to 17-6. Davidson didn’t reach double figures until 10:36 remained in the first half.

Up next

Davidson hosts Duquesne on Dec. 30.

Kansas is off until starting Big 12 play Jan. 3 at UCF.

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Kansas

Chiefs expected to announce stadium move from Missouri to Kansas

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Chiefs expected to announce stadium move from Missouri to Kansas

The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to receive approval to build a new stadium in Kansas.
The new stadium will be located in Wyandotte County and is projected to be ready for the 2031 season.
Plans for the new venue include a roof to allow for year-round events like the Super Bowl or Final Four.

The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to receive the green light to build a new stadium in Kansas, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports, with the official announcement expected later Dec. 22 following a meeting of a key legislative committee.

The person was granted anonymity because the news was not yet official.

The eight-person Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) will vote later Dec. 22, with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly teasing a “special announcement” for Dec. 22 as well.

The Chiefs have been negotiating with both the governments of Missouri and Kansas regarding their future home. Kansas City has played its home games at Arrowhead Stadium, located on the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri, since 1972.

The exact location of the new stadium is unknown but the land will be in Wyandotte County, not far from the Kansas Speedway and where Major League Soccer’s Sporting KC is headquartered. The new stadium will be ready for the 2031 season since the team’s current lease at Arrowhead Stadium expires after 2030.

The venue will have a roof to make it a year-round hosting site, with designs on the stadium hosting the biggest events in sports, such as the Final Four or Super Bowl.

According to the Kansas City Star, the state will provide up to 70% of the funding for the stadium. The projected total price tag of the project is $3 billion.

The Chiefs are also moving their training facility to Olathe, Kansas – another suburb of Kansas City. That project does not currently have a timeline.

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Kansas

Kansas Lottery Pick 3, 2 By 2 winning numbers for Dec. 21, 2025

Published

2 days ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 21, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Midday: 3-5-4

Evening: 8-2-2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Red Balls: 06-20, White Balls: 08-25

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

11-24-27-38-46, Lucky Ball: 15

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Kansas Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at select Kansas Lottery offices.

By mail, send a winner claim form and your signed lottery ticket to:

Kansas Lottery Headquarters

128 N Kansas Avenue

Topeka, KS 66603-3638

(785) 296-5700

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a claim form, and deliver the form along with your signed lottery ticket to Kansas Lottery headquarters. 128 N Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603-3638, (785) 296-5700. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Kansas Lottery.

When are the Kansas Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3 Midday/Evening: 1:10 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. CT daily.
2 By 2: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Super Kansas Cash: 9:10 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Kansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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