Abortion amendment isn’t the only thing on Saline County's primary ballot. Here’s what to know
The 2022 primary election is underway with early voting already happening and polls closing Tuesday night. Here's a look at who, and what, is on the ballot in Saline County.
While the Kansas Constitutional Amendment question has seemingly dominated much of the talk for this primary season, there are plenty of other races that impact Saline County.
Plenty of statewide offices in Kansas this year are full of contested races in both the Democratic and Republican primaries, with several people vying for positions at the state and federal level.
Locally, there are also several contested races for positions representing parts of Saline County, with one County Commission race, one State Board of Education race and two different Kansas House of Representatives up for grabs.
United States Senate and House Races 2022 primary election races
For the U.S. Senate position that is up for grabs this year, incumbent Jerry Moran faces a single challenger for the Republican nomination, Joan Farr, who is also running for the U.S. Senate seat in Oklahoma.
There are also six people in the Senate primary race that are hoping to win the right to face Moran or Farr in the November general election, with Mike Andra, Paul Buskirk, Mark R. Holland, Robert Klingenberg, Michael Soetaert and Patrick Wiesner all running on the ballot for the Democrats.
Kansas' 1st Congressional District race will most likely head to the general election with the Republican and Democratic candidates already known, as both parties have only one candidate running in their respective primaries.
Barring a surprise, incumbent Salinan Tracey Mann, the sole Republican, is set to face James "Jimmy" Beard, the sole Democrat, in November.
Kansas 2022 primary election races
For the seat of Kansas Governor and Lieutenant Governor, both the Democrats and Republicans will have two choices each on Tuesday's primary.
For the Democrats, incumbent Laura Kelly, running alongside Lieutenant Governor candidate David Toland, is facing a challenge from someone within her own party as Richard Karnowski, who has chosen Barry Franco as his running mate, is also vying for the party's nomination for the office.
The Republicans also have two choices, with the Arlyn Briggs-Lance Berland ticket up against Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and his running mate Katie Sawyer.
With Schmidt deciding to try his hand at running for governor, the state is guaranteed to see a new attorney general.
The Republicans have three choices in the primary, with former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, State Sen. Kellie Warren and Tony Mattivi all running for the party's nomination.
The GOP's selection should face the sole Democrat in the race, Chris Mann, in the November general election.
Current Kansas Secretary of State and incumbent Scott Schwab faces a challenge in his Republican primary from Mike Brown.
Jeanna Repass is the lone Democrat in the race and should face the winner between Schwab and Brown.
Incumbent state treasurer and Democrat Lynn Rogers, the former Lieutenant Governor who stepped into the position after Jake TaTurner was elected to Kansas' 2nd U.S. House seat, will face the winner of the Republican primary between two current state legislators, Steven Johnson of the 108th State House District and Caryn Tyson, who represents the 12th State Senate District.
Finally, for the Kansas Commissioner of Insurance, incumbent Vicki Schmidt, a Republican, will face Democrat Kiel Corkran in the November general election, with both being the only candidates for their parties' primaries.
More: Kansas State Board of Education will see three primary races, all between Republicans
Local Saline County, Kansas 2022 primary election races
With two-year terms, all three of the Kansas state house districts that represent part of Saline County have elections this year. Republican Steven Howe, the incumbent for the 71st District, appears to be a lock to keep his seat, as he faces no challengers in the Republican primary election and no Democrats entered into the race.
In the 69th District, incumbent Clarke Sanders faces no one in his Republican primary and will face the winner of the Democratic primary, either Molly Molina or Sarah Crews.
Finally, incumbent Susan Concannon faces a primary challenge in the Republican race for the 107th District in Gerald Johnson.
The Kansas State Board of Education 7th District has two Republicans running in the primary, with incumbent Ben Jones facing Dennis Hershberger for the seat. There are no Democrats running.
Saline County Commissioner's races
The Saline County Commission has three of its five seats up this year, however two of those are likely to not change, with Monte Shadwick of District 1 and James Weese of District 4 both running unopposed in the Republican primary, and no Democrats running.
The commissioner for District 5 is also set to be known during the Aug. 2 primary as there are three Republicans all running for the seat. Incumbent Mike White faces challenges from former Salina City Commissioner Joe Hay and former State Senator Randall Hardy. As with the Districts 1 and 4, there are no Democrats running in this race either.
Voting in August 2022 primary election is happening now
Registered voters affiliated with any party or no party are able to vote in this primary.
Advance voting is already open with the Saline County Elections Office open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to noon on Monday in room 215 of the City-County Building, 300 W. Ash St.
Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day, Tuesday. Voters who wish to locate their polling place can visit myvoteinfo.voteks.org/VoterView and input the addresses they are registered under.
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Saline County sees plenty of contested races in 2022 primary election
