Democrat Kristen Schultz led by 176 votes in unofficial results published Nov. 4 over 14-year Republican incumbent Bill Sutton in Kansas House District 43, according to the Johnson County Election Office.

Schultz received 4,365 votes, or 51%, to Sutton's 4,189 votes, or 49%, the Johnson County Post reported. The totals include votes from other counties in the district. Results remained unofficial as of Wednesday, Nov. 4, with the Johnson County canvassing board scheduled to certify final results on Friday, Nov. 13.

Unofficial results

Candidate

Party

Votes

Pct.

Kristen Schultz

D

4,365

51%

William (Bill) Sutton

R

4,189

49%

Total

8,554

100%

Source: Johnson County Election Office via Johnson County Post, unofficial final results as of Nov. 4. Includes totals from other counties. Results may change as provisional and mail-in ballots are counted.

The district covers parts of Gardner, Edgerton, Olathe and rural portions of Johnson and Douglas counties. No Democrat had held the seat since the mid-1990s, the Kansas City Star reported. Sutton had represented the district since 2012. In 2022, his Democratic opponent lost by 16 points. In 2024, no one challenged him.

The Star reported that Schultz won by two points in a district Donald Trump carried by 23 points in 2024, calling it the sharpest swing toward Democrats of any Johnson County district.

What drove the race

Schultz, a childcare provider and paralegal from Gardner, was elected twice to the Gardner Edgerton school board before resigning partway through her second term. The Star reported she had faced threats and harassment during fights over pandemic-era mask policies.

At voters' doors, Schultz said affordability was the most common concern, according to the Star. Her campaign also pushed tax relief that would not force cuts to services, full funding for public schools, and a citizen initiative process.

Data centers also played a role. A proposed 300-acre data center in Gardner drew fierce opposition earlier this year. More than 30 people spoke against the project at a Gardner City Council meeting, and the city told the developer, Beale Infrastructure, that no incentives would be granted, KCUR reported. The company withdrew its application on May 6.

Broader Johnson County wave

Schultz's win was part of a broader Johnson County wave that flipped 11 state legislative seats and broke the Republican supermajority in the Kansas House. Democrats are expected to hold 25 of the county's 27 House seats. Johnson County posted 62% turnout, its second-highest midterm rate in history, according to the Star.

The Kansas Reflector reported that Democrats flipped as many as 20 House seats statewide. If preliminary counts hold, the Republican advantage would shrink to 68-57, the smallest margin since 1992.

The Johnson County canvassing board is scheduled to certify final results on Friday, Nov. 13.