Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Thomas Palenske is running as a Republican for Kansas House District 121 in the Nov. 3 general election. Palenske has never held elected office.
In a candidate questionnaire, Palenske said the late John Resman asked him to run for the seat shortly before Resman's death. "John Resman ask me to run for his seat the week before he went home to heaven," Palenske wrote. "I felt like under those circumstances I could not say no."
Palenske won the Republican primary in August, according to the Johnson County Post. He faces Democrat Kelsey Stock in November.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Office sought: Kansas House of Representatives, District 121
- Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
- Previous elected or appointed office: None
- Occupation: Special Operations helicopter pilot and retired Air Force general officer
- Current role: Senior adviser to the board of directors, WaveAerospace (2025–present)
- Education: Bachelor's in human resources management, Friends University (1995); master's in international relations, Troy University (1997); MBA, George Washington University (2002); master's in strategy, U.S. Air Force War College (2014)
- Family: Wife Jeryn Palenske; three children and six grandchildren
- Endorsements: Liz Resman; Kansas Farm Bureau VOTE FBF
Experience and public service
Palenske served in the military for decades, beginning as a helicopter crew chief and instructor pilot with the Kansas Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment from 1986 to 1995, according to his U.S. Air Force biography. He commanded the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida, from 2016 to 2018 and later served as senior military assistant to the acting secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon.
He was promoted to brigadier general on July 3, 2020. His later assignments included director of special warfare at Air Force headquarters, deputy commanding general of a special operations task force in Baghdad, and assistant vice commander at U.S. Special Operations Command.
His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with "V" device, Bronze Star Medal and Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters.
Asked what qualifies him for the job, Palenske pointed to his command experience. "Commanded two Air Force bases and their associated Wings," he wrote in the questionnaire.
On the issues
Property taxes: Palenske said he supports limiting annual increases in taxable assessed valuations to protect homeowners from large, unpredictable tax hikes. He said growth should help pay for growth, arguing that new development expands the tax base and local governments should prioritize essential services and control spending before asking existing homeowners for more.
School choice and education funding: Palenske said he supports giving parents more choices, including tax-credit programs for private education, but said school choice should not come at the expense of public school funding. He said Kansas should meet its statutory commitment to fund 92% of special education excess costs so districts do not have to divert general classroom dollars.
Health care: Palenske said health care is too expensive for many Kansas families and called for greater competition, price transparency and lower prescription drug costs. He said he does not support expanding traditional Medicaid without addressing underlying costs. He said he favors targeted solutions that protect vulnerable Kansans and expand access to affordable private coverage.
Government reform: Palenske's campaign website lists support for term limits and a check on career politicians in Topeka.
Public safety: Palenske said on his campaign website that he would stand with law enforcement to fight crime and illegal immigration.
The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.
