12.9.24 – The Sentinel – Vic Miller (D-Topeka).
Leadership elections for the next Kansas Legislature are complete, with Republicans growing their supermajority.
There were few surprises with top leaders from both parties in both houses remaining largely unchanged, the Topeka Capital-Journal reports.
Sen. Ty Masterson, (R-Andover), will remain senate president, and Rep Dan Hawkins, (R-Wichita), will retain his seat as Speaker of the House as well.
On the Democrat side, Sen. Dina Sykes, (D-Lenexa) was reelected and Rep. Brandon Woodard, (D-Lenexa), was elected to replace outgoing Rep. Vic Miller (D-Topeka).
Other Kansas Senate Republican Leadership
- Senate vice president — Sen. Tim Shallenburger (R-Baxter Springs), replaces Sen. Rick Wilborn (R-McPherson).
- Senate majority leader — Sen. Chase Blasi (R-Wichita), replaces Sen. Larry Alley (R-Winfield).
- Sen. Caryn Tyson (R-Parker) will be the Senate assistant majority leader, replacing Sen. Rene Erickson (R-Wichita).
- Senate majority whip — Sen. Rick Kloos (R-Berryton), was reelected.
Other Kansas Senate Democrat Leadership
- Senate assistant minority leader — Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, (D-Wichita), was reelected.
- Senate minority whip — Sen. Cindy Holscher (D-Overland Park), replaces Sen. Pat Pettey (D-Kansas City).
- Senate agenda chair — Sen. Marci Francisco (D-Lawrence), was reelected.
- Sen. Ethan Corson (D-Fairway) will replace outgoing Sen. Jeff Pittman (D-Leavenworth) as Senate caucus chair.
Other Kansas House Republican Leadership
- Speaker pro tem — Rep. Blake Carpenter (R-Derby), was reelected.
- House majority leader — Rep. Chris Croft (R-Overland Park), was reelected.
- House assistant majority leader — Rep. Kyle Hoffman (R-Coldwater), replaces the late Rep. Les Mason (R-McPherson).
- House majority whip — Rep. Nick Hoheisel (R-Wichita), replaces Rep. Susan Estes (R-Wichita).
- House majority caucus chair — Rep. Kristey Williams (R-Augusta), was reelected.
Other Kansas House Democrat Leadership
- House assistant minority leader — Rep. Mike Amyx (D-Lawrence), replaces Rep. Valdenia Winn (D-Kansas City).
- House minority whip — Rep. Jo Ella Hoye, (D-Lenexa), replaces Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, (D-Overland Park).
- House minority caucus chair — Rep. Barbara Ballard (D-Lawrence), was reelected.
- House minority agenda chair — Rep. Jerry Stogsdill, (D-Prairie Village), was reelected.
- House minority policy chair — Rep. Dan Osman (D-Overland Park), replaces outgoing Rep. Christina Haswood (D-Lawrence).
Republicans currently hold 31 of 40 Kansas Senate seats and 88 of 125 seats in the Kansas House of Representatives.
The supermajorities in both houses mean Republicans can — theoretically at least — pass legislation without regard to threats of a gubernatorial veto from Kansas Democrat Governor Laura Kelly.