Republicans maintain veto-proof majority in Kansas House as Kelly set begin second term
Republicans have retained a supermajority in the Kansas House, preserving a powerful check against Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly heading into her second term.
The Associated Press has called races in all but two of Kansas’ 125 legislative contests. With those races called, it is certain Republicans will hold two-thirds of the Kansas House, enough votes to override a veto from Kelly.
The two remaining races, both in Johnson County, will determine whether Republicans have any votes to spare in an override fight. Democrat Allison Hougland is leading incumbent Republican Rep. Matt Bingesser by 87 votes in 15th House District in Olathe. Republican Rep. Carl Turner is leading Democratic challenger Ace Allen by 71 votes in the 28th House District in Leawood.
Johnson County is scheduled to finalize its results Thursday. The Johnson County Board of Canvassers voted Wednesday to count an additional 2,970 provisional ballots and partially count an additional 934 ballots where voters either went to the wrong polling location or were provided the wrong ballot.
It’s unclear how many of these ballots will apply to the uncalled legislative races. If both races hold, Republicans will have 85 seats in the House. 84 votes are needed to override a veto.
Kansas Senate district were not up for election this year. That chamber has 28 Republicans, 11 Democrats and 1 independent. In the state Senate, 27 votes are required to override a veto.
Republicans leaned on their supermajorities to push conservative policies forward over Kelly’s objections during the governor’s first term.
In recent years, Republicans have used veto overrides to secure new tax cuts, lower age limits for concealed carry of firearms and pass a congressional map splitting Wyandotte County along Interstate 70.
Heading into the next legislative session, Republicans have indicated plans to, once again, pursue legislation banning transgender athletes form girls sports and establishing a parents bill of rights. Kelly vetoed both bills this year and the Legislature did not have the votes to overturn her. However, some of the House Republicans who voted to uphold Kelly’s vetoes retired this year or lost in primaries to more conservative candidates.
Kansas House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican who is likely to become House speaker next year, said he anticipates few changes in the dynamics between the governor and Legislature.
“We have been in a situation where we’ve had an opposing governor for four years, we’ve got her for four more years,” Hawkins said. “I suspect the governor will do lots of vetoes and I suspect we’ll try to override every one that we can possibly override.”
On the other side of the aisle, Kansas House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat, said he was encouraged that Democrats had picked up an additional seat.
He said tight margins in other races would help encourage Republicans to vote with Democrats and sustain vetoes.“If you’re a Johnson County incumbent you’ve got to be really careful on some of those votes,” he said. “Johnson County currently is going the other way, it’s moving blue.”
The Legislature also needs a two-thirds majority to advance any constitutional amendments to the ballot. Republicans could try again to place an amendment removing abortion rights from the constitution on the ballot.
Kansas Attorney General-elect Kris Kobach and Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, have also expressed interest in an amendment to change how Kansas Supreme Court justices are appointed. Under the current system, a panel of attorneys and non-attorneys review applications and present three options to the governor to select a nominee.
The Star’s Jonathan Shorman contributed to this report.
This story was originally published November 16, 2022 at 10:11 AM.
