Kansas Rep. Mark Samsel sought forgiveness after arrest but GOP foe easily defeats him

After a controversial term including his arrest last year, Kansas Rep. Mark Samsel lost his Republican primary on Tuesday to conservative challenger Carrie Barth, according to unofficial election results.

The Associated Press called the race for Barth at 10:37 p.m. With all precincts reporting, she led with 63%, or 2,769 votes, while Samsel, a moderate incumbent, received 37%, or 1,599 votes. The Republican primary winner is poised to win the 5th House District, as there is no Democrat running for the seat.

The district covers parts of Douglas, Franklin, Johnson and Miami counties.

Samsel has been working to rebuild trust in his district, asking constituents for forgiveness as he has navigated a mental health crisis. Last year, he was arrested after a day of substitute teaching in Wellsville, where he kicked a student in the groin and was recorded on video ranting to high schoolers about God, suicide and lesbianism.

The Wellsville superintendent said afterward that Samsel would no longer be allowed to work for the district.

Samsel was charged with three counts of misdemeanor battery. But a judge reduced the charges to disorderly conduct and gave him a 90-day suspended jail sentence following a plea agreement. Samsel was put on probation for a year, told he can’t use personal social media, was required to apologize and must follow mental health treatment recommendations and take any prescribed medications.

Samsel said he has since been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and learned he was going through a manic episode at the time. He said that everything he did last year was “unintentional,” and that he has since gotten the treatment he needs. He has been open about his personal struggles and has been a strong advocate for increased mental health resources.

Samsel has been more willing to buck party leadership than others. He supports Medicaid expansion, an issue staunchly opposed by Republican leadership, and was among the Republican “no” votes on a bill banning transgender athletes from girls sports.

While the lawmaker earned the support of some prominent groups, such as some public education advocates, voters remained divided on whether they could move past his arrest, with some saying they refused to support him after he injured a student.

Barth, a conservative who says she is a business leader with two decades of experience in human resources technology, benefits and health care, raised nearly $11,000 in the campaign — nearly double what Samsel raised.

She has received broad support from voters in the district, where her family has deep roots, as well as from the Kansas Farm Bureau. She recently said on Facebook that she spoke at an event held by Kansans for Health Freedom, a prominent anti-vaccination group.

Kansas Family Voice, which calls itself a “Christ-centered organization” and advocates for anti-abortion policies and similar issues, endorsed Barth, partly because she supports prohibiting transgender athletes from playing girls sports.

Unlike Samsel, Barth supports expanding school choice and expanding parents’ ability to use state dollars on private or home schooling. She has argued that students suffered as schools went to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and that parents should have more control.

She also opposes Medicaid expansion, according to a candidate voter guide.

Polls closed at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, but Kansas law allows mail ballots postmarked on Election Day to be counted through Friday. Provisional ballots will be reviewed and counted at the canvass for the election, where final results will be certified.

Includes reporting by The Star’s Katie Bernard.

This story was originally published August 2, 2022 at 10:55 PM.

Sarah Ritter

The Kansas City Star

Sarah Ritter was a watchdog reporter for The Kansas City Star, covering K-12 schools and local government in the Johnson County, Kansas suburbs since 2019.