See who won in Wyandotte County primary election for KCK mayor, BPU, UG & more
Wyandotte County residents on Tuesday evening decided which candidates in a string of local races will continue on to the November general election.
A total of 11,663 people cast ballots in Tuesday’s primary election, accounting for about 12% of the county’s 92,606 registered voters, according to unofficial election results published by the Wyandotte County Election Office.
Come this fall, the county will be tasked with choosing who will lead the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas as mayor/CEO, who will be the next county sheriff, and who will fill about half of the county commission, and roles in several other city, school district, drainage and public utilities boards and councils.
With Mayor Tyrone Garner’s impending exit from office and the likelihood of a changeup on the Unified Government’s commission, Wyandotte County politics may look notably different in 2026 — especially as the county faces infrastructure and financial challenges, is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is seeing an uptick in federal immigration enforcement.
Read more to find out who’s up for consideration to hold public office come the general election, and who was ousted from the running.
Who’s still in the running?
Rose Mulvany Henry and Christal Watson, who led the pool of mayoral candidates, will face off in November for outgoing Mayor Tyrone Garner’s seat. Garner, first elected in 2021, announced late last year that he would not be seeking an additional four-year term. They beat Tom Burroughs, Mark Gilstrap, Gwendolyn Thomas and Janice Witt.
Daniel Soptic and Celisha Towers defeated David Kearney in the race for county sheriff. Soptic, elected in 2021, is seeking a second term as sheriff.
Lisa Walker-Yeager and Gary Bradley Lopez beat Alex Sanchez and Michael N. Paulson in the race for the at-large District 1 seat on the Board of Public Utilities.
Andrew Kump and Philip Lopez won against competitors Kalla McLaughlin, Luis “Captain Lou” Madrigal and Jordan Michael Tiner Mackey in the Unified Government’s at-large District 2 race. Whoever wins the seat in November would replace Tom Burroughs in the role. Burroughs filed to run for mayor.
Jermaine Howard and Lisa Walker-Yeager won against Victor A. Harris, Korri Hall and Darnell Busch in the race for the Unified Government board’s District 1 seat currently held by Gayle Townshend.
Carlos Pacheco III and LaVert A. Murray beat Alma D. Hall in the race for the Unified Government District 5 seat held by Mike Kane.
Andrew Davis and Jacob Handy beat Nanette Tucker and Madella Henderson in the race for Davis’s District 8 seat on the Unified Government’s commission.
How many votes did everyone get?
Mayor
Rose Mulvany Henry, 3,619
Christal Watson, 3,031
Tom Burroughs, 2,910
Mark Gilstrap, 833
Gwendolyn S. Thomas, 691
Janice Witt, 495
Sheriff
Daniel Soptic, 6,451
Celisha Towers, 2,473
David Kearney, 2,364
BPU At-Large District 1
Lisa Walker-Yeager, 3,841
Gary Bradley-Lopez, 2,336
Alex Sanchez, 1,868
Michael N. Paulson, 1,788
Unified Government At-Large District 2
Andrew Kump, 1,354
Philip Lopez, 1,136
Kalla McLaughlin, 849
Luis “Captain Lou” Madrigal, 501
Jordan Michael Tiner Mackey, 203
Unified Government District 1
Jermaine Howard, 462
Lisa Walker-Yeager, 301
Victor A. Harris, 248
Korri Hall, 226
Darnell Busch, 76
Unified Government District 5
Carlos Pacheco III, 1,930
LaVert Murray, 762
Alma D. Hall, 726
Unified Government District 8
Andrew Davis, 616
Jacob Handy, 393
Nanette Tucker, 343
Madella Henderson,194
This story was originally published August 5, 2025 at 8:57 PM.
