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Judicial Elections
Kansas Supreme Court Elections 2026
Kansas Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission, then face voters in yes/no retention elections every 6 years. 2 seats are on the November 3 ballot.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · candidates as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in Kansas?
- Highest court
- Kansas Supreme Court — 7 justices
- How chosen
- Commission + appointment
- Voters
- Voters decide retention
- Term
- 6 years (shorter first term)
- To serve again
- Yes/no retention vote
- 2026 ballot
- 2 seats on November 3 — 2 retention
How Kansas chooses its judges
Kansas Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission, then face voters in yes/no retention elections every 6 years.
- Seats: 7 justices on the Kansas Supreme Court.
- Term: 6 years, after at least one year before the first retention vote.
- To serve again: Yes/no retention vote.
- Age rule: Must be 75 or younger; a justice who turns 75 may finish the term.
- Other courts: Court of Appeals judges are appointed directly by the governor; district judges are appointed or elected in partisan races depending on the district.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Kansas Supreme Court elections in 2026
2 seats are up in 2026 (retention votes).
Retention vote
Retention vote- Larkin WalshIncumbent
Voters answer yes or no on keeping this justice. There is no opponent.
Retention vote
Retention vote- Eric RosenIncumbent
Voters answer yes or no on keeping this justice. There is no opponent.
Candidates as of October 15, 2026 from Ballotpedia. Results for November races are added once certified. Party labels are not shown because they do not appear on the ballot.
How to research judges on your Kansas ballot
- Your sample ballot: Kansas’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
- Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in Kansas — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
- Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.
Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.
Federal judges in Kansas
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. Kansas’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Kansas’s senators: Jerry Moran (Republican) and Roger Marshall (Republican).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
Anthony J. Powell
District Judge for the District of Kansas · Jun 10, 2026 · Moran: Yea, Marshall: Yea
Anthony W. Mattivi
District Judge for the District of Kansas · Jun 9, 2026 · Moran: Yea, Marshall: Yea
Jeffrey M. Kuhlman
District Judge for the District of Kansas · Jun 2, 2026 · Moran: Yea, Marshall: Yea
District judges for courts in Kansas and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
The U.S. Courts list no vacant district judgeship in Kansas as of October 15, 2026.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in Kansas?
Kansas Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission, then face voters in yes/no retention elections every 6 years. Court of Appeals judges are appointed directly by the governor; district judges are appointed or elected in partisan races depending on the district.
How long is a term on the Kansas Supreme Court?
6 years, after at least one year before the first retention vote. At the end of a term, they face yes/no retention votes to stay on the court. Must be 75 or younger; a justice who turns 75 may finish the term.
Who is running for the Kansas Supreme Court in 2026?
2 seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Retention: Larkin Walsh, incumbent. Retention: Eric Rosen, incumbent.
How do I research judges on my Kansas ballot?
Your sample ballot from https://sos.ks.gov/elections/voter-information.html lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.
Who appoints federal judges in Kansas?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. Kansas's senators, Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state. The Senate confirmed 3 judges tied to Kansas by recorded vote in 2026.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in Kansas
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
Kansas Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.