Politics

Democrats in the Legislature say they are in a good position to pick up some seats in the fall election.

In this week’s primary elections, conservative Republicans beat more moderate candidates in many races.

Democrats say that could affect their chances in the fall election.

Marc Bennett won the Republican primary for Sedgwick County district attorney over Kevin O’Connor.  There was no Democratic candidate.

Karl Peterjohn kept his seat on the Sedgwick County Commission winning over Wichita City Council member Jeff Longwell.

Jeff Easter defeated incumbent Bob Hinshaw in the Republican primary for Sedgwick County sheriff.

The primary election is Tuesday and for the second time in Sedgwick County history, photo identification will be required.

This primary election is the second time voters will need to show their ID when they go to the polls in Sedgwick county.

It also also carries more weight than most.

A number of races will likely be decided tomorrow, including the race for Sedgwick County District Attorney, Sedgwick county Sheriff, state Board of Education in district 8, Sedgwick county commissioner in district 3 and 5 of the 6 open seats in the 18th judicial district.

Secretary of State Kris Kobach is predicting 18 percent of registered voters will cast a ballot in the Kansas primary elections next week. Kobach says he doesn’t believe the hotly contested races for the state Legislature will spur much voter participation.

“Historically, while those races sometimes become very fierce and very heavily contested with money spent,” says Kobach.

“They don’t necessarily drive people to the polls like a hotly contested race higher on the ballot might do.”