Overland Park Democrat Stephanie Sawyer Clayton is seeking reelection to Kansas House of Representatives District 19 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

She faces Republican Mark Hermes.

Clayton has held the District 19 seat since 2013, according to BallotReady.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Residence: Overland Park
  • Education: Bachelor's in history, Emporia State University, 2000
  • Occupation: Social media consultant

Clayton said on her campaign website that she was raised in Johnson County and chose to live, work and raise her family in Overland Park.

Experience and public service

In the current legislative session, Clayton serves as ranking minority member of the Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee and vice chair of the Rules and Journal Committee, according to her Kansas Legislature profile.

Before entering the Legislature, Clayton worked as a historic site manager for Johnson County from 2002 to 2011 and served as a campaign manager for Shawnee City Council candidates in 2012, according to her BallotReady profile.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Clayton's campaign website and candidate questionnaire responses compiled by BallotReady. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.

Taxes and budget: Clayton said she supports a balanced tax plan and backs what she calls a "three-legged-stool" philosophy that spreads the burden across income, property and sales taxes. She said she fought for and successfully reduced the sales tax on groceries. She also said she supports suspending the gas tax and eliminating sales tax on personal hygiene products.

Education: Clayton said she has voted in favor of all measures that would restore school funding. She described schools as essential to families and to the economic health of the community.

Government transparency: Clayton said she first proposed live-streaming Kansas legislative committee proceedings in 2013 and that the Legislature now offers it. She said she continues to advocate for eliminating anonymous legislation and recording all legislative votes.

Reproductive rights: Clayton said she has advocated for access to birth control and that private health decisions are best made by families and their doctors, not the government.

Economy and energy: Clayton said the fiscal future of Kansas depends on Johnson County's economic engine. She said clean energy solutions benefit quality of life in Johnson County and lead to increased efficiency and job creation.

Endorsements

The following endorsements are reported by BallotReady:

  • Kansas Farm Bureau's VOTE FBF
  • AFL-CIO
  • AFT Kansas
  • Mainstream Coalition (MainPAC)
  • Kansas National Education Association
  • MainPAC 100%

Candidate responses were collected from Clayton's campaign website and BallotReady questionnaire data. The Overland Park Chronicle did not interview the candidate for this profile. This article is part of our 2026 election coverage and does not constitute an endorsement.