Two Kansas House races in Johnson County will undergo hand-count audits after finishing within 1% margins on election night.
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab announced six "close-race" audits on Wednesday, Nov. 4, a day after Tuesday's midterm elections, the Johnson County Post reported. All six races fell within 1% of the total vote after the Nov. 3 unofficial count, triggering a state law requiring the additional review.
The closest local contest is House District 27, which covers parts of southern Leawood and Overland Park. There, Democrat Sara Kiewiet leads Republican Rep. Sean Tarwater by just 42 votes after an updated count Wednesday, according to the Post. Tarwater was first elected to the seat in 2016.
Kiewiet said in a statement to the Post that she was "cautiously optimistic" about maintaining her lead, even as mail-in and provisional ballots are still being counted.
"Regardless of the final outcome, I am SO proud of District 27," Kiewiet said. "Johnson County turnout was 62%. Our district turnout was 69.5%."
The Post reported that Tarwater had not responded to a request for comment at the time of its publication. Tarwater chaired the House Commerce Committee and presented the Kansas Sports Facilities Authority Act on the House floor earlier this year, according to the Kansas Reflector. That legislation would establish a board to oversee the stadium project.
The second Johnson County race under audit is House District 117, split between Johnson and Douglas counties and covering parts of De Soto, Lenexa, Olathe and Shawnee. Democrat Brandon Holland leads Republican Rep. Adam Turk by 134 votes there, 6,601 to 6,467, according to the Post, citing the Secretary of State's office.
What the audit involves
Under Kansas statute 25-3009, any federal, statewide or state legislative race within 1% after election night triggers a close-race audit. County election officials hand-count ballots in 10% of the precincts in each affected county, with a minimum of one precinct per county. That is on top of the routine post-election audit covering 1% of precincts.
Workers compare those hand counts against the results from voting tabulators to verify the totals match, according to the Post. If a discrepancy surfaces and cannot be resolved, the county election officer or the secretary of state may order audits of additional precincts, the statute says.
The six races subject to audit are governor, secretary of state, attorney general, Kansas House District 27, Kansas House District 40 and Kansas House District 117.
Governor's race also in the mix
As we reported Wednesday, Nov. 4, Cindy Holscher, the Democratic nominee for governor from Overland Park, declared victory that morning. After updated counts, Holscher led Republican Ty Masterson by 6,449 votes, still within 1%, according to the Post.
The Associated Press had not officially called the governor's race as of the Post's publication. Gov. Laura Kelly congratulated "governor-elect" Holscher, noting it would be the first time in Kansas history that a Democrat succeeds a Democrat as governor, the Post reported.
Masterson said in a statement that the first count did not appear to be going his way but that the margin was narrow enough for Kansas law to require another look. He said he would let that process finish, adding that every Kansan deserves to know the result is right.
These results remain unofficial. The Secretary of State's office notes that provisional ballots will be counted during the county canvass no later than Nov. 16. The State Board of Canvassers is scheduled to certify the general election results on Dec. 1.
