By Adam Stewart
Hutchinson Tribune Staff
HUTCHINSON—Voters in the Hutchinson School District rejected a 12-year, $36 million bond issue that would have built additions to three elementary schools, replaced seven school roofs and updated two schools’ HVAC systems, among other facilities projects, in Tuesday’s election.
The bond proposal lost, 4,769-4,639, according to Tuesday night results from the Reno County Clerk’s Office. The proposal followed a bond proposal to build a new sixth-through-eighth-grade middle school, which voters rejected by a nearly three-to-one margin in November 2025.
The decision comes as the USD 308 Board of Education prepares to select finalists for its superintendent search this month.
Vote totals are unofficial until the election canvass. Reno County will have its canvass at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Reno County Annex conference room, 125 W. First Ave., Hutchinson.
Kansas House of Representatives
In the Kansas House of Representatives race, former Democratic Rep. Jason Probst unseated incumbent Republican Rep. Kyler Sweely, 3,033-2,681, to represent District 102.
The race was a rematch from 2024, when Sweely successfully challenged Probst.
In District 90, incumbent Republican Rep. Steve Huebert led Democratic challenger Amy Warhurst, 4,390-2,668, at press time, with 12 of 47 precincts reported
In District 101, Republican Kevin D. O’Brien led Democrat Mary Ann Harmon, 3,984-2,395, with 10 of 46 precincts reported at press time, to succeed Rep. Joe Seiwert, who did not run for re-election.
In the District 104 race to succeed Rep. Paul Waggoner, Republican Randy Parks led Democratic nominee Lynnette Krieger-Zook, 5,557-3,760, with 21 of 23 precincts reported. Waggoner did not run for re-election.
In District 114, Republican Rep. Kevin Schwertfeger led Democratic challenger Alan Albers, 4,403-1,652, with 44 of 68 precincts reported. Schwertfeger is the incumbent in the position.
Reno County Commission
In the only contested Reno County Commission race, Republican Mike Sullivan defeated Democratic nominee Carol Moore, 3,427-1,924, in District 1. Sullivan will succeed County Commissioner Randy Parks, who defeated Democratic opponent Lynnette Krieger-Zook in the State House of Representatives District 104 race.
District 4 and 5 commissioners Richard Winger and Don Bogner, both Republicans, won re-election uncontested. Winger represents central Hutchinson, while Bogner represents southeastern Hutchinson and the southeastern portion of Reno County, including Haven and Yoder.
Federal and statewide races
Full federal and statewide race results were not available before The Tribune’s deadline Tuesday night, but at the time of publication, Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton led Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, 416,193-296,301, according to the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office website.
In the First Congressional District, which includes Reno County, incumbent Republican Rep. Tracey Mann led Democratic challenger Lauren Reinhold, 83,407-66,686.
In the Fourth Congressional District, which includes Sedgwick County, Democratic challenger Katy Tyndell led incumbent Republican Rep. Ron Estes, 78,782-75,600.
In the race to succeed Gov. Laura Kelly, Democratic nominee Cindy Holscher led Republican nominee Ty Masterson, 407,654-318,336.
Turnout
A total of 21,905 voters cast ballots in Reno County, for 51.91% turnout. That is an increase of 4.8% from the 2022 midterm election, when a total of 20,906 ballots were cast. The 2026 total included 8,668 early votes.
At the Kansas State Fairgrounds, election workers Denise Gerhart and Suzanne Davis celebrated any first-time voters in precincts 24 and 25, which include the Larkland and Farmington Park neighborhoods and the neighborhoods south of the mall, respectively. They would blow noisemakers and give noisemakers to first-time voters they helped.
“Appreciation for others could be contagious, so we’re willing to go first,” Gerhart said.