Riley County Democratic Party chair discusses Kansas Supreme Court amendment ahead of August vote
- Annalise Angell
- 14 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Kansas voters will decide this August whether to change the way state Supreme Court justices are selected.
Before the interview, I disclosed my personal and professional connections to the topic. Lear and I have been friends since our freshman year at Kansas State University, and I currently work as an intern for Colin McRoberts congressional campaign. Because of these connections, I entered the conversation with personal familiarity with the guest and involvement in Democratic political work. This disclosure is included for transparency with readers and listeners.
Kelm Lear, chair of the Riley County Democratic Party, joined The Evening Drive on Wildcat 91.9 to discuss the proposed Kansas Elections for Supreme Court Justices Amendment, which will appear on the Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, primary election ballot.
Lear, a Kansas State University graduate and the youngest county Democratic Party chair in the state, said the amendment would replace the current process used to select Kansas Supreme Court justices.
“This amendment would change how the Kansas State Supreme Court justices are selected,” Lear said. “And this has huge consequences, not just for the integrity and the fairness of the court, but also for how the court is going to rule on key constitutional issues going forward.”
Currently, Kansas Supreme Court justices are selected through a merit-based process. When a vacancy opens, applicants are reviewed by the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission. The commission then sends three finalists to the governor, who selects one person to serve on the court. After one year, the justice appears on the ballot in a retention election, where Kansas voters decide whether they should remain on the court.
Lear said the current process helps keep the court focused on qualifications rather than partisan politics.
“It ensures that the justices are beholden to the Kansas State Constitution and the people of Kansas, not special interests, not parties, not billionaires or millionaires who want to buy the court,” Lear said.
If passed, the amendment would abolish the nominating commission and allow Kansas Supreme Court justices to be elected. Lear said he is concerned that judicial elections would bring more campaign money and partisanship into the court system.
“When money gets involved in judicial elections, then the integrity of the court is questioned,” Lear said. “Because then you wonder, did the judge rule that way because someone donated a lot of money to their campaign?”
Lear pointed to recent judicial races in other states as examples of how expensive Supreme Court elections can become. He said outside spending in judicial races can make courts appear less independent, even if judges are still trying to rule fairly.
The amendment’s supporters argue that elections would give voters more accountability over the court. Lear said Kansas voters already have accountability through retention elections, which allow voters to decide whether justices should stay on the court without requiring justices to run partisan campaigns.
“There already is a mechanism of accountability,” Lear said. “And it’s a way to ensure that the court is loyal to us, the people of Kansas, not the special interest groups.”
Lear said young voters should pay attention to the amendment because changes to the court selection process could last for generations.
“These systems, they stay around for generations,” Lear said. “The one we have now works really well. But if this amendment passes, then more than likely our generation and Gen Alpha are going to have to deal with it for who knows how long.”
The amendment will appear on the Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, primary election ballot. Early voting begins Wednesday, July 15, and runs through Monday, Aug. 3. Riley County voters can vote early in person at the Riley County Courthouse or request a mail-in ballot through ksvotes.org.
Mail-in ballots must be requested by Tuesday, July 28, 2026, and returned by Election Day on Aug. 4. The last day to register to vote in the primary election is Tuesday, July 14.
Lear also emphasized that all registered Kansas voters can vote on the constitutional amendment, regardless of political party affiliation.
“Everyone gets to vote on this amendment,” Lear said. “If you have friends and family members who are unaffiliated or Libertarian or members of some other third party, they get to vote in this primary election.”
Voters can learn more about their ballot at vote411.org/kansas.
More information about the Riley County Democratic Party is available at rileycountydemocrats.org or on Instagram at @rileycountydems.
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