Welcome to Kansas Medical Society
June 4, 2026 Newsletter
Election Season in Full Swing
The dust has settled following the June 1st candidate filing deadline. With the field set, the election season is officially underway as the August 4th primary election is just around the corner. This year we are set to see elections for a U.S. Senate seat, all 4 congressional seats, all statewide offices, 2 state senate seats and all 125 house seats. A complete listing of all candidates in the primary election can be found here.
The race to replace Governor Laura Kelly (D), who is term limited, has attracted a crowded field. There are 7 candidates in the Republican primary and 3 candidates in the Democratic primary.
There are only two Kansas Senate seats which will hold special elections this year. In District 24, Senator Scott Hill (R-Abilene), who replaced J.R. Claeys in 2025, is running unopposed in both the primary and general elections. In District 25, Senator Silas Miller (D-Wichita), who replaced Mary Ware in 2025, will see opposition in the general election only.
All 125 Kansas House seats are up for election. Republicans currently hold 88 seats while Democrats hold 37 seats. Following the filing deadline, there were 260 candidates filed for House seats, including 136 Republicans and 124 Democrats. However, that could change somewhat, as the Secretary of State’s office has been announcing the invalidation of a handful of filings. There were 14 incumbent legislators that did not file for reelection. The House of Representatives is already guaranteed to have an 11% turnover rate. That rate will increase as some incumbents will likely be defeated in the primary and general elections. Historically, the elections yield a 20-25% turnover rate.
There are 25 Republican primaries and 18 Democrat primaries. Of these primaries, 8 races (5 Republican and 3 Democratic) are primary-only, meaning we’ll know those legislators after the August 4th election date. Further, there are 33 seats (18 Republicans and 15 Democrats) with no opposition in either the primary or general election.
What does this mean for KMS? In addition to welcoming many new members in the House, we will be experiencing turnover in the governor’s office, potentially in Senate leadership and most definitely in House leadership. Advocacy is our organization’s number one priority. It will be critical for us to engage with new and incumbent candidates throughout the election season to develop and grow our relationships with lawmakers. With change comes opportunity to make new connections and educate candidates on the issues impacting the house of medicine.
Critical to our efforts is making strategic campaign contributions to candidates who have a record supporting KMS in the statehouse or who demonstrate a willingness to work with KMS on issues important to physicians. To that end, I urge you to consider making a contribution to our political action committee KaMPAC to help bolster these efforts. Every dollar contributed to KaMPAC is used exclusively to support candidates for the Kansas House and Senate.
It is always a privilege to represent you and advocate on your behalf in the Kansas Statehouse. If you have questions about legislative or election matters, please reach out.
Sincerely,
Highlighted Opportunities
Earl L. Mills Educational Trust
Scholarship funds are available from the Earl Mills Educational Trust to deserving physicians who meet the following criteria:
- Applicants must have practiced in Kansas continuously for at least a five-year period and may not be a member of a medical group of more than five practicing physicians.
- Funds may be used for study in medicine or health care for a period of at least four months, but no more than one year, at an approved institution.
In addition, the Earl Mills Educational Trust provides funds for educational seminars in Sedgwick County, Kansas, which support post-graduate medical opportunities to practicing physicians.
The deadline for receipt of applications is August 31, 2026.
Applications should be sent to:
Weekend Moonlighting/Locums: Support Military Medical Readiness in Kansas
Leidos QTC is currently seeking to panel a select group of Kansas-licensed Physicians (MD/DO) to support the Department of Defense’s Reserve Health Readiness Program (RHRP-3).
We are looking for physicians to provide weekend PRN medical coverage for military reserve units (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and National Guard) at Group Events across the state. The scope of work involves conducting standard Physical Health Assessments (PHAs) to ensure our service members are medically cleared and deployable.
Opportunity Highlights:
- Compensation: Highly competitive $900 flat daily rate (1099 Independent Contractor).
- The Work: Low-stress, high-impact clinical work. No prescribing, critical care, or long-term patient management.
- Zero-Obligation Roster: Once you are pre-paneled, you simply pick up weekend events only when they fit your schedule. There are no minimum shift requirements and no obligation to accept any event.
- Travel: All flights, hotels, and rental cars are coordinated and paid for by Leidos QTC. Providers also receive a GSA per diem for meals.
- Malpractice: Comprehensive malpractice insurance coverage is available through QTC for $25/day (or you may use your own locums coverage).
This is an excellent, low-stress moonlighting opportunity for physicians looking to earn supplemental income while serving those who serve.
To learn more or get pre-paneled for upcoming Kansas events, please email your CV/Resume to:
Kansas State Board of Healing Arts and Board of Pharmacy Issue Joint Statement Regarding Intravenous Therapy
Click below to read the joint press release issued by the
Kansas Board of Healing Arts & Kansas Board of Pharmacy.
AMA National Advocacy Conference 2026
Advocacy at the National Level
Last week, leadership from the Kansas Medical Society and the Medical Society of Sedgwick County traveled to Washington, DC to advocate on behalf of Kansas physicians. Meetings were held with the Kansas congressional delegation, and each office was provided with comprehensive information outlining the challenges facing physicians and their patients across our state.
The discussions centered on Medicare payment reform, the administrative burden of prior authorization and its impact on patients’ timely access to care, Medicare Advantage and post-acute care accessibility, and other critical issues affecting the House of Medicine. These conversations ensured that the realities facing Kansas physicians were clearly communicated and thoughtfully considered.
The legislative process is often deliberate and measured. Fittingly, the word “Congress” derives from the Latin congressus, meaning “walking together” or “meeting.” Progress is rarely immediate, but the word itself implies that meaningful and lasting change requires persistence, collaboration, and sustained engagement.
Advocacy efforts will continue in the months and years ahead. The strength of our collective voice remains one of our most effective tools. Members are encouraged to stay engaged and involved as we work together to advance policies that support physicians and protect patients’ access to care across Kansas.
If you are not currently a member and are interested in becoming more engaged, click here.
