Who's running in Kansas's 1st congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Tracey Mann currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Getting the next five-year farm bill signed into law; agriculture's success as his biggest priority.
Cutting 'wasteful spending' and expanding tax relief; he calls the 2025 tax law 'the largest tax cut in American history.'
Lower energy costs through more domestic energy production, including year-round E15 sales nationwide.
SNAP accountability measures and expanded work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents.
Rural health care, including the Rural Health Transformation Program.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Kansas's 1st District since January 2021; reelected with 69.1% in 2024.
Kansas lieutenant governor, 2018–2019.
Chairman, House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry.
Voted for the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Won the August 4, 2026 Republican primary over Craig Musser.
Endorsed by Kansas Farm Bureau's VOTE FBF.
Arguments in favor
'Rep. Tracey Mann continues to represent agriculture and the Big First with distinction. Rep. Mann's continued outreach and willingness to listen to constituents earned him strong support.'
— Glenn Brunkow, president of Kansas Farm Bureau, announcing VOTE FBF's endorsement
Arguments against
'Tracy Mann is just a rubber stamp for Trump. He does whatever Trump wants' — and has neglected rural communities as Congress lets the administration control tariffs hurting Kansas farmers.
Instead of using his livestock subcommittee chairmanship to hold the administration to account for the trade war's damage to Kansas beef, pork and milk producers, 'Mann has distanced himself as far as possible from examining the debacle.'
— Greg Frazier, former USDA chief of staff, Kansas Reflector opinion column
What we couldn’t verify
No DCCC material on Mann was found; the seat is not on a Democratic target list in any loaded source.
His campaign website address could not be confirmed from a loaded page.
Whether debates will be held had not been reported.
A free or low-cost public health insurance option.
Cutting taxes to 0% for Americans earning under $100,000, paid for by higher rates on corporations and top earners.
Raising the minimum wage and building more affordable housing, including through a stronger HUD.
Infrastructure deals aimed at rural schools, hospitals, water systems and roads.
Congress reclaiming power over tariffs and holding ICE to account.
Strengthening unions.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Has not held elected office.
Former attorney and human resources administrator at the Social Security Administration; former officer in her federal employee union chapter.
Won the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary over Colin McRoberts.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published argument for or against Reinhold by a named outside group, party or opponent could be loaded, so none is listed; her case is in her positions. The American Federation of Government Employees announced an endorsement, but its page could not be loaded. Searched: 'Lauren Reinhold' with Mann, NRCC, Kansas GOP, endorsement and criticism; Kansas Reflector, Lawrence Journal-World, KWCH, KSN and Salina Post coverage.
Her fundraising totals were not found in a loaded source.
Has not held elected office; Libertarian candidate for Douglas County Commission District 1 in 2022.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
Jacob's positions for this race could not be found; his campaign presence is a Facebook page that was not loaded. No argument for or against him was found.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
November 3, 2026 is Kansas's general election, decided by plurality; there is no runoff. The map did not change for 2026: Republican legislative leaders tried to redraw the districts to target Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids, but a November 2025 petition for a special session fell 10 House signatures short, and in January 2026 House Speaker Dan Hawkins said Republicans were about 20 votes short of overriding Gov. Laura Kelly's promised veto, so the 2022 map remains. Primaries were held August 4, 2026. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia, Politics1 and the Libertarian Party of Kansas: Republican Rep. Tracey Mann, who beat Craig Musser; Democrat Lauren Reinhold, who beat Colin McRoberts; and Libertarian Steven Jacob. No independent candidate was found on the November ballot. The Kansas Secretary of State's candidate page could not be loaded to confirm the list. The 'Big First' covers about 60 counties across western and central Kansas plus western Lawrence, including Manhattan, Salina, Hutchinson, Hays, Garden City and Dodge City. Mann won 69.1% in 2024. Some Kansas Reflector articles are cited through The Lawrence Times, which republishes them, because the Reflector's site could not be loaded. The candidate order here follows the published candidate listings, with the incumbent first; it is not verified ballot order and implies no ranking.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Kansas ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.