Who's running in Kansas's 3rd 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 · Sharice Davids 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.
Lowering costs for groceries, health care and housing; opposing Trump's tariffs, which she blames for higher prices and harm to Kansas farmers.
Expanding access to affordable health care and prescription drugs, capping insulin costs, and expanding Medicaid.
Expanding the Child Tax Credit.
'Common sense ICE reforms' pairing border security with legal pathways to citizenship; she opposes abolishing ICE.
Working 'across the aisle with anyone, Republican or Democrat.'
Banning partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Kansas's 3rd District since January 2019; member of the Transportation and Infrastructure and Agriculture committees.
Won the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary with about 83% over Sarah Preu; reelected with 53.4% in 2024.
One of 21 House Democrats who voted to temporarily fund ICE, which she said was to avoid a longer shutdown.
Had raised about $3.5 million for the 2026 cycle as of July, per KCUR.
Arguments in favor
The Kansas AFL-CIO, the National Education Association and the American Federation of Government Employees have endorsed Davids for re-election.
— Kansas AFL-CIO, NEA and AFGE, per Wikipedia's race page
Arguments against
'Sharice Davids spent years backing the Biden-Harris agenda that drove up costs, weakened our economy, and failed to secure the border. Even now, she continues to oppose President Trump's efforts to restore common sense.'
— Eric Jenkins, Republican opponent (Johnson County Post)
Davids' votes on ICE funding, her health care stance and her acceptance of corporate PAC and AIPAC money mean she has stopped representing the district: 'When one side is dismantling democracy, meeting in the middle isn't courage. It's drift.'
— Sarah Preu, Democratic primary opponent (KCUR, Johnson County Post)
Davids is part of the 'DC Swamp', more interested in the Washington establishment than her constituents.
— Steve Hohe, Libertarian opponent (KCUR)
What we couldn’t verify
No argument for Davids from an outside group or outlet could be loaded beyond her listed union endorsements; her case is otherwise in her positions and her own statements. Searched: 'Sharice Davids' with endorsement, union, Chamber and DCCC Frontline; KCUR, Kansas Reflector and Johnson County Post coverage.
No NRCC material on Davids was found in a loaded source.
Her campaign website address could not be confirmed from a loaded page.
Opposing deficit spending and making the Trump-era tax cuts permanent.
Cutting red tape for small businesses and directing tax incentives to startups.
Fully funding the military while pulling back on foreign involvement; supporting veterans' health care and Kansas military installations.
Strong border security and support for law enforcement and first responders.
Opposing 'socialized medicine' while addressing drug costs and physician shortages.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Shawnee City Council, 2015–2023 (council president 2021–2023); lost re-election in 2023; lost Kansas House races in 2016 and 2018.
On the council, voted against an ordinance protecting LGBTQ+ people from employment discrimination and pushed for property tax rate cuts.
Won the August 4, 2026 Republican primary with about 79% over Chase LaPorte.
Had raised about $16,000 as of July, per KCUR.
Arguments in favor
Republican primary voters backed him decisively — about 79%, roughly 60,000 votes — on a campaign of fiscal responsibility, tax cuts and national security, the same priorities he pressed as a Shawnee councilmember who frequently pushed for property tax rate cuts.
— Johnson County Post, August 4, 2026 primary results
Arguments against
Jenkins was 'very ill-prepared' to enter the race at the last minute, 'because he would lose the general election.'
— Chase LaPorte, Republican primary opponent (Johnson County Post)
What we couldn’t verify
No published argument for Jenkins from an outside group or endorser, and no criticism from the Davids campaign, DCCC or Kansas Democratic Party, was found. Searched: 'Eric Jenkins' with Davids, DCCC, endorsement, NRCC and criticism; KCUR, Johnson County Post, Kansas Reflector and KCTV coverage.
His campaign website address could not be confirmed from a loaded page.
In past campaigns: shifting most social services to the states, keeping Medicare and Social Security, repealing the Affordable Care Act, and replacing the federal income tax with a tax on goods and services.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Has not held elected office; Libertarian candidate for this seat in 2016, 2020 and 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
Hohe's 2026 positions could not be confirmed; his campaign website was down when KCUR checked and his listed positions come from his 2016 campaign.
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. At President Trump's urging, Republican legislative leaders tried to redraw the districts to unseat Rep. Sharice Davids, but a November 2025 special-session petition 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, KCUR and the Johnson County Post: Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids, who beat Sarah Preu with about 83%; Republican Eric Jenkins, who beat Chase LaPorte with about 79%; and Libertarian Steve Hohe. 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 district covers all of Johnson County plus Miami, Franklin and Anderson counties and part of Wyandotte County. Davids won 53.4% in 2024. 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.