Sam Lane (D)
Sam Lane is a lifelong Kansan running for Secretary of State because protecting democracy shouldn’t be a partisan issue. He’s not a career politician or a wealthy insider – he’s spent his life in the working class, doing tough jobs in construction inspection, manufacturing, and food service. Sam knows what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck and work multiple jobs just to get by.
A graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in psychology, Sam also worked with student groups from Haskell Indian Nations University and later spent time traveling through India and Sri Lanka, gaining a broader perspective on community and fairness. Now he’s running for Secretary of State to defend fair elections, protect every Kansan’s right to vote, and hold the line against partisan attacks on democracy.
Pat Proctor (R)
Pat Proctor has been a prominent figure in advancing voter suppression and election denial. As chair of the House Elections Committee, Proctor has spearheaded efforts to eliminate the three-day grace period for mail-in ballots, a policy established in 2017 to accommodate postal delays and ensure that ballots postmarked by Election Day are counted if received shortly thereafter.
In a private meeting, Proctor expressed a desire to end advance voting altogether and criticized advocacy groups opposing his proposals, referring to them as “bomb throwers.”
Ken Rahjes (R)
Throughout Ken Rahjes’ tenure, he has not prioritized voting rights or election access in his public record. His support for conservative constitutional amendments – including those potentially affecting voting laws – raises concerns among voting rights advocates about how he might approach election administration. Under his leadership, Kansas would follow national trends toward more restrictive anti-voter policies.