Olathe-area primary results remain unofficial as Johnson County begins vote reporting
Johnson County’s available results for the August 4, 2026, Kansas primary were still limited to advance ballots when the first report was generated, leaving Olathe-area legislative and county races unresolved.
The Johnson County Election Office’s Unofficial Partial Results — Advance report was generated at 7:00 p.m. August 4. It listed 83,515 ballots cast countywide and 17.69% total voter turnout. At that point, zero of the county’s 587 Election Day precincts were reporting.
Olathe-area legislative races
In the Democratic primary for Kansas House District 26, Laura Johnson had 828 advance votes to Robert Collins’ 373, with 1,201 total votes cast in the advance report.
In the Republican primary for Kansas House District 121, Thomas Palenske had 588 advance votes to Mike Storm’s 543, with 1,131 total votes cast.
The report also listed Chip VanHouden with 1,056 advance votes in the Republican primary for House District 26. He was the only candidate listed in that contest.
The districts do not cover every Olathe address. The county’s candidate notice identifies District 26 and District 121 candidates, including Olathe-based candidates, but voters should use their address-specific district to determine which House race applies to them.
County commission chair contest
In the countywide Johnson County Commission chair contest, Mike Kelly had 48,854 advance votes, Karen Crnkovich had 20,790 and Gene Senesac had 8,767. The report listed 78,411 total votes cast in that contest.
This is a countywide contest, so it affects Olathe voters but is not limited to the city.
Why these totals can change
The figures are labeled “Unofficial Partial Results — Advance.” The county’s results page says the first partial report includes advance votes received by mail and cast in person. Additional results are posted as polling-place totals return, and a final unofficial report remains unofficial until the canvass.
The Board of Canvassers reviews the validity of provisional and challenged ballots. After valid ballots are processed, the board certifies the official final results.
Johnson County also conducts a post-election manual audit. The election office says state law requires an audit of 1% of the county’s precincts; because Johnson County has more than 580 precincts, six precincts will be randomly selected. For an even-numbered gubernatorial election year, the audit includes one federal contest, one statewide contest, one state legislative contest and one county contest. The audit must occur at least 48 hours before the Board of Canvassers meets.
Broader primary context
The August 4 primary included U.S. Senate and congressional contests, statewide offices, multiple Kansas House districts, the Johnson County Commission chair race and a constitutional amendment concerning elections for Kansas Supreme Court justices.
For Olathe voters, the local significance depends on the voter’s district and jurisdiction. The House District 26 and District 121 totals above are district-specific, while the commission chair contest is countywide. The constitutional amendment and statewide races provide broader context but are not included here as separate local results.
Residents should treat the available August 4 figures as an advance-ballot snapshot, not a certified outcome. Election Day precinct totals, provisional and challenged ballot decisions, the audit and the canvass can change the totals before certification. The Johnson County Election Office is the official location for subsequent result postings and certification information.
Sources
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