Kansas isn't a monolith. Honestly, if you just look at the bright red map on election night, you're missing the real story. The kansas election results by county show a state that is deeply divided, not just by party, but by the "urban-rural split" that everyone talks about but few actually look at closely.
People think Kansas is just flat land and Republican landslides. That's a huge oversimplification.
The Big Three: Where the Blue Lives
If you want to understand how the 2024 cycle actually shook out, you have to start with Johnson, Wyandotte, and Douglas. These three counties are basically the engine of the Democratic party in the Sunflower State.
In Johnson County—the most populous in the state—Kamala Harris pulled in 53.4% of the vote. That’s a massive deal. It wasn't that long ago that JoCo was the crown jewel of the Kansas GOP. Now? It’s a blue-leaning suburban powerhouse. Compare that to Wyandotte, where Harris grabbed 61.1%, and Douglas (home to KU), where she absolutely dominated with 68.2%.
But here’s the kicker. While those counties stayed blue, the margins weren't as wide as some Democrats hoped. Trump actually made some small gains in the urban cores compared to 2020. It wasn't a "red wave" in the cities, but more of a "red ripple" that kept things interesting.
The Rural Wall
Once you leave the Kansas City and Lawrence bubbles, the map turns blood red. Fast.
Look at Nemaha County. Trump won there with 82.8%. In Sherman County, it was 83.3%. Basically, in most of Western Kansas, the Democratic candidate is lucky to break 20%.
- Sedgwick County (Wichita): This is usually the big swing area. In 2024, Trump held it with 56.1%.
- Shawnee County (Topeka): This was a nail-biter. Harris won it, but only by a hair—49.3% to 48.8%. That’s a margin of just a few hundred votes in the state capital.
- Riley County (Manhattan): Another blue island, thanks to K-State, with Harris taking 49.6%.
Why the Legislature Matters More
While everyone focuses on the top of the ticket, the real drama was in the Statehouse. Republicans were fighting to keep their "supermajority." Why does that matter? Because with a supermajority, they can override any veto from Governor Laura Kelly.
They did it.
The GOP actually expanded their lead in the House, winning 88 seats to the Democrats' 37. They flipped a few key districts in places like Leavenworth and even picked up some suburban ground that had been trending blue. This means the 2026 legislative session is going to be a wild ride for the Governor’s agenda.
The Turnout Mystery
Turnout was... weird. Statewide, it hit about 63.2%. That sounds high, right? But it was actually a dip from the 65.7% we saw in 2020.
A lot of folks were just tired. We saw a shift in how people voted, too. Mail-in ballots dropped down to 29% (compared to 43% during the pandemic), while early in-person voting saw a big jump. Kansans seem to like going to the polls, just not necessarily on Tuesday.
Congressional Highlights
The U.S. House races were pretty much "as expected," but with some close calls:
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- 1st District: Tracey Mann coasted with 69%. No surprises there.
- 2nd District: Derek Schmidt (former AG) won back this seat for the GOP with 57%.
- 3rd District: Sharice Davids—the lone Democrat—held her ground in the KC suburbs with 53.4%.
- 4th District: Ron Estes kept his Wichita-based seat with 65%.
What This Means for You
So, what's the takeaway from these kansas election results by county?
First, the suburbs are the new battleground. If the GOP wants to win back places like Johnson County, they have to change the tune. Second, the rural areas are more solidified than ever. There’s almost no "middle ground" left in the western half of the state.
If you’re a voter or a political junkie, keep an eye on local school board and county commission races next. That’s where the "vibe shift" usually starts before it hits the big maps.
Next Steps for You:
Check your specific precinct data on the Kansas Secretary of State website to see if your neighborhood followed the county trend. If you aren't registered yet, or need to update your info for the next cycle, head over to KSVotes.org—it takes about two minutes.