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Douglas County certifies primary results after late surge boosts turnout to county’s second-highest level

Douglas County officials say voter participation in the August 2026 primary surged late in the day, helping the county reach its second-highest primary turnout on record. The canvass meeting Monday included certification of results, with no commissioner decisions changing outcomes of any Douglas County races.

An illustration showing a county office canvassing election paperwork in an orderly meeting setting with courthouse-inspired architecture in the background.

County residents cast 33,419 ballots total, including 614 provisional ballots used when eligibility questions must be resolved through the canvass process. Douglas County’s roughly 80,200 registered voters translate to about 42% turnout. Commissioners met with county staff Monday as the county clerk’s office certified the election results.

Incumbent Commissioner Patrick Kelly held his seat against challenger Milton Scott, while newcomer Ethan Spurling ousted Commissioner Gene Dorsey. Incumbent Suzanne Wikle also retained her Kansas House District 10 seat against challenger TJ Campsey, and the primary is expected to determine the general-election nominee because no other candidate is running for the seat with another party.

Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew said the county saw about 15,000 voters in the 2024 primary and that the 2026 primary turnout was second only to 2022’s roughly 47,000 voters. The clerk also provided a breakdown of provisional ballots, including counts that were not counted and reasons such as registration in a different county or missing/expired ID.