Who is running for Kansas House, District 5 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Kansas House, District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Kansas House District 5.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Henry JohnsDemocrat | Courtney SappingtonRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Keep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenQuestionnaire answer · low | No public position |
| Abortion | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Questionnaire answer · low | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestSaid · low |
| School choice | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsQuestionnaire answer · medium | No public position |
| Housing and growth | No public position | Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downVoted · low |
| Policing and crime | No public position | More police, with a focus on repeat offendersSaid · medium |
| Election rules | No public position | Strict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsVoted · medium |
| Marijuana | Legalize and regulate it like alcoholQuestionnaire answer · medium | No public position |
| Gender care for minors | Leave it to parents and doctorsQuestionnaire answer · low | No public position |
| Drug prices | No public position | Focus on competition, generics, and price transparency instead of price settingVoted · low |
Henry Johns
DemocratRetired respiratory therapist; substitute teacher
Henry Johns, a Democrat from Lawrence, was unopposed in the August 2026 primary and faces Republican Rep. Courtney Sappington on November 31. His campaign site says he served a decade in the U.S. Army Reserves Medical Corps and spent 48 years as a licensed respiratory therapist and manager, and that he later worked as a substitute teacher2. He ran for the same seat in 2024, when he answered a Lawrence Times questionnaire3.
Where they stand 6 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
MarijuanaLegalize and regulate it like alcoholmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In the Lawrence Times 2024 candidate questionnaire he said he would support legalizing cannabis in Kansas "for any use (medicinal, recreational, etc.)." (2024-10) source
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In the 2024 Lawrence Times questionnaire he answered no to spending more public money on private schools through vouchers, charter schools or tax credits, writing "Public dollars are for public schools." (2024-10) source
HealthcareKeep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenlow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- In the 2024 Lawrence Times questionnaire he answered yes to expanding Medicaid in Kansas and named Medicaid expansion as a top issue. (2024-10) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- In the 2024 Lawrence Times questionnaire he wrote that politicians have "no business in reproductive decisions" and listed protecting reproductive rights as a top issue, including introducing legislation to protect reproductive health care procedures. (2024-10) source
Gender care for minorsLeave it to parents and doctorslow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- In the 2024 Lawrence Times questionnaire he wrote that the legislature "has no role in determining what the lives or health care of anyone should be," in answer to a question about transgender kids. (2024-10) source
GunsNo single answer fitslow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- In the 2024 Lawrence Times questionnaire he said he supports firearm safety measures, writing that safety, training and safe storage matter and asking why a person would be allowed to buy or carry a firearm without proof of training and proficiency; he described himself as a life member of the NRA and a gun owner. (2024-10) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Immigration, Energy and climate, Curriculum and books, Policing and crime, Housing and growth, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy, Student loans.
Courtney Sappington
Republican · IncumbentKansas state representative (District 5, Douglas County)
Courtney Sappington, a Republican from Baldwin City, was chosen by Republican precinct leaders in October 2025 to fill the District 5 vacancy left by Rep. Carrie Barth, and she won the August 2026 Republican primary127. She is a stay-at-home mother and foster and adoptive parent who previously worked in logistics, and she serves on the Child Welfare and Foster Care, Judiciary, Local Government and Welfare Reform committees15. She faces Democrat Henry Johns on November 32.
Where they stand 5 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on the SAVE Kansas Act, HB 2437 (2026), which expands voter roll checks and limits websites that handle registration (House 85 to 39 on final action, 80 to 43 on the conference report, and 84 to 39 on the veto override). (2026-04-09) source
- Voted yes on HB 2503 (2026), repealing the mail ballot election act (House 72 to 50). (2026-02-19) source
Policing and crimeMore police, with a focus on repeat offendersmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says: "I've co-sponsored legislation to keep repeat offenders specifically behind bars if there is a consistent pattern of behavior that they have no interest in being a functional member of society." (2026) source
- Is an original sponsor of HB 2444 (2026), which provides that jail credit on consecutive sentences does not apply to more than one case, creates special sentencing rules for certain felonies committed while on probation, parole or postrelease supervision, and requires secured minimum bonds for certain defendants who commit a new felony while on supervision or bond; it was signed April 6, 2026. (2026) source
- Voted yes on HB 2444 (2026) on final action (House 88 to 36, 2026-02-18) and on the motion to concur (85 to 37). (2026-03-23) source
Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downlow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on SB 418 (2026), the By-right Housing Development Act, which allows townhouses, accessory dwelling units and single-family homes that meet existing zoning by streamlined approval (House 97 to 27; the 117 to 5 conference report is not used). (2026-03-18) source
Drug pricesFocus on competition, generics, and price transparency instead of price settinglow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on SB 20 (2026), which sets registration and rules for pharmacy benefit managers (House conference report 104 to 17). (2026-03-23) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Said · low confidence- Her campaign site says: "I am unabashedly pro-life; every life is a soul made in God's image with innate value." (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, School choice, Curriculum and books, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy, Student loans.
Last reviewed 2026-10-07. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.