Who is running for Kansas House, District 78 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Kansas House, District 78 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Kansas House District 78.
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 | Tim LundbergDemocrat | Robyn R. EssexRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Safety net programs | No public position | Keep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultsVoted · low |
| Healthcare | Keep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenSaid · medium | No public position |
| Abortion | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low | No public position |
| Immigration | No public position | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadyVoted · low |
| Energy and climate | No public position | Maximize oil and gas; climate rules hurt the economyVoted · medium |
| School choice | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsSaid · medium | No public position |
| Curriculum and books | No public position | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toVoted · low |
| Housing and growth | No public position | Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downVoted · low |
| Gender care for minors | No public position | No, ban these treatments for minorsVoted · medium |
| Campaign finance | No public position | Raise or remove contribution limits and protect donors' privacyVoted · medium |
| Ranked-choice voting | No public position | No, ban ranked-choice voting in all electionsVoted · medium |
| Drug prices | No public position | Focus on competition, generics, and price transparency instead of price settingVoted · low |
| Transgender athletes | No public position | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsVoted · medium |
| DEI programs | No public position | Keep support open to all, but end race or sex preferences and required statementsVoted · medium |
| China policy | No public position | Compete, but limit only sensitive tech, military-linked firms and land near basesVoted · low |
Tim Lundberg
DemocratPrivate citizen
Tim Lundberg, a Democrat from Olathe, is a retired air traffic controller who later worked as an FAA Academy instructor and for the Overland Park Police Department fleet operations, according to his campaign site2. He faces incumbent Republican Robyn Essex on November 31.
Where they stand 3 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign blog says he is firmly opposed to giving public money to private schools under any pretense, whether called vouchers, scholarships or some other name. (2026-08-19) source
HealthcareKeep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign blog says he will be a strong voice in favor of Medicaid expansion. (2026-08-19) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Said · low confidence- His campaign blog says the state has no business telling women what they can or cannot do with their bodies. (2026-08-19) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, 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, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Robyn R. Essex
Republican · IncumbentKansas state representative (District 78, Olathe)
Robyn Essex, a Republican, has represented Kansas House District 78 since 2023 and is vice chair of the House Transportation Committee1. Her campaign site says she has served as a city councilwoman and planning commissioner7. She faces Democrat Tim Lundberg on November 32.
Where they stand 13 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 63 (2025), the Help Not Harm Act, which bars puberty blockers, hormones and surgery for gender transition for minors (House 83 to 35 on 2025-01-31; veto override 85 to 34). (2025-02-18) source
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 2238 (2023), the Fairness in Women's Sports Act, which limits girls' and women's school teams to students who are biologically female (House 82 to 40 on 2023-02-23), and again on the veto override (84 to 40). (2023-04-05) source
Ranked-choice votingNo, ban ranked-choice voting in all electionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 6 (2025), which bans ranked-choice voting in Kansas (House 86 to 37). (2025-03-13) source
Campaign financeRaise or remove contribution limits and protect donors' privacymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 2054 (2025), which raises campaign contribution limits and removes party-to-candidate limits in general elections (House 77 to 46 on 2025-03-04; conference report 72 to 52). (2025-03-27) source
DEI programsKeep support open to all, but end race or sex preferences and required statementsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on the HB 2105 (2024) conference report, which bars public colleges from requiring diversity statements or pledges in admissions, hiring and promotion (House 81 to 40). (2024-04-05) source
Energy and climateMaximize oil and gas; climate rules hurt the economymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 2783 (2024), which bars state and local limits on selling or using vehicles based on their energy source (House 89 to 30). (2024-02-22) source
- Voted yes on SCR 1603 (2023), a resolution urging the President to reject environmental mandates that restrict domestic energy production and to expand oil and natural gas production (House 87 to 37 on final action; 84 to 35 on the earlier vote to recommend it). (2023-03-29) source
Safety net programsKeep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on HB 2094 (2023), which requires SNAP recipients ages 50 to 59 to complete an employment and training program and sets child support cooperation rules for child care help (House conference report 80 to 42 on 2023-04-06; veto override 84 to 40). (2023-04-26) source
ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadylow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on SCR 1602 (2025), a non-binding resolution urging the governor to cooperate fully with federal immigration enforcement (House 82 to 35). (2025-03-20) 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 on emergency final action; 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
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tolow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on HB 2236 (2023), establishing parents' right to direct their children's education, including a right to object to harmful and inappropriate educational materials (House 75 to 47). (2023-02-23) source
China policyCompete, but limit only sensitive tech, military-linked firms and land near baseslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes both times on SB 9 (2025), which bars foreign principals from countries of concern from holding real estate near military installations and from economic development benefits (House 104 to 18 on 2025-03-07; conference report 98 to 24). (2025-03-26) source
- Voted yes on all three House roll calls on SB 172 (2024), the earlier Kansas land and military installation protection act (84 to 39, 84 to 36 and 86 to 39). (2024-04-29) source
Election rulesNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on SB 4 (2025), requiring advance mail ballots to arrive by election day (House 80 to 39; veto override 84 to 41). (2025-03-25) source
- Voted yes on HB 2437 (2026), the SAVE Kansas Act (House 85 to 39; conference report 80 to 43; veto override 84 to 39). (2026-04-09) source
- Voted no on HB 2503 (2026), repealing the mail ballot election act (House 72 to 50). (2026-02-19) source
No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, School choice, Policing and crime, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Electoral College, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Religion in schools.
Last reviewed 2026-10-07. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.