Kansas Senate Minority Leader Challenges GOP House Speaker for State Insurance Commissioner

Kansas Senate minority leader challenges GOP House speaker for state insurance commissioner

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, of Lenexa, talks to reporters Dec. 2, 2024, at the Statehouse in Topeka following a meeting with her caucus. She announced on Jan 8, 2026, her candidacy for state insurance commissioner. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Kansas Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes will run for state insurance commissioner, vowing to decline any campaign contributions from the insurance industry. Sykes, a Lenexa D…

NEW: Top Senate Democrat joining race for insurance commissioner

Dinah Sykes, the Senate's top Democrat from Lenexa, is planning to run for state insurance commissioner against Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins. Sykes on Thursday morning plans to file to run for the position, which is now held by Vicki Schmidt, who is running for governor this year. Sykes is joining the race with the election about 11 months away. Hawkins publicly announced his plans to run for insurance commissioner last May. It's a race …