Campaign News

After the votes were officially counted and the winners were declared in the Johnson County, Kansas’s August primary, it was revealed that long-time sheriff, Calvin Hayden, had been voted out and would be replaced by one of two new candidates: Democrat Byron Roberson or Republican Doug Bedford.

Unlike the months leading up to the primaries, the campaigns leading up to the general election had not been filled with as much drama or controversy. Roberson and Bedford each had steady races. Both held years of experience in law enforcement and laid out policies, plans and changes they hope to implement in the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the office’s relationship with the community.

However, only one candidate could win, and in a historic election, Roberson won the majority vote, making him the first Black sheriff in Johnson County, Kansas history.