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This is the 1978 race. The latest: 2024 →

1978Final resultsSpecial election

1978 special election for Kansas Senate District 22

Kansas State Senate · Kansas

Merrill Werts (R) won with 53.5% of the vote, defeating Ruth Schrum (D) by 10.5 points.

Merrill WertsRepublican · winner
53.5%8,891
Ruth SchrumDemocrat
43.0%7,150
Helen MitchellConstitution
3.5%574
16,615 votes

Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET

The seat over time

D − R margin in this seat's races around 1978

Races before and after

EvenR+4.91976R+10.51978 specialR+11.61980

Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

The candidates

Merrill Werts (R)Ruth Schrum (D)

Also on the ballot: Helen Mitchell (Constitution), 3.5%