--- title: "Kansas voters keep governor’s role in picking Supreme Court justices" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/kansas-voters-keep-governors-role-in-picking-supreme-court-justices" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/kansas-voters-keep-governors-role-in-picking-supreme-court-justices" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/kansas-voters-keep-governors-role-in-picking-supreme-court-justices.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/kansas-voters-keep-governors-role-in-picking-supreme-court-justices" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-05T02:25:20.858Z" source_reported: "2026-08-05T01:34:00.000Z" updated: "2026-08-05T15:15:19.471Z" trust_score: 62 critic_score: 51 hype_score: 21 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-07T15:49:44.056Z" --- # Kansas voters keep governor’s role in picking Supreme Court justices *Republican-backed amendment to elect justices rejected in primary ballot, preserving current appointment system* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 62 of 100, higher is better. Multiple outlets corroborate the rejection of the amendment. - Craft 51 of 100, higher is better. Digests lack specific details and quotes. - Hype 21 of 100, lower is better. Headlines are straightforward, without sensational language. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Kansas voters rejected a proposed amendment to elect Supreme Court justices, preserving the current appointment system. - The amendment was placed on the primary ballot by the Republican-controlled Legislature after court rulings against the party on issues including abortion. - The Supreme Court Nominating Commission will continue to review candidates and send finalists to the governor for selection. - No right-rated outlet carried the story, according to the reports below. Kansas voters rejected a constitutional amendment on 5 August 2026 that would have changed how state Supreme Court justices are selected. The current system, where a nominating commission reviews candidates and sends three finalists to the governor for appointment, will remain in place. The Associated Press projected the result after the primary ballot count. The amendment was referred to the ballot by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The state Supreme Court had previously ruled against the Republican party on issues such as abortion, as reported by NBC News. The nominating commission’s role in vetting candidates was noted by wibw.com as continuing unchanged. ## What the coverage left out No right-rated outlet ran the story at all, according to the reports printed below. None of the digests mentioned the margin of the vote or the turnout figures. The role of the governor in the current appointment process was described only in general terms, with no detail on how often governors have rejected the commission’s finalists or the political affiliations of past appointees. ## Who covered it Shares of the 19 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 42% (8) - Centre: 47% (9) - Right: 11% (2) 6 of 25 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-07T15:49:44.056Z. **Coverage watch:** closed. Checked 57 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-10T19:31:23.982Z. Watch closed 2026-08-10T19:31:23.982Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The single left-rated digest, from NBC News, led on the Republican party’s role in placing the amendment on the ballot. It noted that the state Supreme Court had ruled against the party on issues including abortion, framing the vote as a response to those rulings. The digest did not mention the nominating commission’s process or the governor’s role in appointments. ### Centre - The four centre-rated digests all reported the rejection of the amendment and the preservation of the current appointment system. KMBC and KWCH12 Wichita News led on the outcome of the vote, while wibw.com highlighted the continued role of the Supreme Court Nominating Commission. Political Wire, citing the New York Times, linked the amendment to Republican efforts to overturn a 2019 court decision that established a constitutional right to abortion. - None of the centre-rated digests mentioned the Republican party’s motivation for placing the amendment on the ballot, as NBC News did. KWCH12 Wichita News noted that the amendment could have shifted the selection process away from the governor’s appointment system, but did not elaborate on the political context. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Settled coverage blindspot:** right. This finding was made after the coverage watch closed. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - high: 13 - unknown: 7 - veryHigh: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [LifeNews.com](https://lifenews.com/2026/08/07/kansas-supreme-court-will-remain-radically-pro-abortion-after-amendment-is-defeated) — Kansas Supreme Court Will Remain Radically Pro-Abortion After Amendment is Defeated - [hngn.com](https://hngn.com/articles/272585/20260805/kansas-voters-reject-amendment-elect-state-supreme-court-justices-wide-margin.htm) — Kansas Voters Reject Electing Supreme Court Justices - [Kansas City Pitch](https://thepitchkc.com/diabolical-judicial-selection-amendment-swept-away-by-a-righteous-tsunami-of-kansas-ballots) — Diabolical judicial selection amendment swept away by a righteous tsunami of Kansas ballots - [Iola Register](https://iolaregister.com/news/state-news/court-selection-process-wont-change) — Court selection process won't change - The Iola Register - [CNN](https://cnn.com/2026/08/05/tv/video/lawton-nuss-kansas-supreme-court-amanpour) — Kansas votes to keep politics out of its highest court - [The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS](https://leavenworthtimes.com/opinion/2026/08/05/kansas-voters-reject-judicial-selection-amendment) — Kansas voters reject judicial selection amendment - The Leavenworth Times - [Here, Read This](https://herereadthis.blog/2026/08/05/kansas-voters-reject-constitutional-amendment-on-judicial-selection-by-wide-margin-kansas-reflector) — Kansas voters reject constitutional amendment on judicial selection by wide margin • Kansas Reflector - [Alternet](https://alternet.org/kansas-voters) — Kansas voters reject GOP-led amendment to state constitution - [Joe.My.God.](https://joemygod.com/2026/08/kansas-votes-reject-anti-abortion-ballot-measure) — Kansas Voters Reject Anti-Abortion Ballot Measure - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/kansas-rejects-measure-to-elect-its-state-supreme-court-justices) — Kansas rejects measure to elect its state Supreme Court justices - [Marietta Daily Journal](https://mdjonline.com/extra/news/la-campa-a-vota-no-declara-victoria-rechazando-la-enmienda-constitucional-por-un-amplio-margen/article_d4caef5a-40e8-527b-b99e-f4d6ad5a06a2.html) — The ‘Vote No’ Campaign Declares Victory, Rejecting the Constitutional Amendment by a Wide Margin - [The Lawrence Times](https://lawrencekstimes.com/2026/08/04/kns-ks-voters-reject-supct-amendment) — Kansas voters reject electing state Supreme Court justices as constitutional amendment fails - [The Sunflower](https://thesunflower.com/108713/news/kansas-votes-against-altering-constitutional-amendment-on-how-justices-are-chosen) — Kansas votes against altering constitutional amendment on how justices are chosen - [sunflowerstatejournal.com](https://sunflowerstatejournal.com/kansas-voters-sink-judicial-amendment) — Kansas voters sink judicial amendment - [Topeka Capital-Journal](https://cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2026/08/04/kansas-rejects-supreme-court-constitutional-amendment/91149552007) — Kansans votes no on Supreme Court elections - [Kansas Reflector](https://kansasreflector.com/2026/08/04/vote-no-camp-declares-victory-with-kansas-voters-rejecting-constitutional-amendment-by-wide-margin) — ‘Vote no’ camp declares victory with Kansas voters rejecting constitutional amendment by wide margin - [KMBC](https://kmbc.com/article/kansas-voters-reject-constitutional-amendment-on-supreme-court-selection/73349981) — Kansas voters reject constitutional amendment on Supreme Court selection - [KAKE News](https://kake.com/home/kansas-voters-reject-constitutional-amendment-by-wide-margin/article_71e4e48c-8e52-490e-8da7-602e6f00b467.html) — Kansas voters reject constitutional amendment by wide margin - [The 19th](https://19thnews.org/2026/08/kansas-amendment-no-abortion-supreme-court-justices) — Kansas voters reject another attempt to reshape the state’s abortion landscape - [NBC News](https://nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/kansas-voters-reject-gop-effort-elect-supreme-court-justices-rcna590026) — Kansas voters reject GOP-backed measure to directly elect state Supreme Court justices - [wibw.com](https://wibw.com/2026/08/05/kansans-vote-no-constitutional-amendment-change-supreme-court-selection) — Kansans vote ‘no’ on constitutional amendment to change Supreme Court selection - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/6002207-kansas-rejects-direct-supreme-court-election) — Kansas rejects direct Supreme Court elections in a blow to conservatives - [kcur.org](https://kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2026-08-04/kansas-voters-reject-electing-state-supreme-court-justices-as-constitutional-amendment-fails) — Kansas voters reject electing state Supreme Court justices as constitutional amendment fails - [KWCH12 Wichita News](https://kwch.com/2026/08/04/kansas-voters-decide-how-state-supreme-court-justices-are-selected) — Kansans say ‘no’: Selection process remains for Supreme Court justices - [Political Wire](https://politicalwire.com/2026/08/04/kansas-rejects-measure-to-elect-state-supreme-court) — Kansas Rejects Measure to Elect State Supreme Court ## Questions **What was the proposed amendment about?** The proposed amendment would have changed how Kansas Supreme Court justices are selected, replacing the current system of gubernatorial appointment with direct election by voters. The amendment was rejected in the 5 August 2026 primary, so the existing process remains in place. **Who currently selects Kansas Supreme Court justices?** Under the current system, the Supreme Court Nominating Commission reviews candidates and sends three finalists to the governor, who then appoints one. This process will continue after voters rejected the amendment to elect justices directly. **Why did the Republican-controlled Legislature put the amendment on the ballot?** The Republican-controlled Legislature referred the amendment to the ballot after the state Supreme Court ruled against the party on issues including abortion. NBC News reported this context, linking the amendment to efforts to overturn a 2019 court decision that established a constitutional right to abortion. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/kansas-voters-keep-governors-role-in-picking-supreme-court-justices. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Kansas voters keep governor’s role in picking Supreme Court justices", https://mediabias.news/politics/kansas-voters-keep-governors-role-in-picking-supreme-court-justices