Tyson scales back recount request in GOP race for Kansas Treasurer

<b>From left, Shawnee County Commissioners Kevin Cook, Bill Riphan and Aaron Mays meet with Shawnee County election commissioner Andrew Howell on Monday at the election office to certify the Aug. 2 results. Monday was the deadline for counties to canvass and certify results in the Aug. 2 election.</b> Photo by Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector — From left, Shawnee County Commissioners Kevin Cook, Bill Riphan and Aaron Mays meet with Shawnee County election commissioner Andrew Howell on Monday at the election office to certify the Aug. 2 results. Monday was the deadline for counties to canvass and certify results in the Aug. 2 election. Photo by Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — State Sen. Caryn Tyson on Monday dramatically scaled back her request to recount votes for the GOP nomination for state treasurer, targeting just six counties for a review of ballots by hand.

State Rep. Steven Johnson led Tyson by 452 votes as of 5 p.m. Monday with 102 out of 105 counties having certified their results, the Secretary of State’s Office said. There were 836 provisional ballots left to be reviewed.

Jonson, from Assaria, said he hoped to learn the final numbers late Monday and begin work on the general election campaign.

“We’ll hit the ground running as soon as we’re able to take that step and make sure the nominee is clear,” Johnson said.

Tyson had requested a hand recount of ballots in 55 rural counties, which would have cost an estimated $46,000. On Monday, she narrowed her request to a full recount in Cloud, Harvey, McPherson and Ottawa counties, as well as a hand recount of advanced in Dickinson and Barton Counties and the city of Great Bend.

The Secretary of State’s Office said Tyson posted a bond of $2,570.54 and that counties could begin their hand recount. Tyson didn’t immediately respond to a call Monday seeking comment on the status of the race.

Monday was the deadline for counties to canvass and certify results in the Aug. 2 election. Johnson, Sedgwick and Shawnee counties were among those that canvassed Monday, a process the includes the review of provisional ballots. Johnson leads by a vote count of 219,363 to 218,911.

On Saturday, the Secretary of State’s Office said 74 of the 105 counties had certified election results as of 5 p.m. Friday. At that time, Johnson led Tyson by 324 votes.

If Johnson’s lead holds, he will face Democratic state Treasurer Lynn Rogers in the general election. Gov. Laura Kelly appointed Rogers, formerly her lieutenant governor, to fill the vacant office in January 2021.

“We’re moving full steam ahead as the nominee for the Democratic Party,” Rogers said in a phone interview. “We’re excited that we can be talking to people and visiting with people. We do get the question of who I’m running against. I guess we’ll wait to see.”