Clifford Wins Kansas Board of Education Seat
Jean Clifford, a Republican from Garden City, won the fifth district seat on the Kansas Board of Education in Tuesday's General Election.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Administration
Live Poll
Do you think your local schools are getting the support they need?
Jean Clifford won the fifth district seat on the Kansas Board of Education, which includes Ellis County, receiving 65,139 votes to Democrat Lorie Wood's 39,939. Clifford will join four other newly elected board members.
Why it matters
The Kansas Board of Education oversees statewide education policy, and the new board composition shapes how local districts are governed. Clifford's election follows her earlier service on the board and a primary loss to Cathy Hopkins four years ago.
Clifford received 65,139 votes, compared with 39,939 for Democrat Lorie Wood of Dresden. Clifford is a former college instructor and retired Air Force judge advocate with 30 years of service.
The players
Jean Clifford
Jean Clifford is a retired Air Force judge advocate and former college instructor who previously served on the Kansas Board of Education.
Cathy Hopkins
Cathy Hopkins of Hays previously defeated Jean Clifford in a 2022 Republican primary for the Kansas Board of Education seat and did not seek reelection this year.
The details
Clifford is a certified Kansas teacher, holds a master's degree in special education from Fort Hays State University, and previously served on the Kansas Board of Education before losing a 2022 primary to Cathy Hopkins of Hays, who did not seek reelection this year. Clifford says recess scheduling should remain a local decision, and she anticipates a broad scope of work on the board.
Timeline
Four years ago: Clifford lost her reelection bid in the primary to Cathy Hopkins.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: General Election in which Clifford won the fifth district seat.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Clifford commented on her election win.
Political Context
Clifford's return to the board follows her 2022 primary loss, and the new board members will govern statewide education policy for Kansas districts. The extraction does not describe organized opposition to her candidacy.
Clifford's seat affects education policy that governs local school districts across her district, including Ellis County. Decisions on issues such as recess scheduling may still be made at the local level, according to Clifford.
The takeaway
Local school boards retain authority over many scheduling decisions even as state board composition changes, so residents who want input on issues like recess can engage directly with their district's board.
Further reading
For broader context on how state education leadership is structured, see Administration coverage for Kansas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hays Post.
Live Poll
Do you think your local schools are getting the support they need?
