Weigel and Fajardo Will Compete for House Seat

The Kansas House District 56 election takes place on November 3 as candidates address state funding issues.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Secondary Education

Weigel and Fajardo Will Compete for House Seat

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Democratic incumbent Virgil Weigel and Republican challenger Elvin Fajardo are set to compete for the Kansas House District 56 seat on November 3. The race in the Topeka-based district highlights differing approaches to state fiscal policies and upcoming education mandates.

Why it matters

The outcome of this race could influence the legislative response to the July 1 expiration of the state school funding formula. Voters in the district will determine how the state handles an estimated $8 billion in total sales tax exemptions.

Virgil Weigel has resided in Topeka for over 41 years and served in the Kansas House during 2013-2014 and since 2017. The district currently operates under a 20-mill state property tax rate designated for K-12 funding.

The players

Virgil Weigel

He is the Democratic incumbent for Kansas House District 56 who previously worked in law enforcement for 28 years.

Elvin Fajardo

He is the Republican challenger for the House seat and currently works as a legislative aide.

The details

Candidates for the eight House seats representing Shawnee County provided responses to questionnaire items regarding their platforms. Weigel, a former law enforcement officer, currently serves on four committees, while Fajardo is active as a legislative aide and member of a church security team.

Virgil Weigel retired from his 28-year law enforcement career in 2011.
Virgil Weigel served his first term in the Kansas House from 2013 to 2014.
Virgil Weigel began his current legislative tenure in 2017.
The Kansas school funding formula is scheduled to expire on July 1.
The election for the Kansas House District 56 seat occurs on November 3.

Political Context

This election follows a pattern set by the Kansas school funding formula, where legislative control directly impacts state education budget mandates. Opposition groups emphasize concerns regarding fiscal responsibility and the broader allocation of the state's $8 billion in annual sales tax exemptions.

Residents of District 56 will see their representative cast votes that directly impact the 20-mill property tax rate applied to K-12 funding. Decisions made by the winner regarding sales tax exemptions may influence the state's long-term budget and local tax burdens.

The takeaway

Voters should review candidate stances on fiscal policy to understand how upcoming changes to the school funding formula might affect them. Evaluating these platforms is essential for predicting how state budget priorities will shift after the next legislative session.