Jo Ann Roth

Jo Ann Roth (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Kansas House of Representatives to represent District 113. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. She advanced from the Democratic primary on August 4, 2026.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Jo Ann Roth. I am a candidate for State Representative, 113th District which is located in central Kansas; parts of Barton, Pawnee, and all of Rice, Stafford and Rush Counties.A little about my reasons for seeking public office, I was married to Kent Roth in 1979. After experiencing infertility issues, my husband and I adopted two (2) children, now adults. Many women have shared with me their own stories of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancies and infertility. My chief reason for being active in politics is my belief we should not accept an increase in maternal deaths due to politicians denying women bodily autonomy. My core belief is equal rights for all, special privileges for none. Every Patient -- in consultation with their Doctor should make their own medical decisions, not Politicians in Topeka based on whether the patient is a man or a woman.My husband and I reside in the Roth family home located in Ellinwood which was built by Kent’s parents, Walter and June Roth, in 1939. I was employed by the federal government in the United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (FSA), for a dozen years in Barton County, Kansas. I was then elected three (3) terms to the three (3) member Barton County Committee that oversees the local FSA Office and rules upon any farmer appeals. Following 9/11, I went to work with the Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, (TSA), until my federal retirement with benefits.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Larned State Hospital is understaffed. While community-based programs are essential, we must not neglect Larned State Hospital for employee, patient and public safety. Safety and Salaries must improve which will attract a first class work force.Billions of dollars which would have been paid to Kansas Hospitals and Healthcare Providers have been lost due to the failure of the Legislature to expand Medicaid. I support expansion of Medicaid in Kansas. Hospitals in Kansas face crisis level staffing concerns and additional Federal Dollars will help address the rural Hospital closure concern.The People of Kansas voted overwhelmingly in August 2022 to keep personal autonomy, the right to control one’s own body, a constitutional right in Kansas. The Republican Incumbent for the 113th recently emailed that a woman in a crisis pregnancy carrying a baby which cannot survive outside the womb should be required to undergo a C section delivery. Clearly, imposing his belief upon women in Kansas will lead to an increase in maternal deaths.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Equal Rights. Fully funding k-12 Public Education.

Note: Roth submitted the above survey responses to [the profile publisher] on July 13, 2026.

June 30 submission

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Jo Ann Roth cites as one of her chief reasons for being active in politics is her conviction that we should not accept an increase in maternal deaths due to Politicians denying Women Bodily Autonomy.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The People of Kansas voted overwhelmingly in August 2022 to keep personal autonomy, the right to control one’s own body, a constitutional right in Kansas.

The Republican Incumbent for the 113th recently emailed that a woman in a crisis pregnancy carrying a baby which cannot survive outside the womb should be required to undergo a C section delivery. Clearly, imposing his belief upon women in Kansas will lead to an increase in maternal deatLarned State Hospital is understaffed. While community-based programs are essential, we must not neglect Larned State Hospital for employee, patient and public safety.Billions of dollars which would have been paid to Kansas Hospitals and Healthcare Providers have been lost due to the failure of the Legislature to expand Medicaid. I support expansion of Medicaid in Kansas.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Farm Economy.

Jo Ann Roth did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Jo Ann Roth of Ellinwood delivers petitions on June 10, 2022, to place her name on the August Democratic Primary Ballot for State Representative, 113th District. Boundaries of the 113th District have changed in the recent reapportionment map. Once the Legislative District included Pratt, but now the District stretches west including the City of Larned.

Roth was employed by the federal government in the United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS), then renamed the Farm Service Agency (FSA), for a dozen years in Barton County, Kansas. She was then elected three (3) terms to the three (3) person Barton County Committee that oversees the local FSA Office and rules upon any farmer appeals. Following 9/11, Jo Ann Roth became employed by the Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, (TSA), until her federal retirement. She was a member of Kansas Agriculture & Rural Leadership (KARL IV) 1998-99, touring Kansas Industries and traveling to Washington DC and South America, Chili & Argentina. Jo Ann Roth is a member of Kansas Farm Bureau and grew up on a farm near Cheyenne Bottoms the daughter of Bob and Bonnie Wirth.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Larned State Hospital is understaffed. While community-based programs are essential, we must not neglect Larned State Hospital for employee, patient and public safety.Billions of dollars which would have been paid to Kansas Hospitals and Healthcare Providers have been lost due to the failure of the Legislature to expand Medicaid. I support expansion of Medicaid in Kansas.I oppose the constitutional amendment and I support the right to privacy as currently guaranteed in the US and Kansas Constitutions.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The Candidate focused in her announcement on issues concerning Larned State Hospital. Noting a year ago in June, convicted sex offender John Freeman Colt escaped from the hospital's sexual predator treatment program. It was nearly three (3) months later when in September he was captured in Utah by federal marshals.

JoAnn Roth said: "The Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services administers the Larned State Hospital which has nearly 1,000 employees who work at the 78-acre campus and serve 450 patients.

In January, 2022, the agency ordered a security analysis of Larned State Hospital after a second patient had escaped from the sexual predator treatment program within six months. Understaffing has contributed to physical and sexual violence at the hospital. It has become common place that staff is forced to work 16-hour shifts because of unfilled positions.

Larned State Hospital has been forced to enlist private nurse staffing agencies to fill in some gaps. The State can be billed as much as $175-per-hour for contract nurses or four-to-five times what an in-house nurse is paid. We can and must do better!"