Cheri Koochel

Cheri Koochel is the Democratic candidate for the Kansas House of Representatives, District 107, in the November 3, 2026 general election, facing Republican incumbent Dawn Wolf; she is a retired social worker who lives in Salina.[1][2][3] In a Ballotpedia survey, she named tax relief, K-12 school funding, Medicaid expansion and water security among her priorities.[2]

Cheri Koochel graduated from Victoria High School and earned a graduate degree from the University of Kansas in 1991, according to Ballotpedia.[1] In a Ballotpedia survey, she said she grew up in small-town Kansas, holds degrees in social work from Kansas State University and the University of Kansas, and worked as a social worker for 34 years, including with the state's SRS and DCF agencies and the Manhattan-Ogden school district.[2] She said she retired eight years ago, moved to Salina and continues to volunteer with local and state organizations.[2]

Koochel advanced unopposed from the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary, receiving 790 votes.[1] She said she wants state government to work for rural communities, including small businesses, farmers and ranchers, health care and schools, and listed behavioral and public health and economic development among her interests.[2] Her listed endorsements include former state Senator Tom Hawk, the Kansas AFL-CIO and the Kansas Federation of Democratic Women.[2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.