Deena Horst
Deena Horst (Republican Party) was a member of the Kansas State Board of Education, representing District 6. She assumed office in 2013. She left office on January 14, 2025.
Horst (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Kansas State Board of Education to represent District 6. She won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Prior to her election to the board, Horst was a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing the 69th District from 1995 to 2011.
Biography
After her graduation from Emporia State University, Horst went into education. She spent over 40 years as a teacher before retiring in 2008, serving at times as an art teacher, a substitute teacher, and an elementary school teacher. Between 2006 and 2011, Horst served as the treasurer of the Kansas Art Education Association. Since 2012, Horst has served as a substitute teacher at her old school district.[1]
Education
- Bachelor's in art education - Emporia State University
- Master's in art education - Emporia State University
- Ed.D. in educational leadership and administration - Kansas State University (2010)
Political career
Kansas State Board of Education (2013-2025)
Horst was first elected to the board in 2012 and was re-elected in 2016. In her time on the board, she has served as assistant legislative coordinator and as representative to the Coalition of Innovative School Districts Board.[2] She left office on January 14, 2025.
Kansas House of Representatives (1995-2011)
Horst was first elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1994 and was re-elected in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008.
Elections
2024
Deena Horst did not file to run for re-election.
2020
See also: Kansas State Board of Education election, 2020
General election
General election for Kansas State Board of Education District 6
Incumbent Deena Horst won election in the general election for Kansas State Board of Education District 6 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Deena Horst (R) | 100.0 | 108,085 |
| Total votes: 108,085 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
No Democrats filed for this race. David Colburn ran as a write in and received 1,376 votes. Write-in candidates were required to receive votes equal to 5% of all voters in the district—about 9,200 votes—to make the general election ballot.[3]
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Kansas State Board of Education District 6
Incumbent Deena Horst advanced from the Republican primary for Kansas State Board of Education District 6 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Deena Horst | 100.0 | 42,828 |
| Total votes: 42,828 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
On November 8, 2016, Deena L. Horst won re-election to the office of Kansas State Board of Education, District 6. She defeated Aaron Estabrook in the general election.
| Kansas State Board of Education, District 6, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Deena L. Horst Incumbent |
63% | 69,031 | |
| Independent | Aaron Estabrook | 37% | 40,526 | |
| Total Votes | 109,557 | |||
| Election results via Kansas Secretary of State. | ||||
2012
On November 6, 2012, Deena L. Horst won election to the office of Kansas State Board of Education, District 6. She defeated Carol Viar in the general election.
| Kansas State Board of Education, District 6, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Deena L. Horst |
62.6% | 66,778 | |
| Democratic | Carol Viar | 37.4% | 39,837 | |
| Total Votes | 106,615 | |||
| Election results via Kansas Secretary of State. | ||||
2010
In the August 3 primary election, Horst was defeated by Republican primary opponent Tom Arpke by a margin of 1,205 to 898. Horst was seeking her ninth term.[4]
2008
On November 4, 2008, Horst was re-elected to the 69th District Seat in the Kansas House of Representatives, defeating Rebekah Gaston (D) and Mike Trow (L).[5] Horst raised $21,585 for her campaign, while Gaston raised $11,742 and Horst raised $500.[6]
| Kansas House of Representatives, District 69 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Deena Horst (R)
|
4,026 | 52.9% | ||
| Rebekah Gaston (D) | 3,072 | 40.4% | ||
| Mike Trow (L) | 502 | 6.6% | ||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Deena Horst did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Ballotpedia currently provides campaign finance data for all federal- and state-level candidates from 2020 and later. We are continuously working to expand our data to include prior elections. That information will be published here as we acquire it. If you would like to help us provide this data, please consider donating to Ballotpedia.
State legislative tenure
Committee assignments
While a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, Horst served on the following committees:
- Education Committee, House of Representatives (Vice-Chair)
- Higher Education Committee, House of Representatives
- Elections Committee, House of Representatives
- Aging and Long Term Care Committee, House of Representatives
- Arts and Cultural Resources Joint Committee, State Legislature (Chair)
Sponsored legislation
- H 2150 Property taxation; 2% limit on valuation increases. 02/27/2009
- H 2228 Private postsecondary institutions eligibility for the Kansas comprehensive grant program. 02/04/2009[7]
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Deena Horst," accessed November 11, 2017
- ↑ Kansas State Department of Education, "State Board District 6," accessed November 11, 2017
- ↑ The Mercury, "Colburn appears to come up short in write-in campaign for state education board," August 5, 2020
- ↑ Horst ousted by Arpke
- ↑ 2008 Kansas Election Results
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Kansas 2008 - General Election Results," accessed March 29, 2014
- ↑ Kansas Legislature - Bills Introduced by Member (dead link)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Kansas State Board of Education District 6 2013-2025 |
Succeeded by Beryl New (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Kansas House of Representatives District 69 1995-2011 |
Succeeded by - |
 |
State of Kansas Topeka (capital) |
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