The state’s largest teachers union issued its list of primary election endorsements Tuesday, backing 108 House candidates and 40 Senate candidates.

Included in the list are all six Douglas County legislators: Democratic Reps. John Wilson, Boog Highberger and Barbara Ballard; Republican Rep. Tom Sloan; and Democratic Sens. Marci Francisco and Tom Holland.

KNEA said its screening process includes interviews with a team of educators who live in each candidate’s district, “to determine which candidates show the greatest support for Kansas public schools.”

Incumbent lawmakers are also judged according to their voting record on education issues, KNEA said. The list includes 97 Democrats and 51 Republicans.

KNEA also endorsed Democratic Sen. Anthony Hensley, of Topeka, whose district includes rural western Douglas County.

But in the 42nd House District, which includes Eudora and parts of eastern Douglas County, KNEA endorsed Jim Karleskint over incumbent Rep. Connie O’Brien in the GOP primary, and it backed Democrat Kara Reed, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

O’Brien currently serves on the House Education Budget Committee. All three of the candidates are from Tonganoxie.

Primary elections will be Aug. 2. Voters can begin casting advance ballots starting July 18.