Kansas governor race 2026: Ty Masterson vs. Cindy Holscher

The basics

Kansans vote Nov. 3 to replace Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat who cannot run again. In the Aug. 4 primaries, Masterson won a seven candidate Republican field with 43% of the vote after President Donald Trump endorsed him, and Holscher defeated state Sen. Ethan Corson, who had the backing of Kelly and former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, KCUR reported. Kelly and Sebelius endorsed Holscher after the primary. Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature, but Democrats have won the governor's office for most of the years since the late 1960s.

The candidates

Ty Masterson (R), from Andover, has been president of the Kansas Senate since 2021 and served in the Legislature since 2005. Before politics he ran a homebuilding company. He dropped out of Kansas State University and has said in an ad that tough times "mean tough choices." Several unions have endorsed him, including the rail workers' union SMART-TD.

Cindy Holscher (D), from Overland Park, has served in the state Senate since 2021 after four years in the House. She grew up in Missouri, studied journalism and political science at the University of Missouri and worked mostly at Sprint before taking office. The Kansas AFL-CIO and EMILY's List have endorsed her.

Where the race stands

Masterson has led every recent independent poll. A CNN poll by SSRS (Oct. 20–26, 838 likely voters, ±4.5) had Masterson 50%, Holscher 45%. A New York Times/Siena poll (Sept. 22–30) had Masterson 49%, Holscher 44%, and Emerson College (Sept. 15–16) had Masterson 51%, Holscher 44%. STTPN's average of four recent independent polls is Masterson 49.3%, Holscher 44.3%. Unaffiliated voters outnumber registered Democrats in Kansas by more than 50,000, and both campaigns see them as the deciding group. Holscher has increasingly emphasized support from Republicans, while Masterson has toned down messaging in support of Trump since the primary, KCUR reported.

Cook rates the race a Toss-up, Inside Elections rates it Tilt Republican and Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it Lean Republican, each as a pickup from Democrats.

The issues

Property taxes

Masterson's top issue is a constitutional amendment capping growth in assessed property values at 3% a year or less. Holscher would lower the residential assessment rate by 2.5%, which would also require an amendment, and opposes a hard cap. Masterson helped negotiate a 2024 plan with Kelly to cut property and income taxes over five years. Holscher links him to former Gov. Sam Brownback's 2012 income tax cuts, which the Legislature largely repealed in 2017 over Masterson's objections, the Kansas Reflector reported.

Costs

Holscher focuses on grocery, health care, child care and fuel prices and criticizes Trump's tariffs and the war in Iran, which she says raised diesel prices. Masterson says Kansans value freedom, hard work and the American dream, and he warns voters against electing "socialists."

Other issues

Holscher supports legalizing recreational marijuana, a moratorium on data centers and fully funding special education as state law requires. Masterson voted to bar transgender girls from girls' sports and to block diversity and inclusion programs at state universities.

Controversies

At an Oct. 19 rally near Wichita, Trump called Holscher "the most radical candidate ever to run for Kansas governor" and urged voters to "defeat crazy Cindy Holscher." Holscher replied, "Thanks for shouting me out at your rally, Mr. President," and said name-calling does not help Kansans facing higher costs. She said she has never considered herself a socialist.

Holscher's campaign has attacked Masterson over a 2010 personal bankruptcy tied to a failed business. A staffer for Corson's primary campaign called Holscher's decision to join a teachers union this year a "stunt." Masterson has also clashed with members of his own party over property tax policy, KCUR reported.