Dems rally around best hope to defend governor's mansion from GOP takeover

Democrats are hoping their new candidate will be able to keep the governor's mansion Democrat in deep red Kansas as they put up Cindy Holscher to face the Republican nominee Ty Masterson in the Nov. 3 general election.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited, and the party is hoping to extend their hold on the governor's office despite Kansas' strong Republican lean. Meanwhile, the GOP views the open-seat race as a prime opportunity to reclaim the governorship after two terms under Kelly.

The Democratic field featured state Sens. Ethan Corson and Cindy Holscher, along with Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog.

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Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican candidate for governor, is seeking to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in the 2026 election. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

On the Republican side, voters had a crowded field from which to select their candidates.

Secretary of State Scott Schwab, Senate President Ty Masterson, Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, former Johnson County Commissioner Charlotte O'Hara, businessman Nick Reinecker, businessman Philip Sarnecki and former Johnson County Sheriff Stacy Rogers duked it out for the nomination.

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Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is leaving office after serving two terms, setting up an open race for governor. (Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)

The primary in the Sunflower State coincided with a closely watched constitutional amendment that would replace the current system of appointing Kansas Supreme Court justices by instead holding direct elections.

The proposal, backed by Republican lawmakers, comes after years of criticism from conservatives over the state's judicial selection process. If approved, it would amend the Kansas Constitution to require Supreme Court justices to be elected rather than selected through the state's nominating commission system.

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The race will determine who occupies the governor's office in the Kansas Statehouse as Republicans seek unified control of state government. (Don and Melinda Crawford/UCG/Universal Images Group/Getty Images)

The winner of November's election will become Kansas' next governor after Kelly reaches her term limit in January.

The governorship has frequently changed hands in recent election cycles, with voters alternating between Democratic and Republican leadership in Kansas despite it's strong red tendencies, including voting 57 percent for President Donald Trump in 2024.