Who Is Running for Kansas Governor
Republican Ty Masterson and Democrat Cindy Holscher are the nominees for Kansas governor on November 3, 2026, and neither is an incumbent. Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, has served two terms, and the state constitution bars a third in a row (Kan. Const. art. 1, sec. 1).
Key facts
- The general election is November 3, 2026, and the registration deadline is October 13, 2026.
- Governor and lieutenant governor run as one ticket, in the primary and in November.
- Kelly won in 2022 by 22,258 votes, about two points.
- Republicans hold more than two-thirds of both chambers, enough to override a veto.
Ty Masterson is president of the Kansas Senate, representing District 16 since 2009. Cindy Holscher is a state senator representing District 8 since January 11, 2021 (Ballotpedia).
Tickets for Kansas governor and lieutenant governor on the November 3, 2026 ballot
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, 2026 primary official totals; Ballotpedia, as of 2026-10-14
Kansas Governor Primary Results
Ty Masterson won a seven-way Republican primary on August 4, 2026 with 43.2% of 344,203 votes. Philip Sarnecki was second, Vicki Schmidt third and Secretary of State Scott Schwab fourth (Kansas Secretary of State, official totals).
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Ty Masterson | 43.2% |
| Philip Sarnecki | 22.4% |
| Vicki Schmidt | 13.7% |
| Scott Schwab | 10.9% |
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, official totals. 344,203 votes cast; three other tickets are not shown.
Cindy Holscher won the Democratic primary with 48.8%, ahead of state Senator Ethan Corson at 38.7% and Curt Skoog at 12.5%, out of 226,407 votes. NCSL classifies Kansas primaries as partially closed, which means unaffiliated voters can take part only if a party allows it (NCSL). Our primary elections guide explains how each state runs them.
The 2022 Kansas Governor Result
In 2022, Kelly won a second term over Republican Derek Schmidt, 49.5% to 47.3%. Two other candidates took the rest (Ballotpedia).
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Laura Kelly (D) | 49.5% |
| Derek Schmidt (R) | 47.3% |
| Dennis Pyle (I) | 2% |
| Seth Cordell (L) | 1.1% |
Source: Ballotpedia, certified results.
That race had an incumbent, and 2026 does not. This page carries no polls or race ratings.
The Kansas Legislature and the Veto
Republicans hold 31 of 40 Senate seats and 88 of 125 House seats, according to the Legislature’s member lists. Overriding a veto takes two-thirds of the members of each house: 27 senators and 84 representatives (Kan. Const. art. 2, sec. 14).
That leaves Republicans 4 seats to spare in the Senate and 4 in the House. All 125 House seats are on the November 3 ballot. Senators serve four-year terms and are not up until 2028. The next session begins January 11, 2027, the same day the new governor takes office (art. 2, sec. 8; art. 1, sec. 1).
What the Kansas Governor Can Do
The Kansas governor runs the executive branch, signs or vetoes every bill and can strike single spending items from a budget bill (Kansas Constitution).
Powers of the Kansas governor
Source: Kansas Constitution, Articles 1 and 2
How to Vote for Governor in Kansas
Register by October 13, 2026, then vote early from October 14, 2026 or at your polling place on Election Day. Check your registration and polling place on VoterView.
Kansas's 2026 governor election, step by step
- October 13, 2026 Registration deadline Kansas has no Election Day registration.
- October 14, 2026 Advance voting begins Vote early in person or by mail, up to 20 days before the election.
- November 3, 2026 Election Day Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time (6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Mountain time counties).
- January 11, 2027 Term begins The new governor and lieutenant governor take office.
A mailed ballot postmarked by Election Day counts if it arrives by the last postal delivery on Friday, November 6, 2026, under a court order the Secretary of State lost a bid to pause. The statute itself sets the close of polls as the deadline, so mailing early is the safer choice (Kansas Secretary of State).
Our 2026 governor races guide covers all 36 races on the ballot this year, and our Kansas Senate race guide covers the U.S. Senate seat.
Kansas Governor Questions
Who is running for governor of Kansas in 2026?
Republican Ty Masterson, the Senate president, with running mate Jeff Klemp, and Democrat Cindy Holscher, a state senator, with running mate KC Ohaebosim. The election is November 3, 2026.
Why is Laura Kelly not running for governor?
The Kansas Constitution bars anyone from serving more than two terms in a row as governor, and Kelly won in 2018 and 2022.
Who won the 2026 Kansas governor primaries?
On August 4, Ty Masterson won a seven-way Republican primary with 43.2%, and Cindy Holscher won the Democratic primary with 48.8%, according to the official count.
How many votes does it take to override a veto in Kansas?
Two-thirds of the members of each house: 27 of 40 senators and 84 of 125 representatives. Republicans hold more than that in both chambers.
What is the deadline to register to vote in Kansas?
October 13, 2026 for the November 3, 2026 election. Kansas has no Election Day registration. The new governor takes office January 11, 2027.
What You Can Do
- Check your registration on VoterView before October 13, 2026.
- Vote early from October 14, 2026, and return a mailed ballot well before Election Day.
- Look up your state senator and representative with the Legislature’s Find My Legislators tool.
- Read up on the issues on the ballot in Kansas: the minimum wage, abortion laws and marijuana laws.