Republican state Senate President Ty Masterson will face Democratic state Sen. Cindy Holscher in the Kansas governor’s race this fall, NBC News projects. This contest is seen as the GOP’s best opportunity to pick up a governorship in 2026.

Masterson secured the Republican nomination with an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, emerging from a crowded GOP primary field. Holscher, meanwhile, ran on a progressive, anti-establishment platform, emphasizing her understanding of working people's frustrations and advocating for a moratorium on new data center construction.

In the Democratic primary, candidate Corson significantly outspent Holscher and benefited from strong support by Kelly, a two-term governor in a state that Trump won by double digits in the last three presidential elections. Kelly appeared in TV ads praising Corson’s ability to "stand up to Trump and ICE" and his "strength and judgement and backbone" for the governorship. A pro-Corson PAC, Heartland Priorities, also aired ads highlighting Corson’s record of defending Kansas values and opposing Trump.

Kelly, who maintains strong job approval ratings, told the Kansas City Star that Corson was the only Democrat capable of winning over the state’s "extraordinarily moderate" Republican and independent voters in November. She expressed concern about the direction Kansas would take if Corson was not elected and labeled Holscher an "extremist."

Registered Republicans in Kansas outnumber Democrats nearly 2 to 1, underscoring the competitive dynamics of the race.

Sources