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GOP dukes it out in red state primary to reclaim governor's mansion
By Amanda Macias
Published August 04, 2026
Republican voters in Kansas chose their nominee Tuesday in one of the year's highest-profile gubernatorial primaries.
Ty Masterson will face the Democratic nominee in the Nov. 3 general election to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.
Republicans see the open-seat race as a prime opportunity to reclaim the governor's mansion after two terms under Kelly, while Democrats are hoping to defy the state's Republican lean and retain control of the office.
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Ty Masterson, who has served as president of the Kansas Senate since 2021, campaigned on tax cuts, school choice, border security and rolling back what he described as government overreach. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
The Republican field featured several well-known statewide and legislative leaders, including Secretary of State Scott Schwab, Senate President Ty Masterson and Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt.
On the Democratic side, voters are choosing among state senators Ethan Corson and Cindy Holscher and Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog.
The winner of that primary will face the new Republican nominee in November.
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)
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The campaign centered on familiar conservative priorities, including tax relief, education, immigration, public safety and cultural issues, as candidates sought to distinguish themselves through their leadership experience and competing visions for the state's future.
The primary also coincided with a closely watched constitutional amendment that would replace Kansas' current system of appointing Supreme Court justices with direct elections.
The next governor will play a key role in shaping Kansas policy on taxes, education, public safety and economic development while working with the Republican-controlled Legislature. (Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)
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The proposal, backed by Republican lawmakers, comes after years of conservative criticism of Kansas Supreme Court rulings on issues including abortion, school funding and election law.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/conservative-heavyweights-duked-red-state-primary-reclaim-governors-mansion-democrats