By Zach Boblitt
Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson defeated six other Republicans to clinch the GOP nomination for governor, while Overland Park state Sen. Cindy Holscher nabbed the Democratic nomination.
Holscher’s win overturns the will of outgoing Gov. Laura Kelly, who had endorsed fellow Johnson County Democratic state Sen. Ethan Corson in the race.
Masterson, from Andover, received a key endorsement from Republican President Donald Trump during the campaign. In his speech after the win, he thanked the president.
“I want to thank President Trump for his friendship and his support throughout this campaign,” Masterson said. “I’m proud to stand with him as we fight for Kansas.”
Corson received endorsements from Kelly and former Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Despite this, Holscher came away with the Democratic nomination.
On Tuesday, Corson conceded to Holscher, calling the finale “disappointing,” but he nodded to results beyond his own.
“I could not be prouder of what we built together. I’m also proud that Kansans once again rejected a constitutional amendment that threatened our fundamental freedoms. I entered public service because I want my boys, and every Kansas child, to grow up in a state where hard work is rewarded, families get a fair shake and opportunity is not reserved for the lucky few.”
Finishing third in the Democratic primary was Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog, who entered the race on the final day of filing in June.
“What comes next for Kansas matters more than any one campaign,” Skoog said in a statement Tuesday. “To everyone who knocked a door, made a call, gave what they could, or just believed a healthier, fairer Kansas was possible: thank you. You built something real. The fight for quality health care that reaches every town doesn’t end tonight. It can’t.”
Both winning candidates focused their campaigns on affordability in their victory speeches.
“We need young mothers not worried about grocery and gas prices, small businesses worried about making payroll,” Masterson said. “We need to make sure that Kansas is the model in the nation.”
Holscher sent a more populist message in her speech.
“People want their leaders to stand up to the corporations that are ripping people off and making things more expensive,” she said.
She also attacked her GOP opponent, comparing him to former Republican Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.
Brownback’s critics point to tax cuts passed under his watch and budget troubles that followed. Lawmakers eventually used a bipartisan coalition — including Holscher, who was elected in 2016 — to override Brownback’s veto and reverse many of those tax cuts.
“Ty Masterson as governor would drag us back to the Brownback years,” she said. “It would be politics as usual with a side of MAGA extremism.”
The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KMUW, KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KRPS and High Plains Public Radio.
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Stephen Koranda also contributed to this report.
