Democrat Cindy Holscher won the Kansas governor’s race on Thursday defeating Republican Ty Masterson to extend a wave of Democratic victories nationwide, according to the Associated Press.
Holscher had already declared victory following Tuesday’s midterm elections before the race was officially called two days later. The Overland Park state senator secured the win by fending off a flood of money that Republicans poured behind Masterson, the president of the GOP-controlled state Senate.
“Kansans have sent a clear message that they want to keep our state moving forward,” Holscher said in a video posted online on Tuesday.
The political tailwinds helping Holscher win the closest governor’s race in Kansas since 1974 also pushed U.S. Sen.-elect Adam Hamilton to victory. Hamilton, a pastor of the nation’s largest United Methodist church, secured Democrats’ first win in a U.S. Senate race in the state since 1932.
In another major contest, Chris Mann defeated state Attorney General Kris Kobach, while state Rep. K.C. Ohaebosim of Wichita won election as lieutenant governor on Holscher’s ticket. These victories gave Democrats four statewide wins in Kansas for the first time since 1958.
Republican Momentum Grows Through Endorsements and Advertising Spending
Masterson entered the race with strong momentum after securing Donald Trump’s endorsement during an August primary. For 60 years, whenever a Kansas governor has retired or faced term limits, the opposing party’s nominee has won the next election. The Republican Governors Association poured $19 million into television and digital advertising through AdImpact, attacking Holscher as an extreme liberal and outspending Democrats more than 3-to-1 overall.
Holscher built a cornerstone of her campaign around placing a state moratorium on building new data centers for artificial intelligence. She told reporters in Topeka late in the race that voters wanted limits on local energy and water use. “It cuts across party lines,” Holscher told reporters. “The people are asking for reasonable things.”
Outgoing Democratic Governor Laura Kelly initially backed another state senator and suggested Holscher might be too liberal to win in November. Kelly later endorsed Holscher and produced a campaign video for her.
Johnson County Voter Turnout
Holscher built her victory on strong support in Johnson County, the state’s most populous county, which accounts for 23% of Kansas’s 2 million voters. The suburban area has leaned increasingly Democratic since Trump’s first presidential run in 2016. Holscher captured more than 60% of the vote in Johnson County, which offset Masterson’s wide margins in solidly Republican rural areas. Hamilton used the exact same suburban path to secure his U.S. Senate seat.
Following the race, Masterson said that Republicans would maintain their focus on cutting property taxes, safer communities, and better schools through their legislative majority. “The things we fought for are no less important today than they were yesterday,” Masterson said in a statement.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Election
Who will Cindy Holscher succeed in office?
Holscher will succeed outgoing Democratic Governor Laura Kelly, who was term-limited and unable to run for re-election.
What historical milestone did the lieutenant governor election mark?
State Rep. K.C. Ohaebosim's election as lieutenant governor on Holscher's ticket is the first time a Black candidate has won a statewide elected office in Kansas since 1887.
How much did outside groups spend against Holscher?
The Republican Governors Association spent $19 million on television and digital advertising to oppose Holscher’s campaign, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact.
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