Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson Builds Gubernatorial Platform on Conservative Model Legislation
Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson launched his campaign for governor by highlighting conservative legislative victories including tax cuts, voter ID rules, and getting “woke ideology off our college campuses.” However, an investigation by the Kansas Reflector reveals that nearly 20 high-profile bills championed by Masterson over the past two years originated as model legislation from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).
Masterson, a Republican from Andover, has spent $21,000 in campaign funds on ALEC-related expenses and travel since 2007, according to public disclosure records cited by the Kansas Reflector. He served as the national organization’s treasurer in 2022, vice chair in 2023, and national chair in 2024. He currently serves on the group’s board of directors and as its Kansas state co-chair.
| Kansas Measure | Action / Outcome | ALEC Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Cuts | Promoted as a $2 billion tax relief package | 2020 ALEC model tax legislation |
| Voter Registration | Enacted in April over the governor’s veto | ALEC citizenship verification model |
| Higher Education | Targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion content | Freedom from Indoctrination Act |
Tracing the Policy Pipeline From National Network to Kansas Law
The intersection of national conservative policy groups and state governance in Kansas has historical roots, notably under former Sam Brownback, whose tax experiment relied on ideas from ALEC advisory board member Arthur Laffer, according to the Kansas Reflector. Masterson’s recent gubernatorial platform features policies directly mirroring template language provided by ALEC, an advocacy organization that unites state lawmakers with corporate interests.
The $2 billion in tax cuts highlighted by Masterson emerged from 2024 legislation bearing substantial similarities to 2020 ALEC model bills. Similarly, the law enacted in April over the governor’s veto to examine the citizenship of voter registrants mimics ALEC templates. State legislation cracking down on diversity, equity, and inclusion content in college curricula began as an ALEC model titled the Freedom from Indoctrination Act.
Ethics Debate Over Undisclosed Model Bills in the Legislature
None of the nearly 20 bills reviewed by the Kansas Reflector contained disclosures indicating they originated from ALEC. Craig Holman told the publication that what makes the use of ALEC’s model bills unethical is that lawmakers often don’t disclose that a piece of legislation was written by someone else.
In the end, we rely on legislators and public officials being honest and actually telling us what’s going on, and those that don’t, they have their own reasons to want to hide the strings that are controlling them,
Holman said.
Between 2019 and 2023, ALEC received $2.3 million from Charles Koch through his affiliated trusts and foundations, according to data from the Center for Media and Democracy. Critics, including Masterson’s gubernatorial opponent, state Cindy Holscher of Overland Park, argue these financial connections influence state policy. Holscher said that shorter legislative sessions have made the presence of model bills more prominent.
It’s been easy to see that there are certain bills that have been given priority, and it’s the agenda of these far-right organizations like ALEC that are pushed through,
Holscher said.
Campaign Defense and Future Outlook for the Gubernatorial Race
Masterson said in a podcast interview that he has never been told by anybody, including the Koch brothers, “to vote a certain way or anything.” ALEC CEO Lisa Nelson said in a July 2025 newsletter that Masterson “is a clear example of how ALEC equips leaders with the ideas, support, and experience necessary to serve at the highest levels.”
As the campaign for the Kansas governorship progresses, the debate over the influence of national advocacy organizations on state legislation remains a central point of contention between Masterson and his opponents.