Cindy Holscher, Democrat

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up on a farm, and am the daughter of a union construction worker and an elementary school employee. I raised three kids who went to public school with my husband of over 30 years. During the Brownback emergency, I served as a substitute teacher in my own community to help out with the teacher shortage. In 2016, I ran for office, because I knew reasonable people had to fight back against the disastrous policies that bankrupted our state. I co-founded the women’s bipartisan caucus that reversed the experiment. Now, I’m running for Governor to continue fighting for families and cleaning up corruption that drives up costs for everyday Kansans..

What do you believe are the three most important issues you would face if elected and what is your position on each?

Cutting property taxes: I aim to lower residential property tax assessment rates, providing significant tax relief for homeowners across all income levels. I’ll add exemptions to our tax system to make sure that the property tax burden doesn’t push seniors and disabled veterans out of their homes. To address the root problem, I’ll fully fund education at the state level so that localities aren’t forced to raise taxes.

Putting a pause on data centers: Large-scale data centers raise our energy costs, threaten our farmland, and put our water at risk. I have called for a pause on new giant data centers until we can put guardrails in place to protect our environment, our jobs, and our budgets. Big corporations don’t deserve taxpayer handouts; they should pay their fair share.

Making health care accessible and affordable: I have fought for years to expand Medicaid. As governor, I’ll make it happen and bring down healthcare costs for 152,000 Kansans while protecting our rural hospitals. For everyone who already has coverage, she’ll ban insurance companies from denying care a doctor prescribed and speed up approvals so insurers can’t force Kansans to wait months for the treatment they need.

If elected, what are two things you would like to accomplish within the first year of your term?

Reduce property taxes: I aim to lower residential property tax assessment rates to provide significant tax relief for homeowners across all income levels. In addition, I’ll add exemptions to our tax system to make sure that the tax burden doesn’t push seniors and disabled veterans out of their homes.

Invest in Kansas kids: I put my three kids through Kansas public schools, and I know how important our schools are to ensuring that every child gets the best start in life. I’m committed to fully funding our schools and meeting our special education commitments, which we have not done since 2011. I also aim to make school lunches free for all students, to make sure that our kids can show up to learn without worrying about their next meal.

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

Too many politicians have forgotten who they work for. I will serve all Kansans, and I will always put working people ahead of billionaires and greedy corporations. I’ll stand up against corruption that is driving up costs, and fight against politicians from both parties who want to give tax breaks and sweetheart deals to billionaires while costs keep rising for everybody else.

Why should voters elect you?

I am running on my record. In my first term, I brought together Democrats and Republicans to clean up the Brownback mess and restore funding to public schools and services. I fought to eliminate the sales tax on food and the income tax on Social Security benefits. I helped secure $500 million in new public school funding to protect teachers’ jobs, reversing years of Brownback-era policies. I have consistently blocked extremist efforts to cut public school funding and expand private school vouchers. The work that we have done to clean up the mess from the Brownback years has been bipartisan and common-sense, and I will bring that same approach as governor.

Ty Masterson, Republican

Tell us about yourself.

Like a lot of Kansans, I know what it’s like to make tough choices. I come from a working family. My dad built planes in Wichita for four decades, and I’ve worked as a laborer, a small business owner, and an entrepreneur. I had to leave college when times got tough, and worked hard to provide for my family. Marlo and I have been married for 32 years, and together we have six children and eight grandchildren, so I have a vested interest in making Kansas the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

I first ran for local office because I was dissatisfied with the direction of my local government. That led to the opportunity to serve in the Kansas House and then the Kansas Senate, where my colleagues elected me Senate President in 2020 and again in 2024.

What do you believe are the three most important issues you would face if elected and what is your position on each?

I’m running for governor because Kansas faces serious issues that can’t wait, and the next four years are a moment we must get right.

First, we must end the property tax crisis. Rising property taxes are forcing older Kansans out of homes they’ve already paid for and keeping young families from buying their first one.

Second, we must make sure every Kansas child can read and do math at grade level, pay our good teachers what they deserve, and protect the rural schools that anchor communities like Sabetha.

Third, we must grow our economy, create good jobs, and make life more affordable for every Kansan.

If elected, what are two things you would like to accomplish within the first year of your term?

First, pass my Homeowners’ Bill of Rights, my plan to attack the property tax crisis. Second, put Kansas on track to have every child reading at grade level, with our education dollars focused on results.

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

It’s rather simple. I’m a battle-tested, proven leader. As Senate President, I led the bipartisan tax cut that ended the state income tax on Social Security and cut property taxes for Kansas homeowners. I’ve delivered whether Topeka was divided or unified. Kansas needs a governor who can hit the ground running on day one, and I will.

Why should voters elect you?

Kansas is at a turning point. As Senate President, I’ve helped deliver real results for Kansans, but there’s only so much a Legislature can do without a governor who shares the same priorities. Kansans want meaningful property tax relief, a growing economy with good jobs, reinvestment in our rural communities, schools that prepare every child for success, and a lower cost of living. Laura Kelly herself said that my democratic opponent is too extreme for Kansas. Under my administration, the state will work for the people, not the other way around.