Who is running for Governor and Lieutenant Governor (Kansas) in 2026?

Kansas state senator (District 5, Leavenworth County)

Jeffrey Klemp, who goes by Jeff in the Legislature, is a Republican who has served in the Kansas Senate (District 5) since 2025 and is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor on a ticket with Ty Masterson¹²³. He is a fifth-generation Kansan and a businessman who, with his wife, bought a struggling company 17 years ago and built it into a military relocation provider².

• Member, Kansas Senate (District 5), since 2025; vice chair of the Transportation Committee¹
• Owner of a military relocation company he and his wife acquired about 17 years ago; more than 25 years in business²
• Degree in economics from the University of Kansas; MBA from Baker University²
• Named by gubernatorial candidate Ty Masterson on June 1, 2026, as his running mate. In Kansas the governor and lieutenant governor run as one ticket².

Kansas state senator (District 8, Overland Park); Senate Minority Whip

Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat, served in the Kansas House from 2017 to 2020 and has been in the Kansas Senate since 2021, where she is Minority Whip¹. She won the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary for governor with 48.7 percent of the vote and is on the November 3 ballot with running mate KC Ohaebosim²³. She worked for Sprint before public office and her three children attended Johnson County public schools².

Where they stand 19 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• Minimum wageRaise it to around $15high

  Official action · high confidence

  • Her campaign site says she will fight to raise the Kansas minimum wage to $16 statewide and let higher-cost cities and counties set higher ones. (2026) source
  • Named sponsor of SB 471, which would raise the Kansas minimum wage to $16 an hour, and of SB 218, a minimum wage increase. (2026) source
• Paid leaveRequire employers nationwide to offer a basic number of paid sick dayshigh

  Official action · high confidence

  • Her campaign site says she will fight so that people who miss work because they are sick do not go without pay. (2026) source
  • Named sponsor of SB 216, the Kansas Paid Sick Time Act, which sets accrual and use of paid sick time for employees. (2025) source
• HealthcareKeep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • On KCTV5 she said she sees a path to Medicaid expansion and recalled working with a bipartisan group in 2017 that passed expansion before Gov. Brownback vetoed it. (2026-07-15) source
  • Her campaign site says that as governor she will expand Medicaid, ban insurers from denying care a doctor prescribed and speed up insurer approvals. (2026) source
• Safety net programsExpand help for childcare, housing and paid family leavemedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Her campaign site says she aims to make school lunch free for every student. (2026) source
  • Her campaign site says she is determined to make Medicaid available to more low- and moderate-income Kansans. (2026) source
  • Named sponsor of SB 123, which would pay for school meals with state general funds. (2025) source
• MarijuanaLegalize and regulate it like alcoholmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • On KCTV5 she said she first pushed for medical marijuana but now says Kansas should do medical and recreational, citing revenue for schools. (2026-07-16) source
  • Her campaign site says legalizing cannabis in Kansas would raise money for schools and public services and bring Kansas in line with 22 other states. (2026) source
  • Named sponsor of SB 484, which would move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the controlled substances act. (2025) source
• School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Her campaign site says she has consistently blocked extremist efforts to cut public school funding and expand private school vouchers. (2026) source
  • Voted no on SB 87 (2025), which widened the low-income scholarship tax credit (Senate 24 to 16). (2025-02-19) source
  • Voted no on HB 2468 (2026), which would join the federal scholarship tax credit (Senate 27 to 13). (2026-03-10) source
• RedistrictingIndependent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Her priorities page (copy from August 2, 2026) says Kansas should create an independent panel for redistricting and prohibit mid-decade redistricting. (2026-08-02) source
  • Sponsor of SCR 1618 (2026), a constitutional amendment setting apportionment criteria and barring mid-decade redistricting except by court order; it keeps the Legislature drawing maps. (2026) source
• Term limitsYes, but longer limits that still allow long service, such as 12 years per chambermedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Sole sponsor of SB 143, which would bar anyone with 16 or more combined years in the Legislature from being elected, with limited extensions. (2025) source
  • Her priorities page (copy from August 2, 2026) says she believes in enacting term limits. (2026-08-02) source
• Death penaltyAbolish it and use life without parole insteadmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Named sponsor of SB 211, which would abolish the death penalty in Kansas and create the crime of aggravated murder. (2023) source
• Qualified immunityNo, end it for police so officers or departments can be sued for rights violationsmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Lead sponsor of SB 486, which creates a state cause of action against officials who violate constitutional rights and says good faith and "not clearly established" law are not defenses. (2026) source
• Kids onlineRequire app stores and platforms to verify age and get parental consentmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 372, the App Store Accountability Act requiring age verification and parental consent for minors (Senate 34 to 6). (2026-02-18) source
• Childcare and pre-KHelp through tax credits, employer incentives, and parent choicemedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 521, which gives income tax credits for employee child care costs and employer contributions that expand child care (Senate 34 to 6). (2026-03-19) source
• AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low

  Said · low confidence

  • On KCTV5 she said Kansans spoke loudly in 2022 to preserve access to reproductive health care, that she would uphold that and that she would veto bills that take away those rights. (2026-07-17) source
  • She told Kansas Reflector she opposed the 2022 amendment on abortion and that reproductive health care would be eliminated if her opponent became governor. (2026-10-05) source
  • Voted no on HB 2313, the born-alive infants protection act (Senate 31 to 9). (2023-04-26) source
• E-Verify mandateKeep it voluntary and go after employers who knowingly hire illegallylow

  Official action · low confidence

  • First-named sponsor of SCR 1614, a non-binding resolution urging Congress to double fines for immigration law violations and ICE to prosecute employers who hire undocumented workers. (2025) source
• Drug pricesFocus on competition, generics, and price transparency instead of price settinglow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 360 and SB 20 (2026), which register and regulate pharmacy benefit managers (Senate 32 to 8). (2026-03-24) source
• Policing and crimeFund police and add reforms like body cameras and use-of-force limitslow

  Official action · low confidence

  • Sponsor of SB 469, the Safe and Transparent Arrest Act, which requires each Kansas law enforcement agency to adopt a written policy on facial coverings and bars officers from concealing their faces on duty except as authorized by law. (2025) source
• Election rulesEasier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyonelow

  Official action · low confidence

  • One of three named sponsors (with Sen. Jeff Pittman and Sen. Ethan Corson) of SB 197 (2023), which would let voters register on election day. (2023) source
  • Voted no on SB 4 (2025), which ended the mail ballot grace period (Senate 30 to 10). (2025-03-25) source
• Gender care for minorsNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted no on SB 26 (2023) and SB 63 (2025), bills restricting gender transition care for minors. (2025-01-29) source
• Transgender athletesNo single answer fitslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted no on HB 2238 (2023), which set female school teams by biological sex (Senate 28 to 12). (2023-04-05) source

No public position found on: Business regulation, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Mandatory minimums, Student loans, AI regulation, School vaccines, Nuclear power, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.

President of the Kansas Senate (District 16, Andover)

Ty Masterson, a Republican from Andover, was appointed to the Kansas House in 2005, has served in the Kansas Senate since 2009 and has been Senate President since 2021¹². He won the August 4, 2026 Republican primary for governor with 43.2 percent of the vote in a field of seven, and is on the November 3 ballot with running mate Jeffrey Klemp²³. His home-building company did not survive the 2008 recession, and he directs GoCreate, a community workshop at Wichita State University, on leave during the campaign².

Where they stand 20 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionshigh

  Voted · high confidence

  • His campaign site says Kansas has banned men from competing in women's sports. (2026-08-31) source
  • Voted yes on HB 2238, the Fairness in Women's Sports Act, setting female school teams by biological sex (Senate 28 to 12), and to override the governor's veto. (2023-04-05) source
• Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says Kansas has ended transgender surgeries for minors. (2026-08-31) source
  • Voted yes on SB 63, the Help Not Harm Act banning gender transition care for minors (Senate 32 to 8), and to override the governor's veto (31 to 9). (2025-01-29) source
• DEI programsKeep support open to all, but end race or sex preferences and required statementsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says Kansas has stopped DEI policies in its higher education system. (2026-08-31) source
  • Voted yes on the conference report for HB 2105 (2024), which bars public colleges from requiring diversity, equity or inclusion statements or pledges and requires them to post training materials (Senate 28 to 11). The earlier 34 to 6 Senate vote was on a different version of the bill (earned wage access), so it is not cited. (2024-04-05) source
• School choiceYes, but focused on low-income and special-needs studentsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • He told Kansas Reflector he supports using state tax dollars to support private schools so students can leave underperforming schools; the article reports no limits. (2026-09-14) source
  • Voted yes on the low-income student scholarship tax credit expansion: SB 83 (2023) and SB 87 (Senate 24 to 16). (2025-02-19) source
  • Voted yes on HB 2468 and SB 361 (2026), which join the federal scholarship tax credit. (2026-03-10) source
• MarijuanaKeep it illegalmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • On KCTV5, asked whether he would push for legalization of any form, he said he certainly would not and that he expects research to show it is not the cure its backers claim. (2026-07-16) source
• GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Original cosponsor (one of many named sponsors, led by Sen. J.R. Claeys) of SCR 1618 (2023) and SCR 1610 (2025), a constitutional amendment making the right to bear arms a fundamental right, covering ammunition and accessories, with strict scrutiny for any limit. (2025) source
• Ranked-choice votingNo, ban ranked-choice voting in all electionsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 6 (2025), which bans ranked-choice voting in Kansas elections (Senate 29 to 10). (2025-02-05) source
• Campaign financeRaise or remove contribution limits and protect donors' privacymedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 2054 (2025), which raises campaign contribution limits and removes party-to-candidate limits in general elections (Senate 21 to 17; conference report 26 to 14). (2025-03-27) source
• Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 4 (2025), which ends the mail ballot grace period (Senate 30 to 10), and on the SAVE Kansas Act, HB 2437 (2026), which expands voter roll checks and limits registration websites (Senate 32 to 8). (2026-03-19) source
  • His campaign site says the Senate has preserved the integrity of elections with commonsense measures to protect the ballot box. (2026-08-31) source
• Kids onlineRequire app stores and platforms to verify age and get parental consentmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 372, the App Store Accountability Act requiring age verification and parental consent for minors (Senate 34 to 6). (2026-02-18) source
• Childcare and pre-KHelp through tax credits, employer incentives, and parent choicemedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 521, which gives income tax credits for employee child care costs and employer contributions that expand child care (Senate 34 to 6). (2026-03-19) source
• Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Named sponsor of SB 418 (with Sen. TJ Rose), the By-right Housing Development Act, which approves townhouses, accessory dwelling units and homes that meet existing zoning without discretionary review. (2026) source
  • On KCTV5 he said first-time home buyers are now over 40, that this robs young people of homeownership, and that he is going after housing costs, taxes and fuel costs. (2026-07-15) source
• Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says he will stand with law enforcement, back tough on crime policies and ensure police are funded. (2026-08-31) source
• Business regulationCut red tape, but keep core safety and environmental rulesmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says he wants lower taxes and fewer regulations; on KCTV5 he said Kansas must cut taxes and deregulate. (2026-08-31) source
  • His home page says he will bring back jobs, cut red tape and make Kansas open for business again. (2026-08-31) source
• Energy and climateMaximize oil and gas; climate rules hurt the economymedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • On KCTV5 he said he is likely to be the most oil and gas friendly governor Kansas has seen and called ethanol a key market. (2026-07-15) source
  • Voted yes on HB 2783 (2024), which bars state and local agencies from limiting vehicles by their energy source (Senate 29 to 9). (2024-03-21) source
• Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tolow

  Voted · low confidence

  • His campaign site says that as governor he will make sure parents have a say in their kids' education. (2026-08-31) source
  • Voted yes on HB 2236 (2023), which establishes parents' right to direct their children's education, including a right to object to harmful and inappropriate educational materials (Senate 23 to 17). (2023-03-28) source
• AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow

  Said · low confidence

  • On KCTV5 he said abortion is an "80-20 issue," that 80 percent do not want late-term or taxpayer-funded abortions and want fewer abortions, and called unrestricted abortion at all times the extreme view. (2026-07-17) source
  • Kansas Reflector reports he supported the 2022 constitutional amendment on abortion that voters rejected. (2026-09-14) source
  • Voted yes on HB 2313, the born-alive infants protection act (Senate 31 to 9). (2023-04-26) source
• ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadylow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted yes on SCR 1602 (2025), a resolution urging the governor to cooperate fully with federal immigration enforcement (Senate 31 to 9). (2025-01-29) source
• Safety net programsKeep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 2094 (2023), which requires SNAP recipients ages 50 to 59 to complete an employment and training program (Senate 26 to 12). (2023-04-06) source
• HealthcareNo single answer fitsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • On KCTV5 he said Medicaid expansion did not save rural hospitals and displaced disabled people, and that Kansas should rebuild rural care around a "hub and spoke" system using federal rural health money. (2026-07-15) source

No public position found on: Minimum wage, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Redistricting, Electoral College, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Religion in schools, China policy.

Kansas state representative (District 89, Wichita)

KC Ohaebosim, a Wichita Democrat, has served in the Kansas House of Representatives since January 2017 and is the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor on a ticket with Cindy Holscher¹²³. He was born in Wichita, attended its public schools, earned degrees at Wichita State University and Newman University, and worked as a data analyst⁴.

• Member, Kansas House of Representatives (District 89), since January 2017; ranking minority member of the Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee¹
• Named Regional Legislator of the Year by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators in 2022 and 2025²
• Career as a data analyst; degrees from Wichita State University and Newman University⁴
• Chosen by gubernatorial candidate Cindy Holscher on May 14, 2026, as her running mate. In Kansas the governor and lieutenant governor run as one ticket²⁴.