Ty Masterson, president of the Kansas State Senate, won the Republican nomination for governor on August 4, 2026, capturing 28,966 votes and defeating six other GOP candidates with President Trump’s backing. Masterson, who secured Trump’s endorsement in May, will advance to November’s general election as the Republican standard-bearer in a state where the Democratic incumbent, Laura Kelly, faces term limits.
Masterson’s decisive margin reflected both his political standing and the power of Trump’s endorsement in 2026 Republican primaries. Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, the second-place finisher, received 12,377 votes, leaving her more than 16,000 votes behind. The other GOP candidates—including former state representative Charlotte O’Hara, businessman Philip Sarnecki, and Secretary of State Scott Schwab—garnered significantly fewer votes.
Trump’s backing proved consequential. The former president had reaffirmed his support for Masterson in late July, holding a tele-rally to encourage Kansas voters to cast ballots early and renewing his public endorsement. According to Ballotpedia, candidates endorsed by Trump won 220 of 227 (97%) of their races in 2026 primaries as of early July, demonstrating the outsized influence Trump wields within the Republican Party. That success rate exceeded his 2024 primary endorsement record and reflected what analysts described as unprecedented party consolidation behind Trump-backed candidates.
On the Democratic side, Cindy Holscher won the Democratic primary for governor with 35,831 votes, narrowly edging state representative Ethan Corson, who received 34,883 votes. Holscher, a state legislator, will face Masterson in November. The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, and will determine who replaces Kelly after her tenure expires.
Masterson’s primary victory caps a campaign that benefited from early endorsements beyond Trump’s backing. U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, a Trump ally, also endorsed Masterson, and former governor Jeff Colyer withdrew from the race in late July and subsequently endorsed him. The Kansas primary elections also included contests for Senate and House races, with voters narrowing fields across multiple statewide and federal offices on the same day.
Sources
- Kansas City Star — unofficial results from Kansas governor primary showing Masterson’s vote total and margin of victory
- NBC News — confirmation of Masterson’s Trump endorsement and status as Republican nominee
- New York Times — live election results and Trump endorsement details
- Ballotpedia — Trump-endorsed candidates’ 97% success rate in 2026 primaries
- Kansas Reflector — Trump’s late-July tele-rally reaffirming Masterson endorsement and Colyer’s withdrawal
- Lawrence KS Times — Trump’s May 2026 endorsement of Masterson
