Kansas gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
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← 2022
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| Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Kansas |
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| General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: Pending |
| Primary: August 4, 2026 General: November 3, 2026 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times:
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Race ratings |
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean Republican Inside Elections: Toss-up |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2026 Impact of term limits in 2026 State government trifectas State government triplexes Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026 |
| Kansas executive elections |
| Governor Lieutenant Governor |
Kansas is holding an election for governor and lieutenant governor on November 3, 2026.
In Kansas, gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial candidates run for election together on a single ticket in both the primary and the general election.
To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.
Candidates and election results
Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:
- Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
- Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
Governor
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for Governor of Kansas
The following candidates are running in the general election for Governor of Kansas on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Ethan Corson (D) | |
 | Cindy Holscher (D) | |
 | Doug Billings (R)  | |
| Joy Eakins (R) | ||
 | Ty Masterson (R) | |
 | Charlotte O'Hara (R) | |
 | Stacy Rogers (R) | |
 | Vicki Schmidt (R) | |
 | Scott Schwab (R) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Lieutenant Governor
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- April McCoy (R)
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Survey responses from candidates in this race
Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
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Doug Billings (R)
Human Life: The first and fundamental right given to us by God. Doug will use a portion of the billions of dollars his K-DOGE initiative will save to provide safe homes for women who have unwanted pregnancies. These safe homes will pay for the mother's medical care and delivery of her baby. If, after the birth, the mother cannot raise the child or does not want to raise it, a vetted family who holds fast to traditional American values, will be chosen to raise the child. Doug will also sign an executive order on his 1st day creating the "Child & Human Trafficking Task Force" and will order the KS Hwy Patrol and National Guard to hunt down the monsters responsible for these crimes.
K-DOGE = The Kansas Department of Government Efficiency. Doug will sign an executive order on his first day in office creating this department and work with the legislature to make it a permanent part of the Governor's cabinet. K-DOGE will audit every department that reports to the Governor's office. It is estimated that well over $1 BILLION of waste, fraud & abuse will be found. This money will be used to reduce/eliminate property and income tax.
Stacy Rogers (R)
Our rights are under attack. From free speech to guns rights to land grabs, we need to protect our families, farmers and businesses.
Involvement of people in their community is of the utmost importance to changing your day to day life. Working together to restore hope and protect our values vital to the success of Kansas.
Protecting and valuing ALL life.
The unborn, children, disabled and elderly- these parts of our society are the most taken advantage, ignored, manipulated, and harmed. They have a lesser to no voice and we have a responsibility to protect people who cannot protect themselves.
All life is precious and valuable.
Education. With so much of our budget going towards a system that is failing our kids, it is time for an overhaul. Money is not reaching our teachers, much less the students. We have leaking buildings, non working hvacs and are churning out graduates who do not have reading or math competancy at grade level, which sets them up to fail in the real world. We need to get back to the basics vs teaching to a test, but instead meeting a child where they learn best.
Doug Billings (R)
Election Integrity: Investigate irregularities, mandate watermarked paper ballots, eliminate vulnerable machines/drop boxes to restore trust.
Ending Property/Income Taxes: Cut waste, challenge unconstitutional taxes, promote sound money (gold/silver as tender) for economic freedom.
Ending Child/Human Trafficking: Enforce state actions to dismantle networks, secure borders, protect kids as a moral imperative.
K-DOGE: Create Kansas Dept. of Govt. Efficiency to audit/cut fraud in agencies to save more than $1BILLION to end property & income tax.
Stacy Rogers (R)
Doug Billings (R)
Doug Billings (R)
Life. It's sacred at all stages from birth to natural death.
Faith and Moral Courage: An elected official must be guided by unshakeable Christian values, prioritizing the sanctity of life, family, and freedom as God-given rights. This means standing firm against cultural decay, like protecting children from trafficking or restoring prayer in schools, even when it's unpopular.
Ending the WOKE, "transgender" movement
Integrity and Transparency: Elected leaders should be honest patriots who fight corruption, ensure election security with measures like paper ballots, and eliminate waste through initiatives like K-DOGE. No room for self-dealing or hidden agendas—true service means putting Kansas families first.
Limited Government and Fiscal Responsibility: Officials must champion personal liberty by slashing burdensome property taxes, promoting sound money (like gold and silver), and reducing bureaucracy to empower individuals, not expand state control.
Bold Leadership: Drawing from MAGA ideals, leaders should emulate figures like Trump—defending the Constitution, securing borders, and prioritizing America (and Kansas) first, with the grit to challenge the status quo. Ideally, NO candidates should make a career out of elected office. I want term limits.
Accountability to the People: Listen to constituents through platforms like podcasts or town halls, not lobbyists. Endorsements from truth-tellers like Michael Flynn, Ryan Foournier and Chad Prather reinforce this: serve with humility, as a father and citizen, not a career politician.
These principles drive my campaign to make Kansas a beacon of conservative governance.
Stacy Rogers (R)
Stacy Rogers (R)
Doug Billings (R)
Key duties include: Executing Laws and Protecting Citizens: Faithfully enforce state laws to safeguard Kansans, prioritizing public safety by combating child and human trafficking, securing election integrity through secure voting measures, and defending Second Amendment rights.
Managing the Budget and Economy: Oversee a balanced budget that cuts waste via initiatives like K-DOGE, eliminates burdensome property and income taxes, and promotes sound money (e.g., gold and silver as tender) to foster economic growth and attract businesses like SpaceX.
Leading on Policy and Legislation: Veto harmful bills, propose reforms to restore Christian values in education (e.g., school choice, ending DEI), protect life by restricting abortion, and reduce government overreach to empower individuals over bureaucracy.
Appointing Officials and Crisis Response: Select principled appointees for state agencies and courts, and act as commander-in-chief of the Kansas National Guard to handle emergencies while rejecting federal mandates that infringe on state sovereignty.
Being Accessible to the People: Remaining approachable by continuing family traditions—like weekly karaoke nights with my 23-year-old son who has Down syndrome, escorted by the Kansas Highway Patrol to honor the family unit. I'll personally mow the lawn at Cedar Crest and host events there for veterans, nurses, children with intellectual and physical disabilities, and the best Christmas galas ever, ensuring the governor's house serves as a welcoming space for all Kansans.
These responsibilities demand moral courage and patriotism to make Kansas a model of MAGA governance.
Stacy Rogers (R)
Doug Billings (R)
I've been the recipient of God's Grace and have overcome adversity, challenge & tragedy in my life and have discovered multiple dozens of blessings as a result of getting trhough those times. So, I hope people know these things about what I believe: 1. No one is as bad as the worst thing they've done 2. Love is the most important of all virtues, but it can't survive without the second most important virtue: Forgiveness. 3. Jesus preached more about Forgiveness than he preached about Love. Let that sink in. 4. See EVERYTHING as a gift. The good, the bad, the joys, the sorrows. Doing so teaches you to be grateful. And grateful people are the happiest people on the planet. 5. Find faith in God. He is real.
Believe it.
Stacy Rogers (R)
I don't need to be liked, loved, receive recognition or accolades for the work I do as long as real and lasting change comes in.
I am not here to create a career, I am here to serve the people for two terms and then go back to my life and continue to work and advocate in my community.
Doug Billings (R)
Stacy Rogers (R)
Doug Billings (R)
Stacy Rogers (R)
Doug Billings (R)
Stacy Rogers (R)
Doug Billings (R)
Stacy Rogers (R)
Doug Billings (R)
First, ensuring election integrity is item #1. Without fair, accurate, and transparent elections, none of our other priorities can be secured. I will work with the legislature to eliminate corruptible voting machines, end "election month," and return to secure paper and watermarked ballots with a single Election Day, as our Founding Fathers intended. Making Election Day a statewide paid holiday will increase voter participation and expand the pool of qualified election observers, ensuring trust in our democratic process.
Second, protecting the sanctity of human life, from conception to natural death. As governor, I will champion policies that protect the unborn, ensuring that every life is valued and defended, reflecting the moral foundation of our state and nation.
Third, I'll prioritize fiscal responsibility by signing an executive order on Day 1 to establish K-DOGE (Kansas Department of Government Efficiency) to uncover over $1 billion in waste, fraud, and abuse. By working with the legislature to redirect these savings to eliminate property and income taxes, we will provide immediate relief to Kansas families and businesses, fostering economic growth and making K-DOGE a permanent part of the Governor’s cabinet to maintain accountability.
Finally, I believe the Founding Fathers intended faith and the Divine Providence of God to guide our society and schools. As governor, I will work to restore these values, ensuring our education system reflects the moral Christian foundation of our nation while protecting parental authority and vetoing any legislation that threatens Second Amendment rights or the sanctity of life.
Stacy Rogers (R)
Doug Billings (R)
I would lead by proposing a budget rooted in eliminating waste, reducing taxes, and protecting the sanctity of life, election integrity, and state sovereignty.
On Day One, I’d sign an executive order creating K-DOGE (Kansas Department of Government Efficiency) to uncover over $1 billion in waste, fraud, and abuse, redirecting savings to eliminate property and income taxes. K-DOGE would become a permanent cabinet position to ensure ongoing fiscal discipline.
My budget would prioritize secure, paper-based elections on a single Election Day, made a statewide paid holiday to boost participation, while defending the unborn, Second Amendment rights, and parental authority. It would also protect Kansas from federal overreach and secure our borders against illegal immigration.
While actively shaping the budget’s priorities, I’d work closely with the legislature through regular meetings to reflect Kansans’ needs. My veto power would be used to block provisions that stray from our conservative principles or enable government overreach.
In short, the governor should lead boldly, drive efficiency through K-DOGE, and collaborate with the legislature to craft a budget that upholds faith, freedom, and prosperity for all Kansans.
Stacy Rogers (R)
Doug Billings (R)
The line-item veto is a vital tool to advance election integrity, protect the sanctity of human life, and restore faith-based principles as envisioned by our Founding Fathers.
I would use the line-item veto selectively to strike provisions in appropriation bills that:Promote Waste or Overreach: Any item perpetuating inefficient spending or federal encroachment would be vetoed. Through K-DOGE (Kansas Department of Government Efficiency), I’d identify waste, and if it persists in the budget, I’d cut it to fund the elimination of property and income taxes.
Undermine Core Values: I’d veto funding that erodes Second Amendment rights, parental authority in schools, or protections for the unborn, rejecting provisions that promote radical ideologies or infringe on life’s sanctity.
Weaken Election Integrity: Budget items supporting insecure voting systems or “election month” would be vetoed, prioritizing funds for secure, paper-based, watermarked ballots and a single Election Day, made a statewide paid holiday.
Conflict with Faith-Based Principles: I’d strike funding for initiatives that exclude faith and Divine Providence from schools and communities, ensuring Kansas’ budget reflects our moral foundation.
I’d use this power transparently, explaining each veto to Kansans, using my existing podcast, "The Right Side" (Yes! I'm gonna keep on doing that show to talk with Kansans!) and collaborate with the legislature to refine the budget.
The line-item veto would be a precise tool to protect Kansas’ fiscal health, sovereignty, and values while respecting the legislative process.
Stacy Rogers (R)
Doug Billings (R)
With true Republican legislators who champion limited government, faith, and freedom, I’ll be in perfect harmony, working hand-in-hand to advance our agenda of secure elections, protecting life, and slashing taxes. We’ll waltz through policies that honor the Founding Fathers’ vision, like restoring faith in schools and making Election Day a statewide paid holiday.
But for those RINO and swamp establishment types? Well, they’re about to find out I’m no wallflower. I’ll use the line-item veto like a well-aimed lasso to rope in their wasteful spending or squishy compromises that cozy up to federal overreach or radical agendas.
My Day 1 executive order for K-DOGE (Kansas Department of Government Efficiency) will help root out RINO swamp creatures as we uncover over $1 billion in waste to eliminate property and income taxes. They’ll either join the dance or get left on the hay bales.
The governor should lead with a clear vision—mine’s rooted in election integrity, the sanctity of human life, and Kansas sovereignty—while respecting the legislature’s role.
I’ll meet regularly with lawmakers, listen to their ideas, and build consensus where it aligns with our principles. But when the music calls for it, I’ll take the lead, using persuasion, veto power, or a good ol’ fashioned public appeal to Kansans to keep the legislature in check.
Together, we’ll make Kansas a beacon of liberty, with just enough spice to keep the swamp creatures hopping! Hey, we're in this together. Believe it. For Kansas!
Cheers.
Stacy Rogers (R)
Doug Billings (R)
Kansas welcomed me and the voters here have welcomed me - even in spite of my humanity, victories, and failures. I love our golden prairies, resilient communities, and fierce spirit of independence that echoes the Founding Fathers’ vision.
I love that Kansas farmers literally feed the world.
I love that, in many ways, Kansas is the best-kept secret of all the states as far as beauty, quality of life and people.
From the Flint Hills to the small towns where neighbors lend a hand, it’s a place where faith, family, and freedom thrive. I love the opportunity to fight for a Kansas that honors the sanctity of life, secures our elections with paper ballots and a single Election Day, and cuts waste through K-DOGE to eliminate taxes, ensuring my sons and all Kansans inherit a state as strong and vibrant as its sunsets.
Here, we don’t just live—we build legacies rooted in God’s providence and the unyielding grit of the heartland.
I love that the world is better because of Kansas.
Believe it.
Stacy Rogers (R)
Doug Billings (R)
The Ogallala Aquifer, vital for our $20 billion ag economy, is depleting—69% could be gone in 50 years. I’ll champion farmer-led conservation, using K-DOGE to fund efficient irrigation and veto federal water grabs.
Education: The KS Department of Education and local liberal school boards have created over 150,000 Kansas kids who can't read at appropriate levels. I'm going to audit (with K-DOGE) the KS Dept of Ed and fix this problem. I happen to have a Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction and I know how to deal with this... End WOKE, DEI and liberal agendas. Stop LOWERING test score requirements and start raising critical thinking students who don't require a "safe room" during finals week.
We’ve lost nearly 100,000 people in a decade, draining our towns. I’ll eliminate property and income taxes with K-DOGE savings, spurring entrepreneurship to keep families, like my two sons, thriving in Kansas.
Healthcare ranks us 33rd, with rural shortages and high costs hitting 1 in 8 Kansans. I’ll protect life from conception, expand telehealth without mandates, and cut waste to bolster clinics, ensuring faith-guided care.Rooted in the Founders’ vision, I’ll secure elections with paper ballots and one Election Day, defend borders, and restore God in schools. Kansas will rise, proving heartland values conquer all.
Stacy Rogers (R)
Doug Billings (R)
I'll back Trump, ICE, Border Czar Tom Homan, and DHS, aligning state resources with their mission.
I will order the KS National Guard and KS Highway Patrol to aid in finding criminal illegal immigrants. The border crisis, with 80,000 undocumented immigrants straining Kansas, demands an emergency to deputize state police for ICE raids on meatpacking plants—where illegals are 50% of workers—and use K-DOGE savings for border barriers, like Trump’s wall, to protect our $20 billion ag economy. I'll work with the legislature to draft bills that I can sign into law that will give accomodations to farmers and ranchers who need labor in order to get non criminal/criminal immigrants a chance to earn legal residency while they work the land and crops.
Child and human trafficking, like the 115 kids rescued in Operation Restore Justice, with 12 arrests in KCK in August 2025, requires emergency task forces with ICE’s HSI to fast-track prosecutions, as in the KCK cult’s forced labor of minors, upholding the sanctity of life. The KS National Guard and Highway Patrol will be ordered to help.
Our education crisis—82,000 special ed students, $22 million in frozen funds—demands K-DOGE reallocations to restore faith in curricula, parental rights, and basics, vetoing woke indoctrination. More than 150,000 kids who can't read at appropriate levels is not just an emergency, it's a catasrophe that I will put an end to as governor.
With me, Trump, Homan, and DHS, emergency powers will restore Kansas’ sovereignty, faith, and freedom, turning crises into triumphs.
Believe it. For Kansas!
Cheers
Stacy Rogers (R)
Doug Billings (R)
Ryan Fournier - President of Students for Trump
Chad Prather - Podcaster, Political Analyst
Stacy Rogers (R)
We need to be accountable to the taxpayers for the use of THEIR money. They live here in good faith that as elected officials, their tax dollar will be put to good use and we will be good stewards and make their life better. We have an obligation to work for the people, not against.
Term limits would also help with transparency and accountability as we would not be creating career positions that lead to less transparency and accountability.
Doug Billings (R)
Kansas lacks a citizen-initiated process, relying on the legislature for amendments or statutes per Article 14. I lean toward it being good if tightly structured, but I’m wary of pitfalls.
A well-designed process could amplify Kansans’ voices, like my two sons—one with Down syndrome, inspiring my fight for the vulnerable—on issues like election integrity, sanctity of life, or tax cuts, values I’d champion with President Trump, ICE, and Tom Homan.
Kansans could push for paper ballots and one Election Day, as in our 2025 voter roll purges, or back K-DOGE cuts to end property and income taxes, bypassing RINO roadblocks.
Missouri, where I moved from 35 years ago, shows initiatives can pass term limits and reforms when reflecting the people’s will.
But without guardrails, initiatives risk hijacking by out-of-state money or leftists opposing our faith-based values, like the Founders’ vision of Divine Providence in schools or protections for the disabled.
California’s Proposition 8 battles prove campaigns can drown local voices. Kansas’ heartland—where communities rally around family—could be swamped by urban cash or activists pushing weak borders and illegal immigrant invasions again.
A 2025 study showed 60% of Kansans want local control. I’d demand strict rules: 15% signature thresholds across counties, legislative review, and bans on non-resident funding. I’d rally Kansans for measures protecting life, guns, faith, and the vulnerable, vetoing budgets funding hijacked initiatives.
A ballot process could be great if it’s a tool for Kansans, building a state where my sons thrive—free, faithful, and sovereign.
Stacy Rogers (R)
However, confusing wording, poor education on the issue and the influence of special interests can skew not only public perception of what a bill is for, but cause voters that did not do their research or misunderstood the ramifications of a vote in one direction or another.
Ballot initiatives do typically produce higher voter turnout, which decreases apathy on yhe part of the public.
Doug Billings (R)
I believe the Founding Fathers envisioned a society rooted in faith and the Divine Providence of God, with these values woven into the fabric of our communities and schools. As governor, I'll work to restore Kansas to this vision, ensuring our schools reflect the moral and spiritual foundation that guided our nation’s founding, fostering an environment where faith strengthens our families and informs our education. This means school curriculums should have Philosophy, Latin and, yes, the Christian Bible as part of the formula to teach our kids to become critical thinkers. All early American colonial schools had these topics - in addition to Civics, aritmatic, English, the arts & sciences and physical exercise/training. If I'm elected, these will be part of all Kansas public schools.
I will also enforce our laws with zero tolerance for federal overreach, secure our borders against illegal immigration that drains our resources, and slash government waste to unleash the ingenuity of Kansas farmers, ranchers and business owners.
I'll proudly and with commitment, work with ICE and all federal leaders of Homeland Security.
I'll work with our Republican legislature super majority - and I'll have candid private (and many public) conversations with them about rooting out and replacing our RINO problem within our party.
This is all what executive authority looks like as governor.
Stacy Rogers (R)
Working for you, I promise to be hardworking, dedicated to the people, tenacious and unafraid to stand up for what is right. I will go toe to toe with entities intent to harm our land and our citizens. Our life and livelihoods of this generation and future generations deserve protecting.
Restoring confidence in how Government should be run.
Doug Billings (R)
Recently, during the Charlie Kirk memorial service, it was evident to me: Liberal leaders NEVER hold memorials that praise and honor Jesus. It's because their party, platform and policies work to excommunicate God from society. It's terribly sad for them - but it's only us Conservatives that see this. Liberals themselves don't.
America is going through her great re-awakeing. A great re-awakening to the Divine Providence of God and the truth that our Founding Fathers WANTED God and faith to be woven into every aspect of American life!
I've spoken about this for the past 5 years on my podcast, "The Right Side with Doug Billlings."
God is on the increase and Liberalism is on the decrease! Believe it. For the Republic!
Cheers.
Doug Billings (R)
Doug Billings (R)
The PEOPLE of Kansas and Kansas businesses should take the lead in AI development.
Rooted in the heartland grit that’s shaped me and driven by my commitment to my two sons—one with Down syndrome—I see AI as a tool to serve our people, not control them.
First, Kansas should encourage AI development to boost our $20 billion agricultural economy and address challenges like the depleting Ogallala Aquifer.
Through K-DOGE, I’d redirect waste savings to fund public-private partnerships, like those at Kansas State University, for AI-driven precision farming—like drought-resistant crop models or automated irrigation saving 30% more water. But I’d keep government’s heavy hand out, slashing red tape to let farmers and businesses innovate freely, avoiding California-style overregulation that stifles growth.
Second, the state must safeguard against AI misuse that threatens our values. I’d push legislation to ban AI systems that erode election integrity—like deepfake voter fraud or automated misinformation—ensuring our paper ballots and single Election Day, backed by President Trump’s transparency push, remain secure. I’d also protect the sanctity of life by prohibiting AI in unethical medical practices, such as eugenics-driven diagnostics that could harm the vulnerable, like my son.
And I’d shield Kansans’ data from Big Tech or federal overreach.
Finally, AI in education should support, not supplant, our faith-based principles. I’d veto funding for AI curricula pushing woke ideologies, instead promoting tools that enhance learning while honoring the Founders’ vision of Divine Providence.
Kansas can lead by showing AI serves the people—not the swamp—keeping our state free, faithful, and thriving for my sons and all Kansans.
Doug Billings (R)
I’d champion laws that make Kansas a model for fair elections, aligning with President Trump’s push for transparency and security.
First, I’d sign the Kansas Election Integrity Act, mandating a return to paper-based, watermarked ballots and eliminating electronic voting machines, which audits in 2024 showed can be vulnerable to manipulation. This law would establish a single Election Day, ending the “election month” chaos that risks fraud, as seen in court rulings upholding voting access in July 2025. To boost participation, it would designate Election Day a statewide paid holiday, encouraging turnout and expanding the pool of election observers, as I’ve long advocated.
Second, I’d sign legislation creating a permanent Office of Election Security within the Secretary of State’s office, funded by K-DOGE savings from cutting over $1 billion in state waste. This office would conduct real-time voter roll audits, building on our 2025 Texas partnership to purge duplicates, and implement strict ID verification to prevent non-citizen voting.
Third, I’d back a Voter Protection Act to criminalize ballot harvesting and ban drop boxes, which invite fraud, while ensuring accessibility for vulnerable voters, like my son, through secure mail-in options with chain-of-custody protocols. This aligns with my faith-driven commitment to fairness and the sanctity of every voice.
These laws would restore trust, block leftist overreach, and honor Kansas’ heartland values, ensuring my sons and all Kansans vote in a system as resilient as our prairies.
You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Kansas
Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.
Democratic-held governorship in state Trump won
- See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2026
This is one of five governorships Democrats are defending in states President Donald Trump (R) won in 2024: Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin
Republicans are defending two governorships in a state that Kamala Harris (D) won in 2024: New Hampshire and Vermont.
The table below show which states are holding gubernatorial elections in 2026 and the last presidential and gubernatorial margin of victory in each. Click on the bar below to expand the table.
| State | Incumbent | Last time office changed parties | 2024 presidential result | 2024 gubernatorial result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Kay Ivey | 2002 | R+30.5 | R+38.0 |
| Alaska | Mike Dunleavy | 2018 | R+13.1 | R+26.1 |
| Arizona | Katie Hobbs | 2022 | R+5.5 | D+0.7 |
| Arkansas | Sarah Huckabee Sanders | 2014 | R+30.6 | R+27.8 |
| California | Gavin Newsom | 2010 | D+20.2 | D+18.4 |
| Colorado | Jared Polis | 2006 | D+11.0 | D+19.3 |
| Connecticut | Ned Lamont | 2010 | D+14.5 | D+12.8 |
| Florida | Ron DeSantis | 2010 | R+13.1 | R+19.4 |
| Georgia | Brian Kemp | 2002 | R+2.2 | R+7.5 |
| Hawaii | Joshua Green | 2010 | D+23.1 | D+26.4 |
| Idaho | Brad Little | 1994 | R+36.5 | R+40.2 |
| Illinois | J.B. Pritzker | 2018 | D+10.9 | D+12.0 |
| Iowa | Kim Reynolds | 2010 | R+13.2 | R+18.6 |
| Kansas | Laura Kelly | 2018 | R+16.2 | D+2.1 |
| Maine | Janet T. Mills | 2018 | D+6.9 | D+12.9 |
| Maryland | Wes Moore | 2022 | D+28.5 | D+32.5 |
| Massachusetts | Maura Healey | 2022 | D+25.2 | D+29.1 |
| Michigan | Gretchen Whitmer | 2018 | R+1.4 | D+10.6 |
| Minnesota | Tim Walz | 2010 | D+4.2 | D+7.7 |
| Nebraska | Jim Pillen | 1998 | R+20.3 | R+23.4 |
| Nevada | Joe Lombardo | 2022 | R+3.1 | R+1.5 |
| New Hampshire | Kelly Ayotte | 2016 | D+2.8 | R+9.3 |
| New Mexico | Michelle Lujan Grisham | 2018 | D+6.0 | D+6.4 |
| New York | Kathy Hochul | 2006 | D+12.6 | D+5.8 |
| Ohio | Mike DeWine | 2010 | R+11.2 | R+25.6 |
| Oklahoma | Kevin Stitt | 2010 | R+34.3 | R+13.6 |
| Oregon | Tina Kotek | 1986 | D+14.3 | D+3.4 |
| Pennsylvania | Josh Shapiro | 2014 | R+1.7 | D+14.8 |
| Rhode Island | Daniel McKee | 2010 | D+13.7 | D+19.1 |
| South Carolina | Henry McMaster | 2002 | R+17.8 | R+17.4 |
| South Dakota | Larry Rhoden | 1978 | R+29.2 | R+26.8 |
| Tennessee | Bill Lee | 2010 | R+29.7 | R+32.0 |
| Texas | Greg Abbott | 1994 | R+13.6 | R+10.9 |
| Vermont | Phil Scott | 2016 | D+31.5 | R+51.6 |
| Wisconsin | Tony Evers | 2018 | R+0.9 | D+3.4 |
| Wyoming | Mark Gordon | 2010 | R+45.8 | R+61.9 |
General election race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[1]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[2][3][4]
| Race ratings: Kansas gubernatorial election, 2026 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| 10/7/2025 | 9/30/2025 | 9/23/2025 | 9/16/2025 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week. | |||||||||
Past elections
The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2014.
2022
General election
General election for Governor of Kansas
Incumbent Laura Kelly defeated Derek Schmidt, Dennis Pyle, and Seth Cordell in the general election for Governor of Kansas on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Laura Kelly (D) | 49.5 | 499,849 |
 | Derek Schmidt (R) | 47.3 | 477,591 | |
 | Dennis Pyle (Independent) | 2.0 | 20,452 | |
 | Seth Cordell (L) | 1.1 | 11,106 | |
| Total votes: 1,008,998 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Kansas
Incumbent Laura Kelly defeated Richard Karnowski in the Democratic primary for Governor of Kansas on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Laura Kelly | 93.8 | 270,968 |
| Richard Karnowski | 6.2 | 17,802 | ||
| Total votes: 288,770 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Kansas
Derek Schmidt defeated Arlyn Briggs in the Republican primary for Governor of Kansas on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Derek Schmidt | 80.6 | 373,542 |
| Arlyn Briggs | 19.4 | 89,898 | ||
| Total votes: 463,440 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Kent McElroy (R)
- Jeff Colyer (R)
- Richard Duncan (R)
- Chase LaPorte (R)
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Governor of Kansas
Seth Cordell advanced from the Libertarian convention for Governor of Kansas on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Seth Cordell (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Governor of Kansas
Laura Kelly defeated Kris Kobach, Greg Orman, Jeff Caldwell, and Rick Kloos in the general election for Governor of Kansas on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Laura Kelly (D) | 48.0 | 506,727 |
 | Kris Kobach (R) | 43.0 | 453,645 | |
 | Greg Orman (Independent) | 6.5 | 68,590 | |
 | Jeff Caldwell (L) | 1.9 | 20,020 | |
 | Rick Kloos (Independent) | 0.6 | 6,584 | |
| Total votes: 1,055,566 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Andrea Costley (Independent)
- Aaron Coleman (Independent)
- JoeLarry Hunter (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Kansas
Laura Kelly defeated Carl Brewer, Joshua Svaty, Arden Andersen, and Jack Bergeson in the Democratic primary for Governor of Kansas on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Laura Kelly | 51.4 | 80,377 |
 | Carl Brewer | 20.2 | 31,493 | |
 | Joshua Svaty | 17.5 | 27,292 | |
 | Arden Andersen | 8.4 | 13,161 | |
| Jack Bergeson | 2.5 | 3,950 | ||
| Total votes: 156,273 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Michael Tabman (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Kansas
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Kansas on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kris Kobach | 40.6 | 128,832 |
 | Jeff Colyer | 40.5 | 128,489 | |
 | Jim Barnett | 8.8 | 27,994 | |
 | Ken Selzer | 7.8 | 24,804 | |
 | Patrick Kucera | 1.0 | 3,212 | |
| Tyler Ruzich | 0.7 | 2,275 | ||
| Joseph Tutera Jr. | 0.5 | 1,559 | ||
| Total votes: 317,165 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2014
- See also: Kansas Gubernatorial election, 2014
| Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Kansas, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Sam Brownback/Jeff Colyer Incumbent |
49.8% | 433,196 | |
| Democratic | Paul Davis/Jill Docking | 46.1% | 401,100 | |
| Libertarian | Keen Umbehr/Josh Umbehr | 4% | 35,206 | |
| Total Votes | 869,502 | |||
| Election results via Kansas Secretary of State | ||||
See also
| Kansas | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Governor of Kansas official website
- Lieutenant Governor of Kansas official website
Footnotes
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
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