Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson announces campaign for governor
Masterson was elected to the Kansas House in 2004 and the Senate in 2009. His fellow senators elected him as Senate president in 2021.
In his announcement video, Masterson said he's running to cut taxes, reduce crime, prevent government overreach and "save our kids from a radical ideology that has penetrated our culture and our education system." He said in the Legislature, which is held by a Republican supermajority, he's limited in how he can respond to liberal policies.
"Because Liberal Democrats have governed in Topeka for 15 of the last 23 years, especially the 4 years Laura Kelly was in alignment with Joe Biden, that promise has been broken. And we're feeling the impact. More than 200,000 people have fled Kansas in recent years. It's unacceptable," Masterson said in an email announcing his campaign.
He pointed to tax cuts, bans on youth gender medicine, bans on transgender people competing in sports and election security bills as accomplishments in his legislative career. He was last elected in 2024, and could keep his seat if he doesn't win the governor's race.
Crowded primary
Masterson will face Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt and former Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer, as well as longshot candidates like conservative podcaster Doug Billings, businesswoman Joy Eakins, businesswoman Stacy Rogers and former Johnson County Commissioner Charlotte O'Hara.
The Democratic ticket is less populated, with Kansas Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, being the only elected official to announce she's running to replace Kelly, who is term-limited. Marty Tuley, a fitness trainer, has also announced he's running for governor as a Democrat.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Ty Masterson running for Kansas governor in crowded GOP primary
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