Latest news with #VickiSchmidt
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kansas insurance commissioner delivers pitch to voters in race for governor
TOPEKA (KSNT) – A new candidate is taking a stab at claiming the governor's seat in Kansas next year. On this episode of Inside Kansas Politics, co-host Rob Hughes sat down for a one-on-one with Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. She shares her thoughts on the biggest problems facing Kansas and a message for voters ahead of Election Day. Inside Kansas Politics has also interviewed the following gubernatorial candidates for the 2026 race: Ty Masterson Martin Tuley Charlotte O'Hara Cindy Holscher Stacy Rogers Jeff Colyer and Doug Billings Scott Schwab Who is running for governor in Kansas for 2026? Also in the show, Tim Carpenter sat down with Rebekah Chung and Rob Hughes. He weighs in on THC drinks and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly's decision to leave the National Governors Association. Carpenter also talked about the role taxes, Medicaid, marijuana, and the Department of Governmental Efficiency will play in the upcoming election. You can watch Inside Kansas Politics at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings only on KSNT (check your local listings). To get the latest news on Inside Kansas Politics, check out our X account, or follow us on Facebook. If you have a story you think we should cover, email us at ikp@ 'I'm going to defund this board': Kansas lawmakers are unsatisfied with Board of Nursing For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Get the latest in weather alerts by downloading our Storm Track Weather App. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas insurance commissioner joins governor's race in crowded GOP primary field
Another heavy hitter has entered the Kansas governor's race — Republican State Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. Schmidt, a pharmacist by trade and a 14-year veteran of the Kansas Senate, announced her candidacy Wednesday, ending months of speculation over whether she would seek the job. In a promotional video announcing her campaign, Schmidt poked fun at the mounting rumors, acting out scenarios where she's asked about running for governor at the grocery store, the pickleball court, and the hairdresser's. 'Look, I'm not always going to tell you what you want to hear. But I am going to tell you the truth,' Schmidt said. 'So yes, I am running for governor of the great state of Kansas. Because it's time Kansans have a governor that works as hard as they do.' She joins a burgeoning GOP primary field with Secretary of State Scott Schwab, former Gov. Jeff Colyer and others with less statewide name recognition, including former Johnson County Commissioner Charlotte O'Hara, podcaster Doug Billings and Wichita businesswomen Joy Eakins and Stacy Rogers. The field of Democrats seeking to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has fewer contenders so far — consisting only of Overland Park state Sen. Cindy Holscher and personal fitness trainer Marty Tuley. Despite largely keeping out of the political fray in her two terms as insurance commissioner, Schmidt has a track record of electoral success, racking up a higher percentage of the vote than any other statewide candidate the last time she was on the ballot. Schmidt earned 63% of the vote in 2022 compared to Sen. Jerry Moran's 60%, Schwab's 58% and Kelly's 49%. 'As insurance commissioner, I've fought every day to hold insurance companies accountable and make sure that Kansans have someone they can depend on when they need their insurance most,' Schmidt said in the video. One of the Insurance Department's key responsibilities is advocating for Kansans who submit complaints disputing insurance company denials and underpayments. The department set a state record in 2023, according to Schmidt's office, by recovering $16 million for consumers. Born and raised in Wichita, Schmidt married her high school sweetheart and graduated from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, going on to practice as a local pharmacist for the next 40 years. She was first elected to the Kansas Senate in 2005, representing the Topeka district that she calls home. Schmidt's campaign website is scant on policy details, and she did not respond to a request for comment. Her Republican opponents were quick to offer their own characterizations on Tuesday. 'Welcome to the race, Vicki Schmidt. Never Trumpers deserve a candidate, too,' Colyer said in a statement. Schwab suggested Schmidt is insufficiently conservative, saying Kansans want a candidate 'who can win in November, deliver true property tax relief, and help our shrinking rural communities.' In 2023, Schmidt continued her duties as insurance commissioner while undergoing radiation treatment for breast cancer. She's said she's fully recovered, citing the ordeal in her campaign video as 'the biggest challenge of my life.' 'It was scary and humbling,' Schmidt said. 'But the support I received from Kansans during my darkest days has continued to drive me in my support for them.'
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vicki Schmidt announces 2026 run for Kansas governor
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt says she's running for governor in 2026. A Republican and Wichita native, Schmidt has worked as a pharmacist for over 40 years and served in the Kansas Senate before being elected Insurance Commissioner in 2018. She was re-elected in 2022. Sedgwick County Fair kicks off in Cheney As commissioner, Schmidt says her office has recovered $145 million for Kansas families and cut business costs by more than $75 million. 'Throughout my personal and professional career, I have a track record of serving Kansans and actually getting things done,' Schmidt said in a news release announcing her bid for the office. 'If elected governor, my top priority is the people of Kansas and making their lives better.' Schmidt has also spoken publicly about her breast cancer diagnosis to encourage others to get screened. She and her husband, Mike, live in Topeka and have two sons and four grandchildren. The Republican primary for governor is set for Aug. 4. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announces 2026 governor run
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Wednesday, Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced her bid to run for governor of Kansas in 2026. Schmidt, a Republican and native of Wichita, has been a local pharmacist for more than 40 years. She was elected as the Kansas insurance commissioner after serving in the Kansas Senate for Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties. Read more Politics stories from FOX4 Schmidt was elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. As insurance commissioner, she has recovered $145 million for Kansas families, according to a news release. Schmidt also said she reduced the cost of doing business in Kansas by more than $75 million. 'Throughout my personal and professional career, I have a track record of serving Kansans and actually getting things done,' Schmidt said. 'If elected governor, my top priority is the people of Kansas and making their lives better.' FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up to get top politics headlines in your inbox Republican candidates who have also announced their intention to run include: Scott Schwab, current Kansas secretary of state Jeff Colyer, former Kansas governor Vicki Schmidt, Kansas insurance commissioner Doug Billings, a podcaster Stacy Rogers, a business owner Joy Eakins, a former Wichita school board member Charlotte O'Hara, a former Johnson County commissioner Democratic candidates who have announced their intention to run include: Cindy Holscher, a state senator Other potential candidates could still emerge, as the official filing deadline is not until June 2026. The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 4, 2026, and the general election is set for Nov. 3, 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt initiates Republican campaign for governor
Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, shown taking the oath of office in 2023, is a candidate for Kansas governor in 2026. The Republican previously served in the Kansas Senate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt launched Wednesday a campaign to win the Republican Party's nomination for governor. Schmidt worked for more than four decades as a pharmacist and served in the Kansas Senate before elected state insurance commissioner in 2018. She was reelected in 2022 by a wide margin. 'Throughout my personal and professional career, I have a track record of serving Kansans and actually getting things done,' Schmidt said in a statement. 'If elected governor, my top priority is the people of Kansas and making their lives better.' Schmidt joined other prominent Republicans, including former Gov. Jeff Colyer and Secretary of State Scott Schwab, in the GOP primary scheduled for August 2026. Colyer, who became governor in 2018 after resignation of Gov. Sam Brownback to take a position in the first administration of President Donald Trump, said Schmidt's candidacy wouldn't deter his effort to unite the Kansas GOP behind a pro-Trump agenda. 'Welcome to the race, Vicki Schmidt,' Colyer' statement said. 'Never Trumpers deserve a candidate, too.' Interest in the 2026 contest for Kansas governor will be driven by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's inability to seek reelection to a third term. Schmidt's statement said as insurance commissioner she lowered business costs by more than $75 million. She asserted she was known for 'her work ethic, scrutiny of government operations and customer service approach to serving Kansans.' In 2023, she publicly shared her diagnosis of breast cancer and made use of the personal health challenge to encourage women to get yearly mammograms.
