Ty Masterson
Republican candidate for Governor / Lieutenant Governor, Kansas · Open seat
Kansas Senate President; state senator (R-Andover)
Ty Masterson is a Republican from Andover who has served in the Kansas Senate since 2009 and has been Senate President since 2021. Before that, he served in the Kansas House from 2005 to 2009. He won the Republican primary on August 4, 2026, and is running with Jeff Klemp for lieutenant governor in the November 3, 2026 race for the open seat of term-limited Gov. Laura Kelly.
Where Masterson stands
- Property taxes
- Calls property taxes his top issue. Proposes a 'Taxpayer Bill of Rights' that would cap property tax increases and local spending and would freeze or reduce property taxes for seniors on fixed incomes.
- Property tax constitutional amendment
- Says capping property taxes requires a constitutional amendment. In the 2026 session he sought an amendment to cap annual increases in assessed valuation.
- Income and state taxes
- Negotiated a 2024 plan with House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Gov. Kelly to cut property and income taxes over five years. Says the cuts give Kansans tax relief.
- Education and literacy
- Says Kansas has a literacy crisis and wants to 'bring Mississippi Miracle to Kansas' by focusing on early reading instruction.
- School funding
- Says the courts found in 2024 that Kansas funds schools adequately, and argues the issue is how the money is used rather than how much is spent.
- Data centers
- Says data center developers should pay their own electricity costs so nearby customers don't face higher rates. Supports protections for water, land and eminent domain, with local governments deciding whether projects go forward.
- Medicaid expansion
- Has opposed expanding Medicaid eligibility for lower-income Kansans.
- Abortion
- As Senate President, he has worked to expand state regulation of abortion.
- Transgender policy
- Says he advanced bills that ban gender-transition care for minors and bar transgender individuals from girls' and women's sports teams.
- Marijuana
- Opposes legalizing marijuana.
Background
- Kansas House of Representatives, 2005–2009
- Kansas Senate, 2009–present
- Kansas Senate President, 2021–present
- Director of GoCreate, a creative workspace at Wichita State University's Innovation Campus
- Attended Kansas State University, left without a degree
- Won Republican nomination for governor, August 4, 2026; running mate is Jeff Klemp
In the news
- Trump affirms endorsement of Ty Masterson in Kansas governor's race, belittles Cindy Holscher Kansas Reflector, October 20, 2026
- Masterson campaign fires back after Holscher's allegations of 'no-show' WSU job KWCH, October 16, 2026
- In race for Kansas governor, Masterson and Holscher focus on taxes and education funding Kansas News Service (via The Lawrence Times), October 13, 2026
- Cindy Holscher, Ty Masterson gain gubernatorial endorsements from labor, ag interests Kansas Reflector, October 12, 2026
- Kansas Republican Ty Masterson concentrates gubernatorial campaign on generational change Kansas Reflector, September 14, 2026
Also running for Governor / Lieutenant Governor
- Cindy Holscher Democratic
Sources
- KCUR/Kansas News Service candidate guide
- The Lawrence Times – candidate guide (KNS)
- KWCH – property tax plan
- HPPR – candidate forum
- Hutchinson/JC Post – State Fair debate
- Kansas Reflector – campaign launch
- Wikipedia – 2026 Kansas gubernatorial election (running mates)
- kansasreflector.com
- hayspost.com
- heartlandernews.com
Last researched October 23, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.
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