2026 Kansas gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2026 United States gubernatorial elections.

2026 Kansas gubernatorial election
November 3, 2026
 
Party Democratic Republican
Incumbent Governor

Laura Kelly
Democratic



Elections in Kansas
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The 2026 Kansas gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor of Kansas. Incumbent Democratic Governor Laura Kelly is term-limited and ineligible to seek a third consecutive term. This will be one of five Democratic-held governorships up for election in 2026 in a state that Donald Trump won in the 2024 presidential election and the only one of those states that Trump won by a double-digit margin.

Background

Despite Kansas being a longtime red state in presidential races (and it remains a strongly red state at the federal level to this day), Kelly won the open seat in 2018 with the help of a national "blue wave" in the 2018 midterms as well as the conclusion of the unpopular administration of Sam Brownback, who was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom in 2017.[1] Kelly won re-election in 2022 thanks in part to both her own personal popularity and the negative reaction to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the latter being particularly enhanced by the presence of an abortion referendum on the ballot a few months prior.[2][3] Since her re-election, Kelly has seen a rise in personal popularity, and as of 2024 is one of the ten-most popular governors in the country, which some commentators have attributed to her frequent use of her veto powers and frequent travels across the state.[4][5] However, the Republican Party has for a long time been the dominant party in the state of Kansas, holding 5 of 6 seats in Kansas's congressional delegation as well as a supermajority in both chambers of the state legislature. Additionally, no party has held the governorship for more than 8 consecutive years since 1957.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Announcement pending

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

  • Philip Sarnecki, financial services executive[19]

Declined

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[23] Lean R (flip) January 23, 2025
Inside Elections[24] Battleground February 6, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[25] Lean R (flip) May 1, 2025
Race to the WH[26] Tilt R (flip) June 30, 2025

See also

Official campaign websites

References

  1. ^ Paul, Kari (November 7, 2018). "Kansas sees its own blue wave: 'If you can flip it here, you can flip it anywhere'". MarketWatch. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  2. ^ Bahl, Andrew. "National poll: More than half of residents approve of Gov. Laura Kelly's job performance". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Hanna, John (November 9, 2022). "Abortion rights support helps Kansas Gov. Kelly win 2nd term". Associated Press. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  4. ^ "Report: Kansas gov. is one of the top 10 most popular in the nation". Yahoo News. April 23, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  5. ^ A. O. L. Staff (May 4, 2024). "Are Gov. Laura Kelly's rising approval numbers because of her frequent use of veto powers?". www.aol.com. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  6. ^ Shorman, Jonathan (June 12, 2025). "This Overland Park Democrat is launching a campaign for Kansas governor". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  7. ^ Ketz, Jonathan (July 4, 2025). "State Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes considers run for Kansas governor". KSNW. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Cooper, Brad (May 24, 2025). "What will David Toland do?; What does Dem field for governor look like without him?". Sunflower State Journal. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Cooper, Brad (January 3, 2025). "Eyes turning toward '26 governor's race". Sunflower State Journal. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  10. ^ Cooper, Brad (March 31, 2025). "Conservative podcaster announces campaign for governor". Sunflower State Journal. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  11. ^ Robinson, Colter (May 14, 2025). "Dr. Jeff Colyer announces bid for Kansas governor". KSNT. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  12. ^ Owens, Barry (June 18, 2025). "Joy Eakins announces bid for Kansas governor". KSNW. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  13. ^ Hammill, Roxie (March 10, 2025). "Former JoCo commissioner Charlotte O'Hara announces bid for governor". Johnson County Post. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  14. ^ Burnett, Cameron (February 13, 2025). "Wichitan Stacy Rogers announces candidacy for Kansas Governor". KAKE. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  15. ^ Brunner, Melissa (July 9, 2025). "Schmidt jumps into Kansas Governor's race". WIBW-TV. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  16. ^ Robinson, Colter (January 8, 2025). "Scott Schwab announces run for Kansas Governor". KSNT. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  17. ^ Resnick, Matt (January 13, 2025). "Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson said it's too early to consider jumping into 2026 governor's race". State Affairs. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  18. ^ Gregorian, Vahe (February 3, 2025). "Former KC Royals GM Dayton Moore is cautiously considering run for Kansas governor". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  19. ^ Cooper, Brad (May 7, 2025). "Business executive eyes Kansas governor's race | Sunflower State Journal". Sunflower State Journal. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  20. ^ Cooper, Brad (January 8, 2025). "UPDATED: Schwab first candidate to join 2026 governor's race". Sunflower State Journal. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  21. ^ Hanna, John (April 18, 2024). "Kansas GOP congressman Jake LaTurner is not running again, citing family reasons". Associated Press. Retrieved September 29, 2024. [LaTurner said] also that he wouldn't seek any office in 2026. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited and Republicans had mentioned LaTurner as a possible candidate for the job that year.
  22. ^ Cooper, Brad (April 30, 2025). "Rahjes planning to mount campaign for secretary of state". Sunflower State Journal. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  23. ^ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  24. ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  25. ^ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  26. ^ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
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