By — John Hanna, Associated Press John Hanna, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/cindy-holscher-wins-election-for-kansas-governor-extending-democrats-wave-of-victories Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Cindy Holscher wins election for Kansas governor, extending Democrats' wave of victories Politics Nov 12, 2026 6:15 PM EST TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democrat Cindy Holscher has been elected Kansas' next governor, fending off Republican Ty Masterson to keep the office in her party's hands and extend a massive wave of Democratic victories across the country. WATCH: Sen.-elect Hamilton reflects on why Kansas voters chose a Democrat for U.S. Senate Democrats had already secured a majority of governorships in the U.S. for the first time in two decades, even prior to the narrow win in Kansas, where Holscher had already declared victory following Tuesday's midterm elections. The Associated Press did not call the race until Thursday. Holscher, a state senator, promised to halt new data centers and overcame a flood of money that Republicans poured behind Masterson, the president of the GOP-controlled state Senate. She will succeed outgoing Gov. Laura Kelly,…
Cindy Holscher wins election for Kansas governor, extending Democrats' wave of victories
In short
Democrat Cindy Holscher won the Kansas governorship by defeating Republican state Senate President Ty Masterson despite facing an opponent backed by a 3-to-1 spending advantage and $19 million from the Republican Governors Association. Central to her campaign was a pledge to halt the construction of artificial intelligence data centers over resource and jobs concerns. Her victory formed part of a major Democratic sweep across Kansas that also unseated the state's Republican attorney general and flipped a federal Senate seat. Masterson will continue to serve as the top Republican leader in the state Senate.
Key points
- Democrats retained the Kansas governor's mansion while securing a majority of U.S. govern…: Democrats retained the Kansas governor's mansion while securing a majority of U.S. governorships for the first time in two decades.
- The outcome broke a 60-year state pattern where the opposing party historically won open…: The outcome broke a 60-year state pattern where the opposing party historically won open gubernatorial races following an incumbent's departure.
- State Democrats achieved major statewide gains by flipping a federal Senate seat and defe…: State Democrats achieved major statewide gains by flipping a federal Senate seat and defeating Republican incumbent Kris Kobach for attorney general.