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US Politics · 2026 midterm elections

Democrat Cindy Holscher wins Kansas governor's race over Trump-backed Republican Ty Masterson

The Associated Press called the narrow race Thursday, keeping the office Democratic as term-limited Gov. Laura Kelly leaves.

15 news outlets reported this
Liberal7 outletsAnother Democratic win in a Republican-leaning stateCenter3 outletsA narrow call that keeps the office DemocraticConservative5 outletsA close Democratic win in a state Trump carried
ABRAnews EditorialPublished 1 min read
Overview

Democratic state Sen. Cindy Holscher has won the race for governor of Kansas, defeating Republican Ty Masterson, the state president, who had President Trump's endorsement. The Associated Press called the race on Thursday, Nov. 12, after Tuesday's election. Holscher had declared victory earlier.

She succeeds Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who was term-limited. Holscher led 50.3% to 49.7% when the race was called, according to the Washington Examiner. AP describes it as the closest Kansas governor's race since 1974.

A statewide pause on new data centers for artificial intelligence was a cornerstone of Holscher's campaign. Republicans outspent Democrats more than 3-to-1 overall, AP reports. The Republican Governors Association put $19 million into television and digital ads, according to AdImpact.

Masterson conceded on X, saying "It looks like we will come up just short," Fox News reports. Adam Hamilton also won a U.S. Senate race, the first Democratic win of that kind in Kansas since 1932, and Chris Mann ousted Kris Kobach.

Democrats have secured a majority of the nation's governorships for the first time in two decades, AP reports.

Key figures
  • 50.3% to Masterson’s 49.7%Holscher's lead when AP called the race, per the Washington ExaminerWashington Examiner
  • $19 millionRepublican Governors Association TV and digital ad spending, per AdImpactThe Seattle Times
  • more than 3-to-1Republican spending advantage over Democrats overallThe Seattle Times
  • since 1974closest Kansas governor's race, by AP's accountThe Seattle Times
  • four statewide contestswon by Kansas Democrats for the first time since 1958The Seattle Times

Three sides of the story

7Liberal3Center5Conservative

15 news outlets reported this

Tap a color or swipe sideways to switch sides.

Liberal7 outlets

Another Democratic win in a Republican-leaning state

NBC News carries the call as a projection, "Kansas state Sen. Cindy Holscher wins governor's race, NBC News projects," on a video page that also lists Democrats winning the Senate and Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer speaking after the midterms. The Boston Globe runs the AP report, headlined as extending her party's "wave of victories." It says Holscher won despite heavy Republican spending and pledged to stop new data centers, and quotes her: "Kansans have sent a clear message that they want to keep our state moving forward."

NPR says she beat a better-known Republican backed by Trump, in a state where the has won most other statewide races. The New York Times adds that Kansas votes reliably Republican for president yet often goes Democratic in midterms.

Center3 outlets

A narrow call that keeps the office Democratic

The Seattle Times runs the AP report headlined "extending her party's wave of victories," including Masterson's statement that "The things we fought for are no less important today than they were yesterday." A second, shorter Seattle Times piece says AP declared Holscher the winner at 5:43 p.m. EST, that the win ends a 60-year streak of Kansas governors coming from the opposite party, and that she focused on affordability. UPI leads with "Democrat Cindy Holscher elected governor of Kansas."

It says the call came after days of counting provisional ballots and recounts, and that this was thought the likeliest of 36 governor's races to flip to Republicans. UPI adds that she campaigned against "sweetheart deals" for billionaires and for legal cannabis. The Hill says Decision Desk HQ projected the win, denying Republicans one of their best chances to gain a seat.

Conservative5 outlets

A close Democratic win in a state Trump carried

Fox News headlines the win as extending the party's hold on the governor's mansion. It notes this is the third straight Democratic victory and that Republicans have won Kansas in each presidential race since 1968. It adds that Holscher faced scrutiny over resurfaced 2023 social media posts, and quotes Masterson's concession: "It looks like we will come up just short."

The New York Post runs the AP report under "latest blue wave midterms win." The Epoch Times reports the 50.3 percent to 49.7 percent result. It says several Kansas Republicans told it they switched to Democrats to avoid backing Trump, quoting one voter: "I'm a Bob Dole, Dwight Eisenhower Republican, not a Trumper."

The Washington Examiner notes Trump won Kansas by 16 points in 2024, appeared in the state before Election Day, and that Cook Political Report had rated the Senate race a .

All sources: 18 articles from 15 outlets

Liberal (9)

Center (4)

Conservative (5)

2026 midterm elections
  1. AP calls Mississippi Senate race for Democrat Scott Colom as Republican Hyde-Smith concedes
  2. Trump floats immigration deal with Democrats, but their House leader won't work with Miller
  3. Democrat Cindy Holscher wins Kansas governor's race over Trump-backed Republican Ty MastersonThis story
  4. White House counsel warns Democrats that abusive probes 'may cross the line into blatant criminality'
  5. Michigan senator-elect says he will likely swear on a Qur'an
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Senate

The upper chamber of Congress: 100 senators, two per state, elected for six years. It confirms judges and ministers and approves treaties.

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Midterm elections

US elections halfway through a president's four-year term. The whole House, a third of the Senate and many governors are elected. In 2026 Election Day was November 3.

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Attorney General

The head of the Justice Department and the government's chief lawyer. Each state has its own attorney general too.

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GOP

“Grand Old Party”: a nickname for the Republican Party, used since the 1870s. GOP and Republican mean the same thing.

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Toss-up

A race so close that either side could win. In election forecasts it is the most uncertain rating.

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