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Kansas

Kansas Governor Race Tightens Before Election Day

Republican Ty Masterson and Democrat Cindy Holscher face a close contest as voters decide on Nov. 3.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections

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Kansas voters will choose between Republican Ty Masterson and Democrat Cindy Holscher on Nov. 3, as Cook Political Report moved the race to a toss-up. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Kansas voters will choose their next governor on Nov. 3, 2026, in a race between Republican Ty Masterson and Democrat Cindy Holscher. Recent polls show the contest within the margin of error, and the Cook Political Report has reclassified the race as a toss-up.

Why it matters

The race is a key statewide contest, and its outcome will determine which party controls the governor's office. Forecasters remain divided, with some rating the race as leaning Republican while others call it a toss-up.

Polling averages from the New York Times/Siena, YouGov, Emerson, CNN/SSRS, and Washington Post/George Mason surveys show results ranging from a 5-point Masterson edge to a 5-point Holscher lead. The outcome remains unresolved because the polls split and the Global Strategy Group found both candidates tied at 47%.

The players

Ty Masterson

Masterson is the Republican nominee for Kansas governor and serves as president of the Kansas state Senate.

Cindy Holscher

Holscher is the Democratic nominee for Kansas governor and is running against Masterson in the general election.

Cook Political Report

The Cook Political Report is a nonpartisan election forecasting publication known for its race-rating system.

The details

Masterson, president of the Kansas state Senate, and Holscher are the nominees for governor. Cook Political Report moved the race to a toss-up in late October, while Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it as leaning Republican.

Timeline

  1. Sept. 2026: A Times/Siena survey of likely voters showed Masterson ahead 49-44.

  2. Oct. 26-29, 2026: A YouGov poll showed Masterson at 50% and Holscher at 49%.

  3. Oct. 27 - Nov. 1, 2026: A New York Times/Siena poll showed Holscher at 48% and Masterson at 47%.

  4. Late Oct. 2026: The Cook Political Report reclassified the Kansas race as a toss-up.

  5. Nov. 3, 2026: Kansas voters choose the next governor on Election Day.

Political Context

The Cook Political Report moved the race to a toss-up, while Sabato's Crystal Ball still rates it leaning Republican, showing that forecasters disagree on how competitive the contest is. Partisan observers on both sides have highlighted the narrow polling gap as evidence that the outcome is uncertain.

The winner will set state policy on taxes, budgets, and regulations for the next term. Voters should confirm their registration and polling location before Nov. 3 to make sure their ballot is counted.

The takeaway

The race is too close to call on current polling, so the final result will depend on turnout on Nov. 3. Readers can check their registration and polling location ahead of time to make sure they can vote.

What happens next

Kansas voters will decide the governor's race on Nov. 3, 2026, Election Day.

Further reading

For more on how this contest fits into the state's broader political picture, explore Elections coverage on Wisevoter.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The Kansas City Star.

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