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Governor of Kansas

Ty Masterson

President of the Kansas Senate (since 2021); State Senator, District 16 (since 2009)R

Race
Governor of Kansas
Election
2026-11-03
Opponent
Cindy Holscher (D)
Research
Basic

Party linenone

No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.

Said vs. did2 statements · 0 votes

Ty Masterson is the Republican nominee for governor of Kansas and president of the Kansas Senate, an Andover Republican who has served in the Legislature since 2005. In 2024 he negotiated, with House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Gov. Laura Kelly, a plan to cut property and income taxes over five years, and his top issue is property-tax relief, including a cap on assessed-value growth that would require a constitutional amendment.[1][2][3][4]

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On the ballotGovernor

2026-11-03

Cindy Holscher Dchallenger
Ty Masterson Rchallenger

Running with Lt. Gov. candidate Jeff Klemp, a state senator. Won the seven-candidate Republican primary with President Trump's endorsement.

Said vs. did

Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.

Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)Supports

Voted to override the governor's veto of SB 361, the bill electing into the federal tax credit for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations (April 9, 2026).

Documented position[5]

No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.

Bar transgender women and girls from women's and girls' school sportsSupports

Said in his campaign announcement that he advanced bills blocking transgender individuals from sports teams designated for girls or women.

Documented position[6]

No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.

Biography

Ty Masterson is the Republican nominee for governor of Kansas and president of the Kansas Senate, an Andover Republican who has served in the Legislature since 2005. In 2024 he negotiated, with House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Gov. Laura Kelly, a plan to cut property and income taxes over five years, and his top issue is property-tax relief, including a cap on assessed-value growth that would require a constitutional amendment.[1][2][3][4]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Masterson was born and raised in Butler County. Before entering politics he worked as a contractor and owned a homebuilding business, Masterbuilt Homes.[3][1] He left Kansas State University without finishing, and he filed for personal bankruptcy in 2010 after the business failed, an episode his opponent has criticized.[1] He and his wife, Marlo, have been married 30 years and have six children and seven grandchildren.[3]

Masterson first won local office in Andover.[3] He served in the Kansas House from 2005 to 2009 and has been a state senator since 2009, representing District 16 in Butler County.[1][7] He became Senate president in 2021 and was re-elected in 2024 with 65 percent of the vote in his district.[1][2]

Masterson announced his campaign for governor in July 2025, saying the state needed a governor who could reduce property taxes, lower crime and rein in state spending.[2] He cites his work in the Legislature on a $2 billion state tax reduction.[2][3] He defeated a crowded Republican primary field with an endorsement from President Trump and faces Cindy Holscher in the general election.[1][4]

Campaign website ↗

On the record

Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.

  • vote2026-04-09 · Voted yes on the Senate's override of the governor's veto of SB 361, which has Kansas elect to participate in the federal tax credit for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations; the override passed 29–10.[5]
  • vote2026-04-09 · Voted yes on the override of the governor's veto of HB 2437, the 'Save Kansas Act' on voter registration record verification and websites that transmit registration applications; the override passed 28–11.[8]
  • vote2026-02-25 · Voted yes on SCR 1616, a proposed constitutional amendment limiting property-tax assessed-value increases for real property in any subclass, which passed the Senate 30–10.[9]
  • vote2025-02-19 · Voted yes on SB 76, requiring school and college employees to use names and pronouns consistent with a student's biological sex and birth certificate, which passed the Senate 26–14.[10]

In their own words

Priorities

  • Property-tax relief, including a cap on annual assessed-valuation growth of 3% or less and his 'Homeowners Bill of Rights.'[11][12]
  • Lower taxes generally; his campaign says he led the fight for $2 billion in tax cuts.[12]
  • Safe communities and 'educational freedom,' which he cited in his primary victory speech.[13]

Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.

Profile: /people/ty-masterson

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Sources cited in this profile

  1. 1.Kansas governor election: What to know about the candidates running in November · High Plains Public Radio / Kansas News Service · 2026-10-14 News report
  2. 2.Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson Launches Campaign for Governor · Kansas Reflector via KSAL · 2025-07-20 News report
  3. 3.Take Back Kansas | Ty Masterson for Kansas Governor · Ty Masterson for Governor Candidate's own words
  4. 4.In Kansas governor's race, Republican Ty Masterson will face Democrat Cindy Holscher · KCUR · 2026-08-04 News report
  5. 5.Senate roll call, SB 361 (veto override), April 9, 2026 · Kansas Legislature · 2026-04-09 Official record
  6. 6.Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson Launches Campaign for Governor · Kansas Reflector via KSAL · 2025-07-20 News report
  7. 7.Senator Ty Masterson · Kansas Legislature · 2026-10-19 Official record
  8. 8.Senate roll call, HB 2437 (veto override), April 9, 2026 · Kansas Legislature · 2026-04-09 Official record
  9. 9.Senate roll call, SCR 1616, February 25, 2026 · Kansas Legislature · 2026-02-25 Official record
  10. 10.Senate roll call, SB 76, February 19, 2025 · Kansas Legislature · 2025-02-19 Official record
  11. 11.Kansas governor election: What to know about the candidates running in November · High Plains Public Radio / Kansas News Service · 2026-10-14 News report
  12. 12.Take Back Kansas | Ty Masterson for Kansas Governor · Ty Masterson for Governor Candidate's own words
  13. 13.Masterson scores win in GOP primary for Kansas governor; Holscher prevails in Democratic race · Kansas Reflector via Lawrence Times · 2026-08-04 News report