Overland Park state Sen. Cindy Holscher declared victory Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the race for Kansas governor, holding a narrow lead over Republican Ty Masterson with all 4,168 of 4,168 precincts reporting.
The Kansas Secretary of State's unofficial results page, last updated at 5:32 p.m. Wednesday, showed all precincts recording. The results are unofficial and do not include provisional ballots, which will be counted during the county canvass no later than Nov. 16. The State Board of Canvassers will certify the results on Dec. 1.
Unofficial results: Kansas governor
Candidate | Party | Votes | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
Cindy Holscher | D | 548,920 | 50.3% |
Ty Masterson | R | 542,471 | 49.7% |
Total | 1,091,391 | 100% |
Source: Kansas Secretary of State unofficial results, as reported by the Kansas Reflector. Precincts reporting: 4,168 of 4,168. Last updated: 5:32 p.m. Nov. 4, 2026. Additional eligible mail and provisional ballots remain to be counted.
Holscher led by roughly 5,900 votes as of the Kansas Reflector's count shortly after midnight. KWCH reported a 5,557-vote lead, and KMBC reported a 5,578-vote gap at 0.5%.
The margin falls below 1% of the total vote. Under Kansas law, that triggers a mandatory close-race audit before counties can certify the results, according to the Kansas Secretary of State's office.
The Associated Press had not called the race as of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the Kansas News Service reported.
Candidates react
Holscher released a statement saying she was "deeply honored by the trust Kansans placed in me to serve as your next governor. Whether I earned your vote or not, I will work for you."
Masterson, the Senate president from Andover, released his own statement on social media. He stopped short of conceding.
"The first count does not seem to be going our way, but the margin is narrow enough that Kansas law calls for another look, and we'll let that process finish," Masterson said, as reported by KWCH. "Every Kansan deserves to know the result is right."
What the audit means
The close-race audit is separate from the routine post-election audit that follows every Kansas election. Under K.S.A. 25-3009, any federal, statewide or state legislative race that finishes within 1% of the election-night vote total gets an expanded review.
County election officers must hand-count ballots in an additional 10% of all county precincts in the race, with a minimum of one precinct per county. A bipartisan board of election workers conducts the audit. It must be completed before the county canvass certifies results, and it costs the candidates nothing.
Six races statewide met the close-race audit threshold, including the governor's race, secretary of state, attorney general and three Kansas House districts, WIBW reported.
Remaining ballots
Mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3, will be counted if they arrive within three days, the Kansas News Service reported. Lawmakers tried to eliminate that grace period, but a court blocked the change. The Secretary of State's results page will be updated through Friday, Nov. 6.
Gov. Laura Kelly congratulated "governor-elect" Holscher, noting it would be the first time in Kansas history that a Democrat succeeds a Democrat as governor. Provisional ballots will be counted during the county canvass no later than Nov. 16, and the State Board of Canvassers will certify the results Dec. 1.
