Jeff Klemp seeks Kansas lieutenant governor on Masterson ticket

Kansas state Sen. Jeff Klemp is running for lieutenant governor on the Republican ticket led by gubernatorial candidate Ty Masterson. Klemp faces Democrat KC Ohaebosim in the Nov. 3 general election.

Masterson, the Kansas Senate president, selected Klemp as his running mate on June 1, according to KSNT. Masterson holds a Trump endorsement for the governor's race, KSNT reported. The Masterson-Klemp ticket advanced from the Republican primary on Aug. 4, according to the Kansas Reflector.

Candidate information

Name: Jeffrey Christopher Klemp
Party: Republican
Residence: Lansing, Kansas (Leavenworth County)
Spouse: Joni Klemp
Education: High school diploma, Leavenworth High School; bachelor's degree in economics, University of Kansas; master of business administration, Baker University

Experience and public service

Klemp represents parts of Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties as the state senator for District 5, a seat he has held since 2025, according to Kansas Legislature records. He serves as vice chair of the Transportation Committee.

He won the 2024 Senate District 5 general election by just 31 votes after a recount by the Kansas secretary of state, defeating incumbent Democrat Jeff Pittman 15,732 to 15,701, according to Wikipedia. The margin triggered a recount. Klemp ran for the Lansing City Council Ward 2 seat in 2011.

In the private sector, Klemp has served as president and CEO of Century Van Lines since 2010 and as principal of Kinetic Retail Group since 2022, according to BallotReady. He also served as chief operations officer at Commercial Automation from 2016 to 2022 and held executive roles at Basil Street Cafe, Inc., including chief operating officer and director and chief restructuring officer.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Klemp's responses on his campaign website and BallotReady questionnaire. They reflect the candidate's own statements.

Taxes and budget: Klemp said tax policy should create long-lasting, high-paying jobs, make the Kansas economy competitive nationally and let taxpayers keep more of their money.

Education: Klemp said he supports expanding opportunities for Kansas students by ensuring educational institutions focus on advancing education that supports business growth. That includes investing in vocational training, STEM programs and other educational initiatives that prepare students for the workforce, according to his campaign.

Public safety: Klemp said he supports legislative backing for first responders and comprehensive support for law enforcement, emergency responders and community crime-prevention initiatives.

Immigration and national security: Klemp said he supports legislation to secure the southern border to stem the flow of fentanyl. He also said he backs legislation to prevent adversarial countries, naming China, from buying land and building businesses near military bases and in Kansas.

Veterans: Klemp said he is committed to improving the welfare and quality of life for veterans and their families, as well as active-duty military members and their spouses.