Ty Masterson, the Republican president of the Kansas Senate, is running for governor with a platform centered on tax cuts, education changes and property tax limits.
Masterson faces Democrat Cindy Holscher in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. His running mate is Kansas State Senator Jeff Klemp of Lansing, according to the Kansas City Star.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Age: 56
- Residence: Andover, Kansas, a suburb of Wichita
- Hometown: Born in El Dorado, Kansas; grew up on a farm in Butler County
- Family: Married to Marlo Masterson for 30 years; six children and eight grandchildren
- Education: Bachelor's degree from Kansas State University
Masterson's home-building company did not survive the 2008 recession, and he filed for bankruptcy in 2011, an experience he says made him more relatable to people who have faced financial hardship, according to the Kansas Reflector.
Experience and public service
- Andover City Council member, elected 2005
- Kansas House of Representatives, District 99 (2005–2008)
- Kansas State Senate, District 16 (2008–present)
- President of the Kansas Senate
- Director (on leave) at GoCreate, Wichita State University
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Masterson's campaign website and his responses reported by the Kansas Reflector. Statements reflect the candidate's own claims unless otherwise noted.
Taxes and budget: Masterson said on his campaign website that he wants to keep cutting taxes until Kansas is "one of the most affordable states to work, raise a family, and start a business." As Senate president, Masterson said he led the fight for $2 billion in tax cuts, which he described as the largest in Kansas history. Those cuts included a two-rate income tax structure, elimination of income tax on Social Security benefits and elimination of the state sales tax on groceries. He also sought a constitutional amendment during the 2026 legislative session that would cap annual increases in assessed property valuation at 3% per year to limit jumps in property tax bills, according to the Kansas Reflector.
Education: Masterson said he supports using state tax dollars to support private schools, arguing that public school students deserve the chance to leave underperforming schools. He also supports requiring third-grade students to demonstrate reading proficiency before advancing to fourth grade, citing Mississippi's rise in national assessment rankings after adopting that policy. On his campaign website, Masterson said he would raise pay for good teachers, give parents a say in their children's education and hold education spending accountable.
Economic development: Masterson defended the 2025 state law granting 20-year tax exemptions for qualified data centers but said additional guardrails may be needed, including clarifying that eminent domain cannot be used, according to the Kansas Reflector. He said decisions about individual data center projects should be made at the local level.
Abortion: Masterson has opposed abortion rights and objected to the 2019 Kansas Supreme Court decision that the state Bill of Rights created a fundamental right to bodily autonomy, including the right to end a pregnancy, according to the Kansas Reflector. He supported the 2022 constitutional amendment that would have nullified that ruling. Kansas voters rejected that amendment.
Criminal justice: Masterson said on his campaign website that he will "stand with the men and women in law enforcement, back tough on crime policies, and ensure we fund our police."
Endorsements
Masterson has been endorsed by the following, according to the sources listed:
- Donald Trump, president of the United States, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal
- Kansas Chamber of Commerce, according to BallotReady
Candidate positions were drawn from Masterson's campaign website and responses reported by the Kansas Reflector. The Overland Park Chronicle did not interview the candidate for this profile.
