Ty Masterson, the Republican president of the Kansas Senate, is running for governor in the Nov. 3 general election against Democrat Cindy Holscher. Masterson, who lives in Andover, has represented Senate District 16 since 2008. His running mate is Kansas state Sen. Jeff Klemp of Lansing, according to the Kansas City Star.
Masterson said on his campaign website that as Senate president 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, according to the campaign.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Age: 56
- Residence: Andover, Kansas
- Birthplace: El Dorado, Kansas; grew up on a farm in Butler County
- Education: Bachelor's degree from Kansas State University
- Family: Married to Marlo Masterson for 30 years; six children and eight grandchildren, according to the candidate
- Professional role: Director (on leave) at GoCreate, Wichita State University, according to the Kansas Reflector
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, the Kansas Reflector reported.
Experience and public service
- Kansas State Senate, District 16 (2008–present), including service as Senate president
- Kansas House of Representatives, District 99 (2005–2008)
- Andover City Council member (2005)
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 he sought a constitutional amendment during the 2026 legislative session that would cap annual increases in assessed property valuation at 3% per year to prevent large jumps in property taxes. He said he would keep cutting taxes until Kansas is "one of the most affordable states to work, raise a family, and start a business."
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 of Educational Progress rankings after adopting that policy. He said he would raise pay for good teachers, ensure parents have 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, the Kansas Reflector reported. He 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. He supported the 2022 constitutional amendment that would have nullified that ruling. Kansas voters rejected that amendment.
Criminal justice: Masterson said he would stand with law enforcement, back tough-on-crime policies and ensure police are funded.
Endorsements
The following endorsements have been reported by their respective sources:
- Donald Trump, president of the United States, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal
- Kansas Chamber of Commerce, according to BallotReady
Candidate information was drawn from the candidate's campaign website, the Kansas Reflector, the Kansas City Star, BallotReady and the Topeka Capital-Journal. Policy responses reflect the candidate's own statements.
