Democrat Cindy Holscher Wins Kansas Governor’s Race in State’s Closest Contest in Half a Century

TOPEKA, Kan., Nov. 13 (TodayViralUSA) — Democrat Cindy Holscher has been elected governor of Kansas, narrowly defeating Republican Ty Masterson in one of the closest gubernatorial races in the state’s history and extending a wave of Democratic victories in last week’s midterm elections.

The Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ called the race Thursday, more than a week after the Nov. 3 vote. Unofficial results showed Holscher, a state senator from Overland Park, winning about 50.3% of the vote and leading Masterson, the Republican state Senate president, by roughly 7,300 votes.

A historic margin

According to The Wichita Eagle, it is the closest Kansas governor’s race since 1974, when Republican Robert Bennett won by 3,677 votes. Holscher’s win also marks the first time Kansans have elected back-to-back Democratic governors and the first time either party has won a third straight term since the state moved to four-year terms.

She will succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Her running mate, state Rep. KC Ohaebosim of Wichita, becomes the second Black person elected to statewide office in Kansas history.

Winning in a red state

Trump has carried Kansas by double digits in each of the last three presidential elections, and registered Republicans outnumber Democrats nearly 2 to 1. Masterson had Trump’s endorsement and a nearly 3-to-1 advantage in general-election ad spending, according to AdImpact data cited by NBC News.

Holscher tied her opponent closely to the president while pledging to work with the administration where possible. She also promised to halt new data centers, the AP reported. The same political tailwinds helped Democrat Adam Hamilton win a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas, the first for the party in the state since 1932.

The result came after a bruising primary in which Kelly endorsed Holscher’s opponent, state Sen. Ethan Corson. Holscher declared victory the day after the election and met with Kelly on Nov. 10 to begin the transition.

“If you voted a different way, I want you to hear this directly from me: I will be your governor too,” Holscher said in a video to supporters.