Closing remarks cap tight race between Democrat Holscher and Republican Masterson
By: Tim Carpenter
Kansas Reflector
LENEXA — Republican Ty Masterson spoke Sunday night to Johnson County conservatives in defense of President Donald Trump’s policies and the perils of allowing Democrat Cindy Holscher to win Tuesday’s election for Kansas governor.
“I understand President Trump’s personality, right?” Masterson said. “I understand. He’s a flavor. And, some people like him and some people hate him. But, you know, even the haters that I run into, none of them hate what he’s done. None of them say, ‘Oh, no. I wish he hadn’t closed the border.’ Because you know what? You’re safer.”
Masterson, a state senator from Andover near Wichita, asked 150 or so people in the crowd to think back to July 13, 2024, when an assassin bloodied Trump’s right ear in Pennsylvania, but defiantly raised a fist and mouthed the word “fight.” That’s the attitude Kansas Republicans need to carry into final hours of the 2026 election, Masterson said.
“Our battlefield is the ballot box. You guys are at the front of the battle in Johnson County,” Masterson said. “I do not expect to win Johnson County, but I sure expect to lose by a lot less than everybody else thinks.”
Several hours and a few miles to the south during a loud gathering of Democrats in Lenexa, Holscher outlined a case against electing Masterson to fill the shoes of term-limited Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Holscher punctuated her closing argument with a blend of defensive and offensive strategies to serve the state’s interests as governor.
Holscher, an Overland Park senator who repeatedly won election in red-leaning districts, chose a renovated timber barn for her get-out-the-vote rally. She was joined by Kelly, former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
“Together, we are going to build a Kansas where hard work pays off, where our schools are strong and where every family gets a fair shot,” Holscher said. “I’m going to lower property taxes and bring down the cost of living. I’m gonna protect our seniors, stand up for our farmers, because they’re the backbone of this state.”
On Monday, the latest New York Times poll gave Holscher a 1 percentage point edge on Masterson with little more than 24 hours before polls closed.
Voter registration in Kansas tips election scales in favor of Republican candidates. The state has 900,000 Republicans, 580,000 independents and 520,000 Democrats. That deficit for Democrats didn’t prevent Kelly from winning back-to-back terms as governor in 2018 and 2022. In the past 30 years, Kansas voters have steadfastly sent Republicans to the U.S. Senate, but alternated between Democratic and Republican governors. If the trend held, Masterson would prevail.
Kelly backing Holscher
Holscher, who once walked from Johnson County to Topeka to bring attention to lack of public school funding, vowed to deliver collaborative state government to Kansans finding it harder to make ends meet as the rising cost of food, fuel and other essentials outpaced stagnant incomes. She touted policies with bipartisan appeal in Kansas, including Medicaid expansion, full funding of K-12 special education, abortion rights and legalization of marijuana.
Holscher took a dig at Trump’s endorsements for Masterson, including a full-throated version Sunday night for several thousand people at a MAGA rally in Salina. She has criticized the president’s war with Iran, which is blamed for the spike in fuel prices at the pump.
She reminded the crowd that she was part of the legislative coalition that voted in 2017 to repeal state income tax cuts championed by GOP Gov. Sam Brownback, who recently endorsed Masterson. The resulting steep decline in tax revenue starved state programs for five years. Holscher said voters should keep in mind Masterson has continued to defend Brownback’s tax initiative.
Kelly said Holscher had enough momentum to compete with Masterson and put herself in a place to win the race for governor.
“I want somebody who cares about Kansas,” Kelly said. “I want somebody who will protect our schools. I want somebody who understands and will work for and always pay attention to our rural communities. I want somebody who’s not a wholly owned subsidiary.”
In the August primary, Kelly endorsed state Sen. Ethan Corson of Johnson County, but switched her allegiance to Holscher after votes were counted.
Beshear, who chairs the national Democratic Governors Association, said he was impressed by Holscher.
“I think Laura and I are living, breathing proof that Democrats can win anywhere,” Beshear said. “I’m so proud of the race Cindy has run. She is scrappy in all the right ways.”
Lombardi and Reagan
Dayton Moore, the former general manager of the Kansas City Royals, spoke at the Lenexa campaign stop on Masterson’s behalf. He said legendary football coach Vince Lombardi believed winning was the only thing that mattered. It’s that type of attitude supporters of Masterson had to carry into waning hours of a campaign, he said.
“His principle of leadership, his Judeo-Christian beliefs uniquely prepare him to bring our community of leaders, our educators, our farmers, our politicians together to solve issues,” Moore said. “We’re thankful that (Tuesday) we get to go out and do something that many people around the world don’t get to do, and so we encourage those of you that are registered voters to get out there and vote. Protect this God-given right to voice your opinion.”
During the Sunday appearance with Trump in Salina, Masterson said he was reminded of a comment by President Ronald Reagan about how freedom was potentially one generation away from elimination.
“I don’t think it’s ever been more relevant than it is today,” Masterson said. “This isn’t about an individual candidate. It is about the direction of this country and this state. So, you got a personal issue with any one of us? Anybody that’s running? Look past it. Because it is directional.”
Masterson complained political operatives such as Our Heritage Matters and Stand Your Ground were flooding Kansas with campaign messages to divert conservative votes away from Republican candidates.
“It’s all nefarious to get you to go out and shave off votes from the Republicans,” Masterson said. “They say they’re the real conservatives, but they’re not attacking the left. They’re attacking the right.”