“He likes to throw around a whole lot of labels,” Cindy Holscher said.
Following a race call by the Associated Press, Democratic state Sen. Cindy Holscher has successfully secured the Kansas governor’s seat for her party by overcoming Republican Ty Masterson.
Masterson, the president of the state Senate, held an endorsement from President Trump in the race. Among the 36 gubernatorial contests nationwide, Kansas was viewed as the prime candidate to switch from Democratic leadership to Republican oversight.
Having completed eight years in office, current Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly faces term limits within a state characterized by a heavily Republican legislature. Kansas usually votes for Republicans for other offices and in presidential elections.
Holscher, 57, ran a campaign with notes of populism, promising to fight “sweetheart deals” for billionaires. She connected Masterson to his legislative record in the state Senate when a tax cut was enacted under former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.
That tax cut led to a series of budget crises and was later repealed by lawmakers. Holscher opposed school vouchers and called for more support for public schools.
Her opponent took a different stance on education funding. Masterson backed school vouchers during his time in the legislature.
Holscher also called for a moratorium on new data centers. She proposed legalizing cannabis as a way to generate state revenue.
Masterson, 57, called for lower property taxes and said faith influenced all his decisions, including in politics. He pledged that he would function as the “most pro-ag, pro-business, pro-oil and gas governor,” in the history of the state.
During the campaign, Masterson called Holscher, “the most radical, liberal, socialist Democrat ever” on a ticket in Kansas.
“You know why? Because that’s all he’s got,” Holscher responded.
