Democrat Cindy Holscher wins Kansas governor's race, defeating Trump-backed Ty Masterson

Democratic state Senator Cindy Holscher has won the race for Kansas governor, defeating Republican Ty Masterson, according to a race call by the Associated Press.

The victory keeps the governor's office in Democratic hands and marks the third consecutive Kansas gubernatorial election won by a Democrat. Current Governor Laura Kelly won the office in 2018 and secured a second term in 2022. She is term-limited after serving eight years.

Of the 36 elections for governor across the country, Kansas was seen as the most likely to flip from Democratic to Republican control. The race call came after days of counting provisional ballots, with local officials doing recounts in the closely contested election.

Holscher has served in the Kansas Senate since 2021, after previously spending four years in the state House. She secured the Democratic nomination in the August primary after defeating fellow state Senator Ethan Corson, who was endorsed by Kelly and former Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Holscher, 57, ran a campaign with notes of populism, promising to fight 'sweetheart deals' for billionaires. She tied Masterson to his work in the state Senate when it passed a tax cut under former Republican Governor Sam Brownback that led to a series of budget crises and was later repealed.

Holscher opposed school vouchers, calling for more support for public schools, in contrast with Masterson, who backed school vouchers. She also called for a moratorium on new data centres and for legalising cannabis as a way to generate state revenue.

Masterson, president of the state Senate since 2021, was endorsed by President Donald Trump in the crowded Republican primary. He called for lower property taxes, said faith influenced all his decisions including in politics, and promised to be the 'most pro-ag, pro-business, pro-oil and gas governor' the state has seen.

Masterson called Holscher 'the most radical, liberal, socialist Democrat ever' on a ticket in Kansas. Holscher responded: 'He likes to throw around a whole lot of labels. You know why? Because that's all he's got.'

During the campaign Holscher faced scrutiny over resurfaced social media posts from 2023 in which she suggested Jesus Christ could have been transgender. The comments came during a debate over proposed Kansas legislation restricting drag performances in front of children.