Kansas Gov.-elect Cindy Holscher, a Democrat, campaigns in Lenexa on Nov. 2, 2026, ahead of her victory over Republican Ty Masterson. (Nick Oxford/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Democratic state Sen. Cindy Holscher won the

Kansas governor’s race, defeating Republican Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson in the open contest to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, The Associated Press projected.

The victory keeps the governor’s mansion in Democratic hands and marks the third consecutive Kansas gubernatorial election won by a Democrat. Kelly won the office in 2018 and secured a second term in 2022.

The result underscores Democrats’ continued success in Kansas gubernatorial races despite Republicans’ longstanding dominance in the state’s presidential elections. The GOP has carried Kansas in every presidential election since 1968.

GOP WIPEOUT GOES FROM BAD TO WORSE AS DEMS QUIETLY SCORE ANOTHER MAJOR WIN WITH BIG RAMIFICATIONS

Democratic state Sen.…