Trump-backed Ty Masterson wins Republican nomination for Kansas governor

2026 ElectionTrump-backed Ty Masterson wins Republican nomination for Kansas governorNBC News projects that Masterson, the state Senate president, emerged from the primary in a contest that represents a top pick-up opportunity for the GOP this fall.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson has advanced to the general election in the state's race for governor.Evert Nelson / USA Today Network via Reuters ConnectShareAdd NBC News to GoogleAug. 4, 2026, 9:00 PM EDTBy Adam EdelmanState Senate President Ty Masterson has won the Republican nomination in Kansas’ race for governor, NBC News projects, riding an endorsement from President Donald Trump to the general election in a state that is arguably the party’s best gubernatorial pickup opportunity.Masterson emerged from a primary field that included Secretary of State Scott Schwab, Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, businessman Philip Sarnecki and several others.He will face the winner of the Democratic gubernatorial primary, which includes state Sens. Cindy Holscher and Ethan Corson. Holscher has run a progressive, anti-establishment campaign, while Corson has leaned heavily on his support from term-limited Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Masterson and his allies were outspent on the airwaves by his GOP opponents, but his support from the president put him over the top. Trump won Kansas by double digits in each of the last three presidential elections. In a tele-rally last week, Trump lauded Masterson as a “fighter,” a “winner” and as someone who has “done a fantastic job — throughout life, actually.”“We love each other, we love that state,” Trump said.Kansas, where registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats nearly 2 to 1, represents the GOP’s best opportunity to pick up a gubernatorial seat this fall. ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleAdam EdelmanI cover state legislatures, politics and policy — and how those topics coalesce into and intersect with national politica...