Cindy Holscher, a Democratic state senator from Johnson County, is running for Kansas governor in the Nov. 3 general election. She faces Republican Ty Masterson.

Asked why she is seeking the office, Holscher said in our questionnaire: "I'm running for governor to give a voice to all Kansans — to put ordinary families first. My grandparents were tenant farmers. My father was a veteran, a construction worker, and a proud union member. … They worked hard to provide a better life for me, and my father's union job and strong public schools are what enabled me to graduate from college. I'll fight to give every family the same opportunities."

Candidate information

Party: Democratic

Education: "I'm a first-generation college graduate from the University of Missouri," Holscher said in our questionnaire.

Family: "My husband Greg and I have lived in Kansas for over 25 years and have three kids: Sara, Maddie, and Adam," Holscher said in our questionnaire.

Experience and public service

Holscher said in our questionnaire: "I was elected to the Kansas House in 2016 and to the Kansas Senate in 2020."

According to her campaign website, Holscher has served as Senate Minority Whip and co-founded the Women's Bipartisan Caucus in the Kansas House.

Asked about her work history, Holscher said in our questionnaire: "I have been a legislator since 2017. At the height of the state's teacher shortage, I applied for an emergency teacher's license and started serving as a substitute teacher while continuing to serve in the legislature. Before my time in the legislature, I worked at Sprint, leading the marketing department and managing a large budget."

On the issues

Top priority — cost of living: Holscher said in our questionnaire: "Lowering the cost of living. Working people can't afford the rent. Groceries and gas cost more than ever. Healthcare is too expensive. I'm determined to make Kansas affordable again."

Economy and cost of living: Holscher said in our questionnaire: "We can start by raising the minimum wage to $16 an hour. Next, we can fully fund both general and special education, which we haven't done since 2011 — and when we don't do it, local governments have to cover the gap, which in turn raises property taxes."

Property taxes: Holscher said on her campaign website that she aims to lower residential property tax assessment rates from 11.5% to 9.0% and add exemptions for seniors and disabled veterans.

Education: Holscher said in our questionnaire: "We must fully fund special and general education, which we have not done since 2011. And because of the disastrous Brownback experiment that decimated public schools to the point where we had shower curtains for doors and mass teacher layoffs, we have to ensure our schools are supported and fully funded."

Public safety: Holscher said in our questionnaire: "Every Kansas family deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood. As governor, I'll make sure local law enforcement has the resources to recruit and keep good officers, good pay that can support their families, and workplace protections."

Healthcare: Holscher supports expanding Medicaid, which her campaign says would lower healthcare costs for 152,000 Kansans.

Endorsements

Holscher has been endorsed by three current and former Kansas governors, a bipartisan coalition and labor and community groups, according to her campaign website and BallotReady:

  • Laura Kelly, governor of Kansas
  • Kathleen Sebelius, former governor of Kansas
  • John Carlin, former governor of Kansas
  • Republicans for Cindy, a coalition of 21 current and former Republican elected officials
  • AFL-CIO
  • Stand Up Blue Valley

The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.