Kansas Governor-elect Cindy Holscher used her first press conference since winning the election to thank supporters and outline priorities focused on education and household costs. Speaking from Topeka on Friday, Nov. 13, the Democratic senator emphasized bringing Kansans together and working across party lines as she prepares to become governor.
Holscher was joined by Lieutenant Governor-elect KC Ohaebosim, who will become the first African-American to serve as Kansas lieutenant governor. Her early agenda includes improving public education, reducing costs and placing a moratorium on data centers throughout the state. She also pledged to cooperate with Republicans on efforts to make life more affordable.
Addressing residents beyond those who supported her campaign, Holscher said her administration would work on behalf of all Kansans. “Whether I earned your vote or not, I will work for you,” she said. She promised to ease the burden on Kansas families and pursue cuts to their property taxes.
Holscher defeated Republican Sen. Ty Masterson by 7,261 votes in the November midterm election. Both will be in Topeka in January, when she takes office and he continues serving in the Kansas Senate. She will replace Gov. Laura Kelly, whose tenure is ending because of term limits. The transition will mark the first time Kansas has had one Democratic governor succeed another.
The election outcome surprised some political analysts. Dr. Larry Straub, a professor of management at Newman University, said he had believed Masterson established a strong public portrayal of Holscher during roughly two months in which he dominated the airwaves. Straub said Holscher lacked the money for advertising during that period and began running ads only after Masterson’s campaign had shaped perceptions of her.
Although Straub considered Masterson’s campaign the stronger one, he said concerns about affordability ultimately proved too difficult for the Republican to overcome. In his assessment, voters still lack a clear sense of Holscher, leaving the incoming governor with work to do in establishing herself.
Straub said Holscher would have an opportunity to prove herself without facing the Republican supermajority that Kelly encountered. “She’s going to have to define herself,” he said.
Republicans lost their supermajority but retained a legislative majority. That balance means cooperation between the two parties will remain necessary to pass legislation as Holscher begins pursuing the priorities she presented Friday.
