Kansas Gov. Kelly Votes Early in Primary, Notes First Election Off the Ballot in 22 Years

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly voted early on July 28, 2026, ahead of the state's August 4 primary election. Kelly noted this was the first time in 22 years that her name was not on a ballot, as she is not seeking reelection or another office this cycle. The voting took place in Kansas and was reported under state political coverage by both Kansas Reflector and the Lawrence Journal-World. Kelly said she cast her vote for Ethan Corson, a candidate in the Democratic primary for governor whom she has formally endorsed. Corson is competing against Cindy Holscher and Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Kelly remarked that this election cycle differs from her own previous two gubernatorial campaigns in terms of the dominant political themes at play. According to one report, Kelly said that during her past campaigns, discussion centered on the impact of former Governor Sam Brownback's policies on Kansas, whereas current candidates are focused more on the influence of the federal government on the state. This characterization of the shift in campaign themes was reported by only one of the two sources and has not been independently corroborated. The outcome of the August 4 Democratic primary for governor remains undetermined at the time of reporting.