Kansas and New York Governor's Races Take Shape for 2026

Kansas will hold gubernatorial primary elections on August 4, 2026, followed by a general election on November 3, 2026, with term-limited Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly unable to seek a third term. Separately, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, is campaigning for re-election in 2026 against Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, with an Albany event in July 2026 featuring endorsements from local elected officials. In Kansas, the Republican field includes Senate President Ty Masterson, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, former Gov. Jeff Colyer, and Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, who entered the race on July 9. Masterson has led the Senate's top leadership post since 2021; Schmidt was first elected insurance commissioner in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, and has cited work recovering funds for Kansas families and reducing business costs. Democratic candidates include state senators Cindy Holscher and Ethan Corson, while Lt. Gov. David Toland announced he will not run in 2026, opting instead to focus on economic development work. Reports describe the overall field as at least six Republicans, three Democrats, and one independent. In New York, Hochul's Albany appearance was designed to highlight her endorsements and contrast her record with Blakeman's, with reporting noting Blakeman's ties to President Donald Trump as a point of criticism from Hochul's campaign. The Kansas primary field remained in flux across the reporting period from June through July 2026, with new entrants such as Schmidt and Masterson joining after earlier reports were published, indicating the list of candidates was not yet final. Kansas voters will also decide races for U.S. senator, attorney general, insurance commissioner, secretary of state, and treasurer on the same November 2026 ballot. Specific policy positions, full candidate rosters, and eventual primary outcomes in both states remain unresolved and were not detailed in the available reporting.