Laura Kelly

Kansas has split its governorships evenly since 1960, with seven Republicans and seven Democrats holding the office despite the state's strong Republican lean in federal races. No party has won three consecutive gubernatorial elections since four-year terms began in 1974, a streak now being tested by Democratic state Sen. Cindy Holscher's challenge to Republican state Sen. Ty Masterson, as term-limited Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, departs after two wins.

Several past races were decided by narrow margins, including a sub-4,000-vote finish in 1974 and Kelly's roughly 22,000-vote win in 2022. Since 1990, no sitting Kansas governor has lost a reelection bid, underscoring the historical stakes of this year's contest.

Former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves, a Republican, has endorsed Democrat Adam Hamilton in his challenge against Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.). In a video shared by Hamilton's campaign, Graves said Marshall "has turned his back on Kansas" over his six years in office and praised Hamilton, senior pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, as a figure of "kindness, humility and service." Graves cited rising partisan gridlock as reason for Kansas to "do something different."

Graves, who governed Kansas from 1995 to 2003, has previously crossed party lines to back Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in both her 2018 and 2022 campaigns. Hamilton is seeking to become the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Kansas since 1932. Election forecasters currently favor Marshall, giving him roughly an 80% chance of winning, and his campaign holds a substantial fundraising advantage heading into the race.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has ordered flags flown at half-staff statewide from sunup to sundown this Friday, marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Kelly's office said the gesture honors the nearly 3,000 Americans killed and thousands injured, as well as the more than 400 first responders who died while saving lives that day.

President Donald Trump separately issued a proclamation designating the anniversary as "Patriot Day, 2026," directing federal departments and agencies to fly flags at half-staff in honor of the 2,977 victims. Trump's proclamation also recognized first responders who continue to suffer health effects from their service and members of the Armed Forces who have served in the years since the attacks. The observances reflect ongoing national commemoration efforts tied to the milestone anniversary.