KS-GOV: Kansas Democratic candidates for governor shaping 2026 campaigns to entice rural voters
TOPEKA — A pair of state senators from Johnson County competing for the Kansas Democratic Party’s nomination for governor are eager to demonstrate political connections to Republican and independent voters who have a dominant presence in rural Kansas.
Sens. Ethan Corson and Cindy Holscher were asked Monday night during an online forum whether they can draw enough support from voters outside the Democratic Party to be competitive in a statewide race for governor. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won back-to-back elections, sweeping urban counties and outperforming her predecessors in rural areas of Kansas.
Both of the 2026 Democratic candidates for governor highlighted their ability to influence policy in the Kansas Legislature despite two-thirds Republican majorities in the House and Senate.
Corson, who broke campaign donation records by raising $625,000 since announcing in July, is prone to talking about his time playing collegiate baseball in western Kansas. He says he’s running because he believes it is important to have a governor who will ensure the next generation of Kansans stays in Kansas.
https://kansasreflector.com/2025/11/25/kansas-democratic-candidates-for-governor-shaping-2026-campaigns-to-entice-rural-voters/