The 2014 Kansas gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor of Kansas. It was held concurrently with the election of Kansas' Class II U.S. Senate seat, elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.
Incumbent Republican governor Sam Brownback ran for re-election to a second term. He was opposed in the general election by Democrat Paul Davis, the minority leader of the Kansas House of Representatives, and Libertarian attorney Keen Umbehr.
The election was viewed as a referendum on Brownback's aggressive tax cutting initiatives and his conservative values. The consensus among The Cook Political Report, Governing, The Rothenberg Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, Daily Kos Elections, and others was that the contest was a tossup. Brownback won the election by a margin of 3.69%. Davis carried seven counties, all in eastern Kansas. This is the last gubernatorial election in which a Democratic candidate won Jefferson County, as well as the last time that a candidate was elected governor of Kansas by winning a majority of counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared Sam Brownback, incumbent governor Running mate: Jeff Colyer, incumbent lieutenant governor Jennifer Winn, businesswoman Running mate: Robin Lais, advertising agency owner and natural healing shop owner Former running mate: Ethan McCord, Iraq War veteran
Declined Kris Kobach, secretary of state of Kansas (ran for re-election) Steve Morris, former president of the Kansas Senate Sandy Praeger, Kansas Insurance Commissioner (endorsed Paul Davis)
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SamBrownback JenniferWinn UndecidedSurveyUSA July 17–22, 2014 691 ± 3.7% 60% 30% 9%SurveyUSASurveyUSA June 19–23, 2014 508 ± 4.4% 55% 37% 8%
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared Paul Davis, minority leader of the Kansas House of Representatives Running mate: Jill Docking, businesswoman, former member of the Kansas Board of Regents and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1996 (running for lieutenant governor)
Declined Carl Brewer, mayor of Wichita Jill Docking Tom Holland, state senator and nominee for governor in 2010 Deb Miller, former secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation Stephen Morris, former Republican president of the Kansas Senate Mark Parkinson, former governor, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living Sandy Praeger, Republican Kansas Insurance Commissioner Joe Reardon, former mayor of Kansas City Joshua Svaty, vice president of The Land Institute and former Secretary of Agriculture of Kansas
Results
Libertarian nomination
Candidates
Declared Keen Umbehr, attorney Running mate: Josh Umbehr, physician and son of Keen Umbehr
General election
Debates Complete video of debate, September 6, 2014 - C-SPAN Complete video of debate, October 21, 2014 - C-SPAN
Endorsements
Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SamBrownback (R) PaulDavis (D) KeenUmbehr (L) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 1–3, 2014 963 ± 3.2% 45% 46% 4% — 4% 47% 48% — — 3%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 30–31, 2014 752 ± ? 44% 48% 5% — 3%YouGovYouGov October 25–31, 2014 1,137 ± 4.8% 39% 38% 2% 1% 21%Fox NewsFox News October 28–30, 2014 907 ± 3% 42% 48% 4% <1% 5%Survey USASurvey USA October 22–26, 2014 623 ± 4% 43% 46% 5% — 7%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 1,973 ± 4% 43% 40% — 1% 16%NBC News/MaristNBC News/Marist October 18–22, 2014 757 LV ± 3.6% 44% 45% 5% 1% 6% 1,055 RV ± 3% 43% 43% 6% 1% 7%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 20–21, 2014 960 ± 3% 45% 52% — 1% 2%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing October 20–21, 2014 1,124 ± 3% 44% 49% — — 7%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University October 16–19, 2014 429 ± 4.7% 45% 50% — 2% 5%Remington ResearchRemington Research October 9–12, 2014 1,091 ± 2.97% 48% 45% 3% — 4%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 9–12, 2014 1,081 ± 3% 42% 42% 6% — 10% 44% 45% — — 12%Fox NewsFox News October 4–7, 2014 702 ± 3.5% 46% 40% 2% 2% 11%CNN/ORCCNN/ORC October 2–6, 2014 687 ± 3.5% 49% 49% — — 2%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 2–5, 2014 549 ± 4.3% 42% 47% 4% — 7%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing September 30–October 1, 2014 850 ± 3% 40% 48% — — 12%NBC News/MaristNBC News/Marist September 27–October 1, 2014 636 LV ± 3.9% 43% 44% 4% 1% 7%1,097 RV ± 3% 41% 43% 5% 1% 10%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov September 20–October 1, 2014 2,013 ± 3% 45% 42% — 0% 12%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk University September 27–30, 2014 500 ± 4.4% 42% 46% 6% — 7%Fort Hays State University September 10–27, 2014 685 ± 3.8% 37% 39% 9% — 16%Remington ResearchRemington Research September 23, 2014 625 ± 3.91% 44% 46% 5% — 5%Rasmussen Reports September 16–17, 2014 750 ± 4% 43% 47% — 4% 6%Fox NewsFox News September 14–16, 2014 604 ± 4% 41% 45% 4% — 8%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling September 11–14, 2014 1,328 ± 2.7% 38% 42% 7% — 14% 39% 45% — — 15%KSN/SurveyUSAKSN/SurveyUSA September 4–7, 2014 555 ± 4.2% 40% 47% 5% — 7%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov August 18–September 2, 2014 839 ± 5% 47% 40% — 2% 11%SurveyUSASurveyUSA August 20–23, 2014 560 ± 4.2% 40% 48% 5% — 6%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 14–17, 2014 903 ± 3.3% 37% 39% 9% — 15%Rasmussen Reports August 6–7, 2014 750 ± 4% 41% 51% — 3% 5%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov July 5–24, 2014 1,274 ± 6.1% 52% 40% — 3% 5%SurveyUSA July 17–22, 2014 1,208 ± 2.9% 40% 48% 5% — 7%SurveyUSASurveyUSA June 19–23, 2014 1,068 ± 3.1% 41% 47% — 5% 7%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports April 16–17, 2014 750 ± 4% 47% 40% — 6% 7%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling April 1–2, 2014 886 ± 3.1% 41% 45% — — 14%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 18–20, 2014 693 ± 3.7% 40% 42% — — 18%Wilson Perkins AllenWilson Perkins Allen January 29, 2014 ? ± ? 42% 31% — — 27%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 23–24, 2013 511 ± 4.4% 39% 43% — 12% 6%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SamBrownback (R) CarlBrewer (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,229 ± 2.8% 44% 40% — 15%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SamBrownback (R) TomHolland (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,229 ± 2.8% 45% 38% — 17%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SamBrownback (R) MarkParkinson (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,229 ± 2.8% 45% 39% — 16%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SamBrownback (R) JoeReardon (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,229 ± 2.8% 45% 36% — 19%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SamBrownback (R) KathleenSebelius (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,229 ± 2.8% 48% 43% — 9%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SamBrownback (R) ChadTaylor (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,229 ± 2.8% 44% 34% — 22%
Results
By county