The 2018 Kansas gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor of Kansas.
On July 26, 2017, Governor Sam Brownback was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 24, 2018; he resigned the governorship on January 31 and was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Jeff Colyer. Colyer was eligible to seek a full term and announced his candidacy prior to becoming Governor of Kansas. In the August 7 primary, Colyer ran against CPA and incumbent Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer, Topeka doctor and 2006 Republican Kansas gubernatorial nominee Jim Barnett, and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach.
On August 7, 2018, Kobach defeated Colyer in the Republican gubernatorial primary by an initial margin of 191 votes, a lead that increased to 361 votes by August 14, although discrepancies in some counties needed resolution and provisional and absentee ballots may not have been counted in some counties.Kris Kobach, Trump ally and Kan. secretary of state, recuses himself from vote counting in his own GOP primary vs. Gov. Jeff Colyer, The Washington Post, Amy B. Wang and Felicia Sonmez, August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018. Colyer conceded the Republican nomination after the final votes were tallied, in which Kobach's margin grew slightly. State Senator Laura Kelly easily won the Democratic nominationLive results for the Kansas primary elections Kris Kobach is challenging incumbent Jeff Colyer in the GOP primary for governor., Vox (website), Ella Nilsen and Li Zhou, August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018. and won the general election, assuming office on January 14, 2019. Businessman Greg Orman, who finished second as an independent in the 2014 U.S. Senate race against incumbent Republican Pat Roberts, ran for governor as an independent candidate.
As, aside from a two-term limit for incumbents, the Constitution of Kansas places no limitations of any kind on who may seek the office, several teenagers (including one who had never been to the state), filed to run for governor, drawing media attention. A debate took place on September 5 between the three candidates that consistently polled above 5%. Polls in late August had Kelly and Kobach running close with Orman polling in the single digits.
Kelly's win continued a streak of party turnover for governor of Kansas, as Kansas has not elected two consecutive governors of the same party since William Avery succeeded fellow Republican John Anderson Jr. following the 1964 election, and neither major party has held the governorship for longer than eight consecutive years since Republican John McCuish left office in 1957.Without a clear primary winner, the Kansas GOP might be at a disadvantage. The Washington Post. August 10, 2018. Kobach would later unsuccessfully run in the 2020 Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Kansas, before successfully running for Kansas Attorney General in 2022.
Republican primary Candidates Nominated Kris Kobach, Secretary of State of Kansas and nominee for KS-03 in 2004 Running mate: Wink Hartman, businessman and candidate for KS-04 in 2010
Eliminated in primary Jim Barnett, former state senator, nominee for governor in 2006 and candidate for KS-01 in 2010 Running mate: Rosemary Hansen, Barnett's wife Jeff Colyer, incumbent governor and candidate for KS-03 in 2002 Running mate: Tracey Mann, incumbent lieutenant governor Patrick Kucera, businessman Running mate: Patricia Reitz Tyler Ruzich, high school student Running mate: Dominic Scavuzzo, high school student Ken Selzer, Kansas Insurance Commissioner Running mate: Jen Sanderson, businesswoman Joseph Tutera Jr., high school student Running mate: Phillip Clemente, high school student
Withdrew Wink Hartman, businessman and candidate for KS-04 in 2010 (ran for lieutenant governor), joined Kris Kobach's campaign as his lieutenant gubernatorial candidate.
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JimBarnett JeffColyer WinkHartman KrisKobach KenSelzer Other UndecidedRemington (R)Remington (R) August 3–5, 2018 2,769 ± 2.0% 14% 34% – 32% 9% 3%Patrick Kucera, Tyler Ruzich, and Joseph Tutera with 1% 10%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R) July 30 – August 2, 2018 1,546 ± 2.4% 11% 36% – 43% 5% 4% –Remington (R)Remington (R) August 2, 2018 859 ± 3.3% 13% 32% – 32% 9% 3% 11%JMC Analytics (R-Kobach)JMC Analytics (R-Kobach) July 24–26, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 11% 25% – 34% 8% 2%Patrick Kucera and Tyler Ruzich with 1%, Joseph Tutera with <1% 20%Remington (R)Remington (R) May 14–15, 2018 1,441 ± 2.6% 9% 29% – 27% 5% – 30%JMC Analytics (R-Kobach)JMC Analytics (R-Kobach) March 15–17, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 10% 18% – 31% 4% – 36%Remington (R)Remington (R) February 13–14, 2018 1,806 ± 2.3% 8% 23% 5% 21% 3% 3%Mark Hutton 3% 37%Moore Information (R)Moore Information (R) February 11, 2018 – – – 20% 6% 26% 11% – 38%
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominated Laura Kelly, state senator Running mate: Lynn Rogers, state senator
Eliminated in primary Arden Andersen, physician Running mate: Dale Cowsert, businessman Jack Bergeson, high school student Running mate: Alexander Cline, high school student Carl Brewer, former Mayor of Wichita Running mate: Chris Morrow, former mayor of Gardner Josh Svaty, former Kansas Secretary of Agriculture and former state representative Running mate: Katrina Gier Lewison, Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education member, veteran
Withdrew
Jim Ward, minority leader of the Kansas House of Representatives
Declined
Paul Davis, former minority leader of the Kansas House of Representatives and nominee for governor in 2014 (running for KS-02)
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ArdenAndersen JackBergeson CarlBrewer LauraKelly JoshSvaty UndecidedGBA Strategies (D-Kelly)GBA Strategies (D-Kelly) June 5–7, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 3% 2% 22% 35% 12% 25% – – 25% 44% 12% 20%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LauraKelly JoshSvaty JimWard UndecidedExpedition Strategies (D-Ward)Expedition Strategies (D-Ward) March 4–8, 2018 – ± 4.4% 17% 7% 19% 57%Moore Information (R) February 11, 2018 – – 39% – 20% 42%
Results
Independent candidates Candidates On the ballot Rick Kloos Running mate: Nathaniel Kloos, son of Rick Kloos Greg Orman, businessman and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 Running mate: John Doll, state senator
Write-in Aaron Coleman, college student
Failed to qualify Ilan Cohen, high school student from Maryland Max Correa, college student from North Carolina Joe Larry Hunter, former inmate Andy Maskin, New York City Advertiser Running mate: Scott Goodwin, Connecticut Advertiser Victor Redko, McGill University student Jared Rogers, University of Pennsylvania student Nicholas Schrieber, college student from Delaware Running mate: Matthew Ueckermann, college student from Maryland Conner Shelton, college student from Pennsylvania
Libertarian convention
Candidates Nominated Jeff Caldwell, executive committee member for the Libertarian Party of Kansas Running mate: Mary Gerlt
Withdrew Thomas Padgett
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 26, 2018The Washington Post November 5, 2018FiveThirtyEight November 5, 2018Rothenberg Political Report November 1, 2018Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2018RealClearPolitics November 4, 2018Daily Kos November 5, 2018Fox News November 5, 2018Politico November 5, 2018Governing November 5, 2018
Debates Dates Location Kelly Kobach Orman LinkSeptember 6, 2018Overland Park, KansasParticipantParticipantParticipant Full debate - YouTubeOctober 30, 2018Wichita, KansasParticipantParticipantParticipant Full debate - C-SPAN
Endorsements
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KrisKobach(R) LauraKelly(D) GregOrman(I) JeffCaldwell(L) Other UndecidedEmerson CollegeEmerson College October 26–28, 2018 976 ± 3.3% 44% 43% 8% – 1% 4%IpsosIpsos October 17–27, 2018 986 ± 3.6% 41% 43% 9% – 2% 5%Public Policy Polling (D-Western States Strategies)Public Policy Polling (D-Western States Strategies) October 19–20, 2018 698 ± 3.7% 41% 41% 10% 2% 0%Rick Kloos (I) with 0% 6%Remington (R)Remington (R) September 30 – October 1, 2018 1,680 ± 2.4% 41% 42% 10% 2% 1%Rick Kloos (I) with 1% 4%Emerson CollegeEmerson College September 26–28, 2018 938 ± 3.5% 37% 36% 9% – 3% 15%Fort Hays State UniversityFort Hays State University August 22 – September 25, 2018 324 – 36% 40% 10% – 5% –Civiqs (D-Crawford County Dems)Civiqs (D-Crawford County Dems) September 21–24, 2018 1,178 ± 3.4% 39% 41% 9% 5% 0% 5%Public Policy Polling (D-Pottawatomie County Dems)Public Policy Polling (D-Pottawatomie County Dems) September 12–13, 2018 618 – 39% 38% 9% 1% 2%Rick Kloos (I) with 2% 12%Public Policy Polling (D-KNEA PAC)Public Policy Polling (D-KNEA PAC) August 24–26, 2018 877 – 39% 38% 9% 1% 2% 11%Remington (R)Remington (R) July 19–20, 2018 1,189 ± 2.9% 35% 36% 12% – – 17%
with Kris Kobach and Laura Kelly Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KrisKobach (R) LauraKelly (D) UndecidedTriton Polling & Research (I-Grow Kansas Action Fund) October 2018 785 ± 3.1% 49% 47% –Public Policy Polling (D-Western States Strategies) October 17–21, 2018 698 ± 3.7% 44% 48% 8%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling September 12–13, 2018 618 – 47% 46% 8%Triton Polling & Research (I-Grow Kansas Action Fund)Triton Polling & Research (I-Grow Kansas Action Fund) August 2018 – – 46% 46% 8%
with Kris Kobach and Greg Orman Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KrisKobach (R) GregOrman (I) UndecidedTriton Polling & Research (I-Grow Kansas Action Fund) October 2018 785 ± 3.1% 43% 49% –Triton Polling & Research (I-Grow Kansas Action Fund) August 2018 – – 40% 53% 8%
with Jeff Colyer Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JeffColyer (R) LauraKelly (D) GregOrman (I) UndecidedRemington (R) July 19–20, 2018 1,189 ± 2.9% 38% 28% 10% 24%
with generic Republican, Democrat, and Independent Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericRepublican GenericDemocrat GenericIndependent UndecidedRemington (R) July 19–20, 2018 1,189 ± 2.9% 47% 35% 8% 10%
Results
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Harvey (largest city: Newton) Johnson (largest municipality: Overland Park) Sedgwick (largest municipality: Wichita)
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Jefferson (largest municipality: Valley Falls)
By congressional district Kelly won two of four congressional districts, including one that was carried by a Republican in the concurrent congressional elections. District Kelly Kobach Orman Representative1st 37% 51%9%Roger Marshall2nd51%41%5%Lynn Jenkins (115th Congress)Steve Watkins (116th Congress)3rd56%37%5%Kevin Yoder (115th Congress)Sharice Davids (116th Congress)4th44.7%45.4%8%Ron Estes
Maps
References
External links Candidates at Vote Smart Candidates at Ballotpedia
Debates GOP Primary Debate, February 17, 2018
Official campaign websites Jeff Caldwell (L) for Governor Ilan Cohen (I) for Governor Archive Aaron Coleman (I) for Governor Archive Laura Kelly (D) for Governor
Kris Kobach (R) for Governor Greg Orman (I) for Governor