Kansas Insurance Commissioner Schmidt Loses GOP Primary for Governor

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt’s bid to become the state’s next governor came up short Tuesday.

Schmidt finished third in the Republican Primary, losing to state senator Ty Masterson. Schmidt received 13.7% of the vote.

Schmidt was elected insurance commissioner in 2018, and reelected in 2022. Schmidt announced last year she would run for governor.

A pharmacist by trade, Schmidt ran on a platform of taking on special interests and bringing property tax relief to residents.

The battle to replace Schmidt as insurance commissioner will be between Republican Daniel Hawkins and Democrat Dinah Sykes. Both won their primaries uncontested.