Laura Kelly
Democratic governor of Kansas since 2019, who beat Kris Kobach in 2018.
Laura Kelly beat Kris Kobach for the Kansas governorship in 2018 and held it in 2022, the record Democrats cite as proof the state can elect one of theirs. Her second and final term ends in January 2027.
Last refreshed: 18 October 2026
Timeline for Laura Kelly
Mentioned in: WinSenate puts $8.14m into Kansas ads
US Midterms 2026Mentioned in: Kansas's Marshall outraised 13 to 1
US Midterms 2026Background
Laura Kelly is the proof Kansas Democrats point to that their party can still win statewide. That record matters for the 2026 Senate race, in which the Democrat Adam Hamilton has out-raised Senator Roger Marshall by roughly 13 to 1 since mid-July.
Kelly represented the 18th district in the Kansas Senate from 2005 to 2019. She won the governorship in 2018, beating the Republican Kris Kobach by about five points, and was re-elected in 2022. Kansas limits governors to two consecutive terms, so her tenure ends in January 2027.
Her victories came in governor's races rather than Senate contests. They show a ceiling Kansas Democrats have reached, not a Senate path they have already walked.
Who is Laura Kelly?
How did Laura Kelly beat Kris Kobach?
Why is Laura Kelly's 2018 win cited in the 2026 Senate race?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 18 October 2026. Editorial standards.