One of two Democrats in the race for Kansas governor says he’s running for the office in part to usher in a new era of “younger, fresher leaders” for the state.
State Senator Ethan Corson tells KVOE News his family experience mirrors those of many Kansans who are raising young children, paying for childcare in the process, paying off student loans and deciding to delay home ownership for several years. The Olathe resident went to Garden City Community College after high school, and he says those experiences — as well as his time with the US Department of Commerce and as chief of staff for the International Trade Administration — position him well if he’s elected. He also says those experiences translate well to rural areas.
Property taxes have been a significant topic for Republicans the past few years, and Corson hears those concerns as well. Unlike Senate President Ty Masterson, who blamed Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s vetoes for halting large-scale action on property tax relief, Corson blamed Masterson for inaction despite a Republican supermajority in both chambers. He also explained his plan for easing some property tax pain, starting with a $250 vehicle registration tax credit that he says would fully exempt property tax on 2.5 million of the state’s 3.1 million vehicles. Also:
Education funding will get serious conversation in the 2027 legislative session. Corson says he will only sign a bill that fully funds education, including special education.
Corson also wants to revisit Medicaid expansion — a topic that went nowhere in the Kansas Legislature this past session and didn’t get far last year, either. He says expansion will help rural hospitals struggling to stay open.
Underpinning the different financial features is the overall budget. Like Republicans in the race, Corson says there is a spending issue. Unlike Republicans, Corson says it’s GOP pet projects at fault, not Governor Kelly.
Corson is up against fellow Johnson County Senator Cindy Holscher on the Democrat side. Besides Masterson, Republicans in the race include former governor and lieutenant governor Jeff Colyer, current Secretary of State Scott Schwab, current Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, talk show host Doug Billings, data analyst Joy Eakins and entrepreneur Stacy Rogers.
The candidate filing and withdrawal deadline is at noon June 1.
