Laura Kelly (Kansas)

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Laura Kelly (Democratic Party) is the Governor of Kansas. She assumed office on January 14, 2019. Her current term ends on January 11, 2027.

Kelly (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for Governor of Kansas. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Kelly earned a B.S. in psychology from Bradley University and an M.S. in therapeutic recreation from Indiana University at Bloomington.^[1] Before entering politics, Kelly worked in the recreational therapy field of healthcare. She served as executive director of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association from 1988 to 2004.^[2]

Kelly was elected to the Kansas Senate in 2004 and served until her election as governor in 2018. During her time in the legislature, Kelly served in a variety of leadership roles, including Minority Whip, Assistant Minority Leader, and Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Committee. In her last two re-election campaigns as senator (2012 and 2016), she defeated Republican challengers 51%-48%.

In the 2018 gubernatorial election, Kelly defeated then-Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) 48%-43%. Kelly ran on a joint ticket with the lieutenant gubernatorial nominee, Lynn Rogers (D). Gov. Jeff Colyer (R) ran for re-election but lost to Kobach in the Republican primary. Kelly's victory broke an eight-year Republican trifecta in the state and resulted in a divided government.

Kelly won re-election as governor in 2022, defeating then-Attorney General Derek Schmidt (R) 50%-47%. Kelly ran on a joint ticket with Lt. Gov. David Toland (D), whom Kelly appointed to the position in January 2021 after Rogers left to become the state's treasurer. Kelly's was the only Democratic governorship up for election in 2022 in a state Donald Trump (R) won during the 2020 presidential election.

Kelly opposed an August 2022 state constitutional amendment that said nothing in the state constitution created a right to abortion. Voters defeated the amendment 59% to 41%. Kelly said: "[A]nybody who’s been alive in Kansas in the last six months knows that we have an amendment on the primary ballot that would essentially overturn the (state) Supreme Court ruling and say that women’s reproductive rights are not protected under the constitution."^[3]

As of April 2024, Kelly had vetoed 57 bills while governor. In 2023, she tied a record for most bills vetoed by a Kansas governor in a single session with 17, which was as many as former Gov. Joan Finney (D) vetoed in 1993.^[4] During Kelly's tenure, Republicans in the legislature have maintained a veto-proof supermajority, meaning they can override her vetoes. To see a list of noteworthy instances when a veto override has occurred, click here.

Biography

Kelly was born in New York City. She graduated from Bradley University and obtained a master's degree from Indiana University at Bloomington. Before entering politics, Kelly worked in healthcare, serving as a recreation therapist at the Rockland Children's Psychiatric Center and as director of recreation therapy and physical education at the National Jewish Hospital for Respiratory and Immune Diseases.

Kelly served as executive director of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association between 1988 and her election to the state Senate in 2004. Kelly served four terms in the state Senate, including as assistant minority leader and as minority whip, before winning election as governor in 2018.^[2]

Political career

Below is a list of offices within Ballotpedia’s scope. Offices outside of that scope will not be listed. If an update is needed and the office is within our scope, please contact us.

Kelly's political career includes the following offices:

2019-present: Governor of Kansas
2005-2019: Kansas State Senate District 18

Elections

2022

General election

General election for Governor of Kansas

Incumbent Laura Kelly defeated Derek Schmidt, Dennis Pyle, and Seth Cordell in the general election for Governor of Kansas on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Laura Kelly (D)	49.5	499,849
	Derek Schmidt (R)	47.3	477,591
	Dennis Pyle (Independent)	2.0	20,452
	Seth Cordell (L)	1.1	11,106

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,008,998
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Kansas

Incumbent Laura Kelly defeated Richard Karnowski in the Democratic primary for Governor of Kansas on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Laura Kelly	93.8	270,968
	Submit photo	Richard Karnowski	6.2	17,802

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 288,770
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Kansas

Derek Schmidt defeated Arlyn Briggs in the Republican primary for Governor of Kansas on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Derek Schmidt	80.6	373,542
	Submit photo	Arlyn Briggs	19.4	89,898

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 463,440
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Governor of Kansas

Seth Cordell advanced from the Libertarian convention for Governor of Kansas on April 23, 2022.

		Candidate
✔		Seth Cordell (L)

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
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