A new wayforward.

Holscher has called for a moratorium while guardrails are developed. Masterson supports local decisions, but not a statewide pause.

Holscher source Masterson source

Holscher says she sees a path to expansion. Masterson argues expansion is not the answer for rural hospitals and favors changing the rural-care delivery model.

Candidate answers

Holscher says Kansas should legalize both medical and recreational use. Masterson says he would not push for legalization.

Candidate answers

Holscher says she would veto bills that take away current reproductive-health rights. Masterson favors additional abortion restrictions.

Candidate answers

Holscher opposes diverting taxpayer dollars to private-school voucher programs. Wants to use the funds from recreational Marijuana to strengthen public education funding. Masterson has advocated school choice using state tax dollars for private schools; During the Brownback-era budget shortfall, Masterson chaired Senate Ways and Means as proposed school and university cuts happned.

Holscher position Masterson school-choice report Candidate funding answers Brownback-era budget report

Hamilton centers his campaign on lowering household costs. Marshall has advanced health-price transparency, PBM reform, energy-rate measures, and protections against shifting data-center costs to residents. But most remain pending or narrowly targeted, while his support for H.R. 1 reduced projected Medicaid and SNAP assistance and ended household energy-efficiency credits.

Hamilton source Health-price bill PBM bill Energy-rate bill Data-center costs H.R. 1 vote CBO analysis Energy-credit changes

Hamilton says tariffs are raising farm input costs and harming Kansas agriculture. Marshall supports the tariff strategy despite acknowledging that tariffs exacerbated costs and could produce a one-time 1–2% consumer-price increase; he argues they can produce long-term trade gains and supports aid for affected farmers.

Hamilton source Tariff cost acknowledgment Consumer-price estimate

Hamilton has criticized reductions to Medicaid and food assistance. Marshall voted for H.R. 1 after also voting against an amendment that would have removed one of its Medicaid payment limitations. CBO projects the law’s Medicaid changes will leave 7.5 million more people uninsured nationwide in 2034.

Hamilton source Final Senate vote Medicaid amendment vote CBO coverage projection Kansas impact

Hamilton says politicians should not make this decision for women and supports protections for medication abortion. Marshall identifies as pro-life and voted to advance a prohibition on Medicaid payments to abortion providers.

Hamilton position Hamilton health-care pledge Marshall position Official vote

Before deciding to run, Hamilton says he traveled to communities across Kansas to hear directly from as many residents as possible. At a March 2025 town hall in Oakley, Marshall ended the meeting early after constituents pressed him about federal workforce cuts, leaving as attendees called out that he was not done.

Hamilton listening tour AP town-hall report Kansas News Service report

Coover links grocery prices to tariffs, industry concentration, labor, and farm input costs. Schmidt voted for H.R. 1, which reduced projected federal SNAP spending, expanded work requirements, and shifted some administrative and benefit costs to states.

Coover grocery-cost commentary Official H.R. 1 vote SNAP provisions report

Coover identifies Medicaid access and rural hospital closures as priorities and supports continuing ACA subsidies. Schmidt voted for 2025 legislation that reduced federal Medicaid and SNAP spending.

Coover rural-care source Coover ACA source Official vote Kansas impact

Coover has criticized Congress for failing to exercise its constitutional checks-and-balances role over military action abroad. Schmidt voted against H. Con. Res. 89, a War Powers resolution directing the president to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran.

Coover interview Coover campaign commentary Official War Powers vote

Coover is a West Point graduate, Army veteran who now is a veterinarian and operates a working ranch and cattle-genetics business. Schmidt’s public biography emphasizes a life of law and service as a career politician

Coover biography Schmidt biography

Coover says tariffs damaged overseas commodity markets and are especially harmful to agriculture. Schmidt has said he would not have chosen the tariffs himself, but supports the president’s objective.

Coover source Schmidt source