With the 2026 elections approaching, Kansas now has its first declared candidate for governor.
Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican, announced Wednesday that he is running for the party’s nomination for governor in 2026.
“We need to return to the values and principles that have always fueled us, and gave me the strength to lead in Topeka,” Schwab said in a news release. “I have a proven conservative record. And a servant’s heart. It’s important for Kansas to take the right path.
“A Christian, a father, and a believer in the American dream. I believe that to do something great, you need to throw off the chains holding you back. For Kansas, that’s big government, and that is why I am running for Governor.”
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab takes the oath of office in January 2023. Two years later, Schwab has announced he will run for governor in 2026.
Schwab is the first politician to throw his hat in the ring for the 2026 election to succeed Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who is term limited. This is earlier than candidates have announced for governor in recent elections.
Schwab, who is originally from Great Bend, previously served in the Kansas Legislature representing an Olathe district. In his last session, his colleagues chose him to be speaker pro tempore of the House.
He was then elected secretary of state in 2018, succeeding Kris Kobach, and reelected in 2022. In that primary, he defeated Mike Brown, who went on to be elected chair of the Kansas Republican Party, then in the general he defeated Jeanna Repass, who went on to be elected chair of the Kansas Democratic Party.
Schwab touted his work as secretary of state to “streamline the agency’s business services division and cutting bureaucratic red tape.” The role also made him the state’s top election official, and Schwab touted his work to “strengthen election security.”
Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Republican Scott Schwab will run for Kansas governor in 2026