Kansas Republican Governor nominee?
$60.8K
AUG 5, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer Governor
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age66 years old (Jun 3, 1960)
GenderMale
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LocationKansas
BackgroundPhysician
EducationGeorgetown University — B.S. (economics), 1981
Notable personal detailsJeffrey William Colyer is an American physician and Republican politician from Hays, Kansas. He served as the 49th lieutenant governor of Kansas (2011–2018) and became the 47th governor of Kansas (2018–2019) after Sam Brownback resigned. Colyer previously served in the Kansas House of Representatives (2007–2009) and Kansas Senate (2009–2011), and he has worked as a plastic and craniofacial surgeon.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Jeff Colyer advocates reducing government spending, cutting taxes, and controlling property taxes; he cites privatizing Medicaid and government reorganization as past measures to save money. His campaign emphasizes bolstering small businesses and cutting taxes while promoting fiscal efficiency and reduced government inefficiency. He has supported measures to limit property-tax growth and has described holding the line on taxes as a priority.
Healthcare
Jeff Colyer has opposed the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion in Kansas and led a transformation of the state Medicaid program (KanCare) into a privatized, managed‑care system intended to reduce costs and integrate services. He has described preferring job‑creation and reducing dependency over broadening Medicaid eligibility and emphasizes market-based/managed‑care approaches to Medicaid.
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Immigration & Border
Supports stronger immigration enforcement and border security measures, opposes in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants and sanctuary cities, and has taken actions against DACA-related policies. Emphasizes deporting undocumented immigrants who are criminals while aligning with President Trump’s immigration approach.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports significant restrictions on abortion and identifies as pro-life, advocating measures to reduce and ultimately end abortions in Kansas. He has supported state laws limiting abortion, opposed court rulings that recognized abortion-related rights under the Kansas Constitution, and proposed a state constitutional amendment to counter those rulings.
Climate & Energy
Supports Kansas oil and gas industry and policies that promote energy production while backing technology-driven emissions reductions such as carbon capture; favors protecting fossil-fuel jobs and state-based economic interests in energy. Positions emphasize energy independence, supporting oil and gas development and market/technology solutions rather than aggressive regulatory emissions targets or Green New Deal–style measures.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate supports the Second Amendment and has received NRA endorsement and an A rating, while also taking some limited gun-safety actions as governor such as signing a law restricting firearm possession for people with recent misdemeanor domestic violence convictions. Overall public statements and actions show support for gun rights alongside selective regulatory measures.
News
Jeff Colyer is referenced in broader reporting about campaign money, as a new analysis says billionaire contributions made up 19% of federal campaign donations in 2024 and largely favored Republican candidates. The report links the rise in mega-donor influence to post–Citizens United political spending and notes billionaire families giving an average of about $10 million each.
Endorsements
Endorsers of Jeff Colyer for Kansas Republican Governor nominee?
NRA Political Victory Fund
Public endorsement
NRA Political Victory Fund endorsed Jeff Colyer in the 2018 Kansas Republican gubernatorial primary.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Elected official
Sarah Huckabee Sanders endorsed Jeff Colyer in the Kansas governor race.
Kansas Farm Bureau
Elected official
Kansas Farm Bureau endorsed the Colyer/Mann campaign for governor in the 2018 Kansas Republican primary.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Fundraising