Laura Kelly
Governor of Kansas since 2019. Term-limited; the successor was elected in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.
- In office
- 7 yrs
- Since 2019
- Last margin
- +2.2
- Won 2022
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative records
Governing with the legislature
Party control of each branch at the start of each year, with seats held. Divided government in 4 of 9 years. The Governor changes to Democratic control in 2018.
| Branch | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 | 2024 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | — |
| State Senate | R | R 32–8 | R | R 31–9 | R | R 29–11 | R | R 31–9 | R 31–9 |
| House of Representatives | R 92–33 | R 92–33 | R 97–28 | R 85–40 | R 85–40 | R 86–39 | R 85–40 | R 88–37 | — |
Source: 99chambers state government history (Klarner, MEDSL, results archive)
Bills signed and vetoed
Each session’s bills that reached Kelly’s desk.
- 2025-2026 Regular Session242 · 53 vetoed
- Signed
- Vetoed in full
- Partial (line-item) vetoes count as signed.
Notable vetoes
- HB 2763 · Requiring school districts to provide elementary students with a certain amount of daily recess, prohibiting limiting or withholding… · vetoed Apr 2026
- HB 2513 · Making and concerning supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and appropriations for fiscal years 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 for… · signed Apr 2026 with partial vetoes
- HB 2412 · Requiring instruction to provide students with an understanding of communist, fascist and socialist regimes and ideologies and that… · vetoed Apr 2026
- HB 2111 · Senate Substitute for HB 2111 by Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources - Exempting certain registered agritourism operations from… · vetoed Apr 2026
- HB 2346 · Substitute for HB 2346 by Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development - Establishing the Kansas sports tourism grant program… · vetoed Apr 2026
Source: Open States bills and actionsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
In office
- Term
- 2nd term as governor of Kansas
- Term limit
- Two consecutive terms; serving the last term Kansas allows
Career
Offices held, and every time Kelly was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Statewide races are measured against the state’s presidential vote in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Governor of Kansas | Won | D+2.2 |
| 2016 | Kansas State Senate, District 18 | Won | D+3.2 |
| 2012 | Kansas State Senate, District 18 | Won | D+3.4 |
| 2008 | Kansas State Senate, District 18 | Won | D+16.3 |
| 2004 | Kansas State Senate, District 18 | Won | D+0.3 |
Source: 99chambers results archive