Kansas Gubernatorial Primary Election — Candidate Comparison
This page presents a side-by-side comparison of candidate priorities and promises in the Kansas gubernatorial primary election.
Candidates:
- Doug Billings (Republican) — Candidate in the Kansas gubernatorial primary election
- Joy Eakins (Republican) — Candidate in the Kansas gubernatorial primary election
- Ty Masterson (Republican) — Candidate in the Kansas gubernatorial primary election
Candidate Priorities and Promises in the Primary Election
The table below compares the publicly stated priorities and promises of candidates competing in the primary election. Information is compiled from official campaign websites, public statements, and other verifiable sources to help voters understand where candidates stand on key issues.
About
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Doug Billings is a political outsider with a proven track record of leadership, bringing a fierce MAGA conservative vision to the Kansas Governor’s race. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction, Doug began his career as a teacher, instilling values of hard work and critical thinking in his students. His communication expertise and educational background fuel his passion for empowering parents and restoring local control over Kansas schools. Transitioning to the corporate world, he served as Vice President of Human Resources, mastering the "art of the deal" by negotiating multi-billion-dollar contracts and collective bargaining agreements across the United States and Europe...
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
Joy overcame difficult circumstances growing up to earn full-ride scholarships to college and graduate school where she earned degrees in advanced mathematics. For the last 16 years, Joy built one of the most successful data-analytics firms in Kansas: Cornerstone Data, Inc., a full-service consultancy based in Kansas with a nationwide reach. Joy served for several years on the Wichita Board of Education where she fought for parents' rights, fiscal responsibility, and advocated for education reforms that improved student outcomes. Family and Faith Joy has been married to Eric for 31 years, and together they have a biological son serving in the U.S. Air Force and a bonus son who lives in Chicago. A devout Christian, Joy is a faithful member of River Community Church.
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
Born and raised in Butler County, Ty learned Kansas values early – live your faith, stand by your family, work hard, and if you’re not willing to do something about it, don’t waste time complaining. These values led Ty to run for the Andover City Commission more than twenty years ago after being dissatisfied with the direction of the community that had given him so much. Since then, Ty has never stopped fighting to make Kansas a better place to live. Ty was elected to the state legislature in 2004, where he has been a reliable conservative leader in Topeka, delivering on our conservative priorities: lower taxes, more efficient spending, safer communities, and a stronger, more prosperous Kansas. He became President of the Kansas Senate in 2021 after being elected unanimously...
Achievements
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
As President of the Kansas Senate, Ty has led the fight to get Kansas back on track. He championed a $2 billion tax cut for Kansas families. Ty has also been at the forefront of the fight against the woke agenda, by banning DEI in our higher education system, men from competing in women’s sports, and transgender surgeries for minors. And he preserved the integrity of Kansas elections with commonsense measures to protect the ballot box. Ty is a small business owner, entrepreneur, and laborer. He leads GoCreate, a community workspace at Wichita State University that gives entrepreneurs of all ages the resources they need to launch businesses and turn ideas into a reality. Ty still lives in Butler County, representing the district where he was born in the legislature. Ty has been...
Priority 1
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Protecting Kansas Land from Foreign Ownership: As Governor, I will fiercely defend Kansas’ sovereignty by working with the Republican legislature to enact a bold, statewide ban on foreign countries and companies purchasing ANY land in our state. While current law restricts foreign ownership within 100 miles of military installations, this falls short of safeguarding our heartland. Kansas’ fertile fields, sacred prairies, and strategic resources must remain in American hands—period...
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
Pro-Life: Every human life is precious and deserves to be protected and cherished. Joy and her husband Eric have raised one biological son and one bonus son, and they recognize that both children are just as precious and deserving of life and the opportunity of their future. Our Founding Fathers listed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as unalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence, and life comes first. Joy will be proud to stand for life – all life, at every stage.
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
End the Kansas Tax Squeeze: Kansas has become the 16th highest taxed state in the country. We are taxing workers, families, and seniors out. In the Legislature, I led efforts to pass a $2 billion tax cut for Kansans. As governor, I will keep cutting taxes until Kansas is one of the most affordable states to work, raise a family, and start a business.
Priority 2
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Restoring Sound Money in Kansas: As a MAGA conservative running for Governor of Kansas in 2026, I am committed to making Kansas the sixth state to recognize gold and silver as legal tender, a bold step to restore economic sovereignty, protect against inflation, and uphold constitutional principles. This policy will empower Kansans to use precious metals in everyday transactions, fostering financial independence and positioning Kansas as a national leader in sound money. Rooted ...
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
Strong Families: Kansas is strong because of the families who moved here generations ago and tamed the wild prairie, and families have kept our communities strong ever since. As Governor, Joy will consider every decision based on how it will impact individual families and improve their opportunity to pursue their own vision of the American Dream.
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
Bring Back Kansas Jobs: Kansas's economy has grown just 2.3% over the last five years. That's the 9th worst in the nation. We need pro-growth policies to get Kansas back on track – lower taxes, fewer regulations, and more opportunities for workers.
Priority 3
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Elimination of Child and Human Trafficking: Campaign Pillar: Elimination of Child and Human Trafficking Vision: As Governor, Doug Billings will declare war on the pure evil of child and human trafficking, ensuring Kansas becomes a fortress of safety where no child or person is exploited. Every zip code in America, including Kansas, faces this scourge, and my administration will stop it with unwavering resolve, mobilizing all law enforcement and military resources under my ...
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
Pro-2A: Our Founding Fathers did not write the Second Amendment because of hunting or sport; it was about the ability of the people to defend themselves from tyranny. Joy pledges to defend the right to keep and bear arms without compromising, or else we risk losing the free society that our Founding Fathers fought and died to give us.
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
Stand With the Law, not the Lawbreakers: Kansans expect safe communities. But right now, we rank behind liberal crime havens like New York for violent crime. It’s unacceptable. In the Legislature, I helped increase our public safety budget by 24% over the last five years to meet law enforcement’s needs. But we still have work to do. I will stand with the men and women in law enforcement, back tough on crime policies, and ensure we fund our police.
Priority 4
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Launching Kansas to the Stars with SpaceX and Space Force: Vision: As Governor, Doug Billings, will transform Kansas into America’s premier hub for space innovation by bringing SpaceX and the U.S. Space Force to our state. Kansas is already the Aerospace Capital of the World, with Wichita’s unmatched legacy of aviation giants like Boeing, Cessna, and Spirit AeroSystems. Now, we’ll soar higher, securing Kansas’ place in the stars and fueling an economic boom to slash property taxes...!
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
School Choice: Every child is precious and full of potential and opportunity, and education is key to unlocking that opportunity. But the best educational path can be different from one child to another. Parents know best what their child needs to succeed, and every family should have choices available to them to educate their children as they see fit. Joy will advance school choice and educational freedom with an all-of-the-above approach to unlock opportunities for every Kansas child.
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
Teach Reading. Teach Math. Not Woke Nonsense: People choose to raise their kids in Kansas because of our strong schools. But we are failing to deliver on that promise. 60% of 4th graders are below proficiency in math. 72% are below proficiency in reading. We are investing in education – but our outcomes are not matching our investments. As governor, I’ll raise pay for good teachers, make sure parents have a say in their kids’ education, and hold our education dollars accountable.
Priority 5
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Election Integrity: As your next Governor, I, Doug Billings, will make Election Integrity a cornerstone of my administration, ensuring that every Kansan’s vote is secure, transparent, and counted accurately. The Right to Vote, second only to the Right to Life, is one of our most sacred freedoms, and I will protect it with unwavering resolve. Election integrity failures are real in Kansas, and anyone who claims otherwise is either misinformed or lying. My administration will restore ...
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
Parents' Rights: Parents know their children best and can make the best decisions for their children’s future. Joy will stop the attack on parents’ rights that has popped up across the country in recent years, even here in Kansas. From healthcare to education, Joy will get government out of the way of parents just trying to do right by their kids.
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
Defend Our Kansas Values: I have led the charge to stop wokeness in Kansas. We’ve banned men from competing in women’s sports, ended transgender surgeries for minors, and stopped DEI policies in our higher education system – all while overriding vetoes from Laura Kelly. As the disease of wokeness spreads, as governor, Kansans know they can count on me to fight back and defend our Kansas values.
Priority 6
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Making God a Focus Again: As your next Governor, I, Doug Billings, will boldly lead Kansas in Making God a Focus Again, restoring the Judeo-Christian values that inspired our Founding Fathers and shaped our Republic. I believe, as our Founders did, that God inspired the creation of our nation and that our Founding Documents—the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution—are divinely guided works written by men. Kansas must return to its roots as a society grounded in faith,...
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
Protect Our Children: We are all equal in God’s eyes, but girls and boys are created very differently. Those differences are wonderful and should be celebrated, not abused by those advancing a radical leftist agenda. Joy will defend girls’ sports and guarantee that girls have private spaces like locker rooms and bathrooms. Our girls deserve no less.
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
Priority 7
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Stronger Kansas Education: As your next Governor, I, Doug Billings, will lead a Stronger Education revolution in Kansas, empowering parents, prioritizing students, and restoring a values-driven education system. With the federal Department of Education gone, I will remove curriculum decisions from Topeka’s bureaucrats and place them in the hands of parents and local school boards, ensuring schools reflect Kansas’ heartland values...
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
Religious Liberty: The Pilgrims came to America to find a land where they could worship God as they saw fit, and America remains a land where we can all worship our Creator according to our own hearts and faith. Joy will not compromise on religious liberty, including where religion intersects with other policy areas like education, healthcare, and foster care/adoption. She will not shy away from America’s history as a Christian nation but will instead embrace and defend it at every turn..
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
Priority 8
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
MAGA Economic Boom: As your next Governor, I will ignite a MAGA Economic Boom in Kansas, unleashing the full potential of our hardworking people through bold, free-market policies that prioritize prosperity for all Kansans. My administration will drive economic success by cutting waste, slashing taxes, and eliminating burdensome regulations, creating an environment where businesses thrive, families prosper, and opportunity abounds. Through the Kansas Department of Government Efficiency ...
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
(Very) Limited Government: America was founded to escape tyranny and high taxes, but too many politicians have lost sight of the purpose of government: to defend the people’s rights, rather than infringe on them. Joy will look for opportunities to shrink the size of state government and return power to the people. Lower taxes and smaller budgets will be a hallmark of her administration.
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
Priority 9
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Securing Property Rights for All Kansans: Doug Billings is committed to protecting the sacred property rights of every Kansan. Private Property is the cornerstone of freedom, and Kansans should have absolute control over their land and homes without fear of government overreach. Billings will: End eminent domain abuse: Fight against unjust eminent domain seizures, ensuring private property is only taken for true public use with fair compensation and land owner consent...
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
Low Taxes: California tax policies are choking our economy, bankrupting our families, and chasing companies out of Kansas. Joy will address property taxes so that families can afford to buy a home and will cut income taxes so that Kansans can afford to live and thrive in the state that they love.
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
Priority 10
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
K-DOGE: As your next Governor, I pledge to make Kansas government a model of efficiency, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. My administration will establish the Kansas Department of Government Efficiency (K-DOGE), inspired by bold federal initiatives to eliminate fraud, waste, and bureaucracy. K-DOGE will be a relentless task force with one goal: to ensure every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely, delivering maximum value to Kansans. K-DOGE will target agencies under the ...
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
Free Markets: Individuals and families know best what they need with their own money, and they deserve the opportunity to spend, save, or invest that money as they see fit. When everyone does this, it creates a beautiful, powerful free market that grows the economy, creates jobs, attracts businesses, and makes all Kansans more prosperous. Joy will unapologetically support free markets in her policy decisions.
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
Promise 1
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
"If I were Governor, I'd fight against activist judges & bureaucracy discriminating against disabled Kansans. I’d enforce ADA strictly in courts, mandate virtual hearings where needed, recuse biased judges, ..." — @DougBillings, November 19, 2025
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
"A Kansas Comeback means school choice so families have options." @JoyforKS, January 19, 2026
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
"when I'm governor, we will continue to make Kansas the best place to live, work, and raise a family." Account: @TyMastersonKS Date: January 9, 2026
Promise 2
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
"This kind of lunacy and immoral liberal agenda ends on Day 1 when I become governor of Kansas. I’ll begin working with our ..." (Referring to ending gender identity policies in schools violating state law.) — @DougBillings, August 12, 2025
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
"We can deliver commonsense property tax reform without raising taxes in other areas, and that's exactly what the Kansas Comeback will deliver." @JoyforKS, December 16, 2025
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
"As Governor, I will be the standard-bearer for the middle-class in Kansas and work with President Trump to Make Kansas Affordable Again!" Account: @TyMastersonKS Date: January 7, 2026
Promise 3
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
"Yes! I've been talking about this for months. I will implement K-DOGE and work with the legislature to make it a lasting cabinet-level ..." (In response to a question about deep audits for fraud/waste/abuse.) — @DougBillings, August 3, 2025
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
"When I'm Governor, we'll deliver commonsense property tax reform so this situation doesn't happen in other Kansas communities." @JoyforKS, November 25, 2025
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
"As governor, I will work to clear the regulatory jungle that’s driving up the cost of new homes." Account: @TyMastersonKS Date: December 23, 2025
Promise 4
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
"When I’m elected governor of Kansas, this will be the case: no foreign country or company will..." (Referring to banning foreign ownership of Kansas land entirely.) — @DougBillings (quoting his campaign account @GovBillingsKS), July 2, 2025
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
"When I'm Governor, we'll get to work on a Kansas version of this initiative." (referring to a farm-to-cafeteria program for healthier school meals) @JoyforKS, November 14, 2025
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
"As governor, I will prioritize making our public schools the best in the nation by tailoring education to individual student needs and learning styles, rather than relying solely on funding ..." Account: @TyMastersonKS Date: December 19, 2025
Promise 5
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
"When I become governor of Kansas, on Day-1 I will sign an executive order implementing immediate investigations into election integrity issues across Kansas... I will work to eliminate electronic voting machines..." — @DougBillings, June 8, 2025
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
"As Governor, I will: Pass school choice legislation Improve civics education Focus on student outcomes in reading and math — and train teachers in these areas Repeal the mandate for school districts to ..." @JoyforKS, September 28, 2025
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
"As governor, I will ensure that great teachers are rewarded and that literacy is made the main focus for our students." Account: @TyMastersonKS Date: December 17, 2025
Promise 6
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
"When I am Governor, we will make that happen." (referring to making Kansas the Epicenter of Entrepreneurship by lowering taxes and cutting red tape) @JoyforKS, August 31, 2025
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
"As governor, I will bring an end to skyrocketing property taxes and foster an environment for more affordable homes to be built in Kansas." Account: @TyMastersonKS Date: December 8, 2025
Promise 7
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
"When I am Governor, Kansas schools will stand WITH parents, not hide things from them." @JoyforKS, August 18, 2025
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
"As governor, I will address issues like highway transportation to increase safety and the economic impact of farmers and business owners." Account: @TyMastersonKS Date: December 2, 2025
Promise 8
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
"I will fix this as Governor." (referring to issues with the Kansas Board of Education and student achievement assessments) @JoyforKS, August 20, 2025 (approximate based on context)
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
"As governor, I'll advocate for trade missions to open new markets for grain and biofuels [...] Expanding biofuel markets will boost commodity prices and support our farmers economic health." Account: @TyMastersonKS Date: December 1, 2025
Promise 9
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
"As governor, I will fight against expanding state-owned lands. Your family's blood, sweat, and tears deserve protection - Your land is yours." Account: @TyMastersonKS Date: November 13, 2025 (approximate, based on context)
Promise 10
Score: / 22 Doug Billings:
Score: / 22 Joy Eakins:
Score: / 22 Ty Masterson:
"As governor, I will continue to stand firm against the reckless expansion of Medicaid like I have as Senate President. [...] we must continue to cut waste, fraud, and abuse." Account: @TyMastersonKS Date: November 6, 2025
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