Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican running for governor, said property taxes are the top issue he hears statewide, arguing they strain housing costs and affect first-time homeowners. His Democratic opponent, Sen. Cindy Holscher of Overland Park, criticized legislation she said would have capped local property tax increases as shifting responsibility away from local governments’ ability to fund essential services.
The candidates also disagreed on how to manage rising energy costs and large energy users that come with data centers. Masterson said the Kansas Corporation Commission created a large load tariff as guardrails around energy use and also referenced an additional “China” element in related policy. Holscher called for moratoriums on data center development and said protections are needed to limit impacts on utility rates and water resources, while also seeking assurances that construction jobs go to Kansas workers.
On workforce issues, the forum included questions from Kansas employers. Holscher pointed to staying in-state through education-related programs and partnerships with trades, while Masterson argued Kansas faces a literacy and education crisis and said improving literacy would strengthen the future workforce.