Kansas Insurance Commissioner Enters Gubernatorial Race
TOPEKA, Kan. //BestWire// - Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt said she is running for the state's governor's seat in the 2026 elections.
Vicki SchmidtThe Republican candidate joins at least six other announced candidates vying to replace Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly, who reached Kansas' two-term limit, according to Ballotpedia.
Schmidt has hinted at running for governor, telling BestWire in May that she "cannot go to the grocery store without someone asking me if I will run for governor," and saying at the time she was considering it (BestWire, May 14, 2025). Her comment was in response to Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins saying he was running for insurance commissioner.
Schmidt was first elected insurance commissioner in 2018 and won reelection in 2022 (BestWire, Nov. 7, 2018). She served as a state senator and chaired the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee prior to becoming commissioner.
While commissioner, Schmidt lowered the cost of doing business by more than $75 million and returned over $145 million to consumers, according to a statement on her campaign website. While a state employee, Schmidt found errors in the Kansas Medical Assistance Program and implemented an efficiency plan that recouped $391 million for the state.
Schmidt also worked as a local pharmacist for more than 40 years after graduating from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, her campaign statement said.
In June 2023, Schmidt revealed a breast cancer diagnosis and began undergoing treatment (BestWire, June 15, 2023). At the time, Schmidt said she was reluctant to divulge the diagnosis, but decided to go public in hopes of raising breast cancer awareness. In October 2023, Schmidt announced she was cancer free and said the ordeal taught her a lot about dealing with serious health situations and how health insurance can at times make the challenge more difficult (BestWire, Oct. 13, 2023).
A lifelong Kansas resident, Schmidt married her high school sweetheart more than 50 years ago, and together they have two sons and four grandchildren.
Attempts to gain comment from Schmidt on her bid for governor were unsuccessful.
Kansas will hold its general election on Nov. 3, 2026.
(By Steve Hallo, senior associate editor, BestWire: Steve.Hallo@ambest.com)