EXCLUSIVE — President Donald Trump’s political network is taking sides in a crowded race for governor of Kansas, launching an early and coordinated push to promote Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson.
Several top operatives from Trump’s 2024 political orbit, including veterans of MAGA Inc., the primary super PAC that powered the president’s reelection campaign, are forming outside groups to support Masterson, according to sources familiar with the effort. The new entities are Take Back Kansas and Take Back Kansas Action, its affiliated political arm.
Among those involved are strategist Chris Grant of Big Dog Strategies, who served as senior strategist for MAGA Inc.; David Lee, a partner to longtime Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio who oversaw national polling for MAGA Inc.; and Tim Saler, founder of Grassroots Targeting and chief data consultant for Trump’s 2024 campaign. Also on board is Republican ad maker Pat McCarthy of DMM Media, best known for producing Trump’s viral “They/Them” ad targeting then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
McCarthy’s past work includes commercials for Gov. Brian Kemp’s (R-GA) 2022 reelection and the Senate Leadership Fund, the GOP’s top outside group for Senate races.
Masterson, a conservative leader in the Kansas legislature, has simultaneously overhauled his campaign team with a lineup of Trump-aligned advisers. His new general consultant is Ryan Smith of Rapid Loop Consulting, a former business partner of James Blair, the political director for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee.
Blair, who now serves as White House deputy chief of staff, was one of the architects of Trump’s political operation. Polling will be led by Fabrizio, while media strategy is being handled by John Brabender of BrabenderCox, a veteran of Trump’s past campaigns. Kansas native Eric Pahls of Big Dog Strategies, a top adviser to Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), is also joining the team.
The Trumpworld support for Masterson represents one of the first coordinated efforts by the president’s network to shape a 2026 governor’s race. With Gov. Laura Kelly (D-KS) being term-limited, Republicans see Kansas as one of their best chances to flip a governorship in 2026, setting the stage for a competitive and expensive GOP primary.
The GOP field for governor is crowded, with nine candidates vying for the top position. Although many have entered the race, four candidates have significant name recognition statewide: former Gov. Jeff Colyer, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, and Masterson.
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On the Democratic side, state Sen. Cindy Holscher, former party executive director Ethan Corson, and Marty Tuley, a fitness professional and political newcomer, are seeking the nomination. Sharilyn Ray, CEO of Wichita-based nonprofit group Restoration Family Services and the only independent to file with the Kansas Secretary of State’s office, is also running.
While other Republican hopefuls are still assembling their teams, the early infrastructure for Masterson underscores how aggressively Trump’s allies are moving to shape the field. The Kansas effort will serve as a test of how Trump’s political and data operations can be deployed in state races, not just national ones.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that Chris Grant previously led political operations at the National Republican Congressional Committee. The Washington Examiner regrets the error.