2014 Kansas gubernatorial election
County results Brownback: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%Davis: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
The 2014 Kansas gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor of Kansas , concurrently with the election of Kansas' Class II U.S. Senate seat , as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Incumbent Republican governor Sam Brownback ran for re-election to a second term.[ 1] He was opposed in the general election by Democrat Paul Davis , the Minority Leader of the Kansas House of Representatives , and Libertarian attorney Keen Umbehr.
The election was viewed as a referendum on Brownback's aggressive tax cutting initiatives and his conservative values.[ 2] The consensus among The Cook Political Report , Governing , The Rothenberg Political Report , Sabato's Crystal Ball , Daily Kos Elections , and others was that the contest was a tossup. Brownback won the election by a margin of 3.69%. Davis carried seven counties, all in eastern Kansas. As of 2024, this is the most recent time a Republican and/or a man was elected Governor of Kansas. This was also the last gubernatorial election in which a Democratic candidate won Jefferson County , as well as the last time that a candidate was elected Governor of Kansas by winning a majority of counties.
Jennifer Winn, businesswoman[ 3]
Running mate: Robin Lais, advertising agency owner and natural healing shop owner[ 4]
Former running mate: Ethan McCord, Iraq War veteran[ 5]
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Sam Brownback
Jennifer Winn
Undecided
SurveyUSA [ 10]
July 17–22, 2014
691
± 3.7%
60%
30%
9%
SurveyUSA [ 11]
June 19–23, 2014
508
± 4.4%
55%
37%
8%
Results by county:
Libertarian nomination [ edit ]
Keen Umbehr, attorney[ 16]
Running mate: Josh Umbehr, physician and son of Keen Umbehr[ 17]
Sam Brownback (R)
Republican politicians
Democratic politicians
Other individuals
Organizations
Paul Davis (D)
Democratic politicians
Republican politicians[ 25] [ 26]
Barbara P. Allen , former state senator, former state representative and former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas
Denise Apt , former state representative
Jayne Aylward , former state representative
Ginger Barr, former state representative
Dick Bond, former member of the Kansas State Senate
Ken Bower, former mayor of Leavenworth
Jim Braden, former speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
Carol Brandert, member of the Salina Public Schools Board of Education
Nancy Brown, former state representative, former member of the Kansas State Emergency Response Commission
Pete Brungardt , former state senator and former mayor of Salina
Mark Buhler, former state senator
Bud Burke, former president of the Kansas Senate and former state representative
David R. Corbin, former state senator
Ray Cox, former state representative
Val DeFever, former member of the Kansas State Board of Education
Brad Dillon, Reno County Commissioner and former Hutchinson City Councilman
Gary Denning, former member of the Salina Public Schools Board of Education and former Salina City prosecutor
David Drovetta, former mayor of Gardner and former Gardner City Councilman
Sandy Duncan, former state representative
Nedra Elbl, chairwoman of the Salina Public Schools Board of Education and former president of the Kansas National Education Association
Jane M. Eldredge, former state senator
Roger Elliott, member of the Andover Public Schools Board of Education
Tim Emert, member of the Kansas Board of Regents and former Majority Leader of the Kansas State
Cindy Empson, former state representative
Bill Falstad, former chairman of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors , former mayor of Fredonia and former chairman of the Kansas Republican Party
Ron Fox, former state representative
Bob Frey, former judge on the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals, former Majority Leader of the Kansas State and former state representative
Fred Gatlin, former state representative
Crosby Gernon, Mayor of Hiawatha
John Golden, former state representative
Pat Grimwood, former member of the Salina Public Schools Board of Education
John Grange , former state representative and former chairman of the El Dorado Public Schools Board of Education
Howard Gray, superintendent of Pratt , Plains and Kismet
Kristin Gunn, former mayor of Salina and former Salina City Commissioner
Steve Hale, former president of the Gardner-Edgerton USD 231 Board of Education and former Gardner City Councilman
Floris Jean Hampton, member of the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees Board of Regents and former member of the Kansas Board of Regents
Randall Hardy, Salina City Commissioner
Joleen Hill, former member of the Manhattan –Ogden Board of Education
Gennifer House, former president of the Goodland Public Schools Board of Education
Dave Huff, former state representative
Terrie Huntington , former state senator and former state representative
William Kassebaum , former state representative and son of former U.S. senator Nancy Kassebaum [ 15]
Fred Kerr, former majority leader of the Kansas Senate
Wendell Lady, former speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
Audrey Langworthy, former state senator
Carol Lehman, former mayor of Gardner and former Gardner City Councilwoman
Fred Lorentz, former 31st Judicial District Judge and former state representative
Jim Lowther, former state representative
Bob Marshall , former state senator
R.D. "Bob" Miller, former member of the Kansas State Parole Board and former state representative
Robert "R.H." Miller, former speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
Stephen Morris , former president of the Kansas Senate
Lana Oleen, former majority leader of the Kansas Senate
Bill Otto , former state representative
Tim Owens , former state senator and former state representative
Sandy Praeger , Kansas Insurance Commissioner
Jill Quigley , former state representative
Jim Randall, mayor pro tem of Olathe
Gerry Ray, former state representative
Roger Reitz , former state senator, former state representative and former mayor of Manhattan
Marge Roberson, former mayor of Newton , former Newton City Commissioner and former Harvey County Commissioner
Ed Rolfs, former Kansas Secretary of Revenue and former state representative
Charles Roth , former state representative and former mayor of Salina
Ellen Samuelson, former state representative
Debbie Schauf, former state representative
Gary Sherrer, former lieutenant governor of Kansas
Shelby Smith, former lieutenant governor of Kansas
Sheryl Spalding, former state representative and former regional vice president of the Kansas Association of School Boards
Bob W. Storey, former state senator
Ralph Tanner, former state representative
Ruth Teichman , former state senator
Lee Thompson, former United States Attorney for the District of Kansas
Carolyn Tillotson, former state senator and former mayor of Leavenworth
Dwayne Umbarger , former state senator
John Vanier, former mayor of Salina and former Salina City Commissioner
John Vratil , former state senator
Winton A. Winter, Jr., former state senator
Robert S. Wunsch, former state representative
David Wysong , former state senator and former Johnson County Commissioner
Jim Yonally, former state representative
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Sam Brownback (R)
Paul Davis (D)
Keen Umbehr (L)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling [ 31]
November 1–3, 2014
963
± 3.2%
45%
46%
4%
—
4%
47%
48%
—
—
3%
Public Policy Polling [ 32]
October 30–31, 2014
752
± ?
44%
48%
5%
—
3%
YouGov [ 33]
October 25–31, 2014
1,137
± 4.8%
39%
38%
2%
1%
21%
Fox News [ 34]
October 28–30, 2014
907
± 3%
42%
48%
4%
<1%
5%
Survey USA [ 35]
October 22–26, 2014
623
± 4%
43%
46%
5%
—
7%
CBS News /NYT /YouGov [ 36]
October 16–23, 2014
1,973
± 4%
43%
40%
—
1%
16%
NBC News /Marist [ 37]
October 18–22, 2014
757 LV
± 3.6%
44%
45%
5%
1%
6%
1,055 RV
± 3%
43%
43%
6%
1%
7%
Rasmussen Reports [ 38]
October 20–21, 2014
960
± 3%
45%
52%
—
1%
2%
Gravis Marketing [ 39]
October 20–21, 2014
1,124
± 3%
44%
49%
—
—
7%
Monmouth University [ 40]
October 16–19, 2014
429
± 4.7%
45%
50%
—
2%
5%
Remington Research [ 41]
October 9–12, 2014
1,091
± 2.97%
48%
45%
3%
—
4%
Public Policy Polling [ 42]
October 9–12, 2014
1,081
± 3%
42%
42%
6%
—
10%
44%
45%
—
—
12%
Fox News [ 43]
October 4–7, 2014
702
± 3.5%
46%
40%
2%
2%
11%
CNN /ORC [ 44]
October 2–6, 2014
687
± 3.5%
49%
49%
—
—
2%
SurveyUSA [ 45]
October 2–5, 2014
549
± 4.3%
42%
47%
4%
—
7%
Gravis Marketing [ 46]
September 30–October 1, 2014
850
± 3%
40%
48%
—
—
12%
NBC News /Marist [ 47]
September 27–October 1, 2014
636 LV
± 3.9%
43%
44%
4%
1%
7%
1,097 RV
± 3%
41%
43%
5%
1%
10%
CBS News /NYT /YouGov [ 48]
September 20–October 1, 2014
2,013
± 3%
45%
42%
—
0%
12%
Suffolk University [ 49]
September 27–30, 2014
500
± 4.4%
42%
46%
6%
—
7%
Fort Hays State University [ 50]
September 10–27, 2014
685
± 3.8%
37%
39%
9%
—
16%
Remington Research [ 51]
September 23, 2014
625
± 3.91%
44%
46%
5%
—
5%
Rasmussen Reports [ 38]
September 16–17, 2014
750
± 4%
43%
47%
—
4%
6%
Fox News [ 52]
September 14–16, 2014
604
± 4%
41%
45%
4%
—
8%
Public Policy Polling [ 53]
September 11–14, 2014
1,328
± 2.7%
38%
42%
7%
—
14%
39%
45%
—
—
15%
KSN /SurveyUSA [ 54]
September 4–7, 2014
555
± 4.2%
40%
47%
5%
—
7%
CBS News /NYT /YouGov [ 55]
August 18–September 2, 2014
839
± 5%
47%
40%
—
2%
11%
SurveyUSA [ 56]
August 20–23, 2014
560
± 4.2%
40%
48%
5%
—
6%
Public Policy Polling [ 57]
August 14–17, 2014
903
± 3.3%
37%
39%
9%
—
15%
Rasmussen Reports [ 38]
August 6–7, 2014
750
± 4%
41%
51%
—
3%
5%
CBS News /NYT /YouGov [ 58]
July 5–24, 2014
1,274
± 6.1%
52%
40%
—
3%
5%
SurveyUSA [ 10]
July 17–22, 2014
1,208
± 2.9%
40%
48%
5%
—
7%
SurveyUSA [ 59]
June 19–23, 2014
1,068
± 3.1%
41%
47%
—
5%
7%
Rasmussen Reports [ 60]
April 16–17, 2014
750
± 4%
47%
40%
—
6%
7%
Public Policy Polling [ 61]
April 1–2, 2014
886
± 3.1%
41%
45%
—
—
14%
Public Policy Polling [ 62]
February 18–20, 2014
693
± 3.7%
40%
42%
—
—
18%
Wilson Perkins Allen [ 63]
January 29, 2014
?
± ?
42%
31%
—
—
27%
SurveyUSA [ 64]
October 23–24, 2013
511
± 4.4%
39%
43%
—
12%
6%
Hypothetical polling
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Sam Brownback (R)
Carl Brewer (D)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling [ 65]
February 21–24, 2013
1,229
± 2.8%
44%
40%
—
15%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Sam Brownback (R)
Tom Holland (D)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling [ 65]
February 21–24, 2013
1,229
± 2.8%
45%
38%
—
17%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Sam Brownback (R)
Mark Parkinson (D)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling [ 65]
February 21–24, 2013
1,229
± 2.8%
45%
39%
—
16%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Sam Brownback (R)
Joe Reardon (D)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling [ 65]
February 21–24, 2013
1,229
± 2.8%
45%
36%
—
19%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Sam Brownback (R)
Kathleen Sebelius (D)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling [ 65]
February 21–24, 2013
1,229
± 2.8%
48%
43%
—
9%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Sam Brownback (R)
Chad Taylor (D)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling [ 65]
February 21–24, 2013
1,229
± 2.8%
44%
34%
—
22%
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic [ edit ]
^ a b "Brownback running for re-election" . Lawrence Journal-World . June 21, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013 .
^ "Brownback defeats Davis in Kansas Governor's race" . Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014 .
^ "Wichita woman enters governor's race" . KAKE . January 12, 2014. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014 .
^ Benchaabane, Nassim (June 2, 2014). "Wichita candidate for governor announces new running mate" . The Wichita Eagle . Archived from the original on June 26, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014 .
^ "Wikileaks Soldier to Run for Ks Lt. Governor" . The Kansas City Star . February 11, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2016 .
^ "In case there's any doubt: Kris Kobach running for re-election in 2014" . Midwest Democracy . February 1, 2013. Archived from the original on February 6, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2013 .
^ a b c d e Hanna, John (July 31, 2013). "Ex-Kan. ag chief not thinking about gov.'s race" . The Wichita Eagle . Associated Press . Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013 .
^ a b Kraske, Steve (June 23, 2013). "Sandy Praeger finds herself an outsider among Kansas Republicans" . The Kansas City Star . Archived from the original on June 27, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013 .
^ a b c d e Loomis, Burdett (August 4, 2013). "Burdett Loomis: Who will take on Brownback?" . The Wichita Eagle . Archived from the original on September 16, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013 .
^ a b "SurveyUSA" . Archived from the original on July 25, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2014 .
^ SurveyUSA
^ a b "2014 Primary Election Official Vote Totals" (PDF) . Kansas Secretary of State. Retrieved August 28, 2014 .
^ Carpenter, Tim (September 17, 2013). "Davis launches Democratic campaign for Kansas governor" . The Topeka Capital-Journal . Archived from the original on September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013 .
^ "Brownback and His Opponents" . Morning Sun . April 16, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2013 .
^ a b c d John Hanna (August 8, 2013). "Paul Davis forms committee for Kansas governor's race" . The Wichita Eagle . Archived from the original on August 11, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2014 .
^ Carpenter, Tim (August 29, 2013). "Alma lawyer seeks Libertarian nomination for governor" . CJOnline . Retrieved October 2, 2013 .
^ Kelsey Ryan (May 27, 2014). "Kansas Man Serving as Dad's Running Mate in Governor's Race" . Governing . Retrieved May 27, 2014 .
^ Nonpartisan report: Davis' tax-freeze plan stalls $20M in Brownback-endorsed cuts
^ Former congresswoman endorses Brownback
^ "Wyandotte County Democrats endorse Gov. Brownback" . KSN-TV . September 26, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2014 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Former CEO in Wichita, Touts Brownback" . Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2014 .
^ NFIB endorses Brownback for second term as Governor
^ Kansas Rifle Association Endorses Brownback [permanent dead link ]
^ "Former GOP, Dem lieutenant governors join Davis campaign" . The Topeka Capital-Journal . June 30, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014 .
^ "Republicans for Kansas Values – Biographies and Memberships" . Paul Davis for Governor . July 17, 2014. Archived from the original on July 19, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014 .
^ "Who are the 104?" . The Topeka Capital-Journal . July 17, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014 .
^ "2014 Governor Race Ratings for November 3, 2014" . The Cook Political Report . Retrieved September 3, 2018 .
^ "The Crystal Ball's Final 2014 Picks" . Sabato's Crystal Ball . Retrieved September 3, 2018 .
^ "2014 Gubernatorial Ratings" . Senate Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 3, 2018 .
^ "2014 Elections Map - 2014 Governors Races" . Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 3, 2018 .
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Public Policy Polling Archived January 12, 2015, at the Library of Congress Web Archives
^ YouGov
^ Fox News
^ Survey USA
^ CBS News/NYT/YouGov
^ NBC News/Marist
^ a b c Rasmussen Reports
^ Gravis Marketing
^ Monmouth University
^ Remington Research
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Fox News
^ CNN/ORC
^ SurveyUSA
^ Gravis Marketing
^ NBC News/Marist
^ CBS News/NYT/YouGov
^ Suffolk University Archived October 2, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
^ Fort Hays State University [permanent dead link ]
^ Remington Research
^ Fox News
^ Public Policy Polling
^ KSN/SurveyUSA
^ CBS News/NYT/YouGov
^ SurveyUSA
^ Public Policy Polling
^ CBS News/NYT/YouGov
^ SurveyUSA
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Wilson Perkins Allen
^ SurveyUSA
^ a b c d e f Public Policy Polling
^ "Kansas Secretary of State 2014 General Election Official Vote Totals" (PDF) . Retrieved December 14, 2014 .
Campaign websites
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