With an election year where voters went to the polls three times just behind us, it’s hard for many Kansans to imagine that another election year is just around the corner. Why would I think of discussing gubernatorial elections in 2026?

The answer is simple. The runway to 2026 doesn’t get any shorter for conducting a statewide campaign, and after discussing and praying with my family about our future, I announced in January that I’m running for governor.

But it’s more than just a short calendar. Kansans have a decision to make about their future. What path will we take? Property taxes are squeezing our seniors. Small towns are getting smaller. Rural communities are falling further behind. Kansans want their state to be great, not middle of the road or mediocre.

We must find a long-term solution to the state’s growing property tax problem. It makes no sense for our senior citizens, who worked all their lives to build a retirement, to see unrealistic property taxes force them from their home. But it’s not just seniors. Rising property taxes and assessments are making it harder for our children to buy a home of their own and stay in Kansas. It does no good to create good-paying jobs in Kansas if you can’t afford to live and work here. But it cannot be a quick fix with unintended consequences for our state’s economic stability. Sound, reasonable solutions for the next generation are a must to provide stability for taxpayers, local governments, and our vibrant business community.

I believe that to do something great, you have to throw off the chains that hold you back. For Kansas, those chains come from big government. So as Secretary of State, I streamlined business services and cut bureaucratic red tape. We replaced antiquated systems with new technology making the services our agency delivers more efficient for Kansas businesses. And we did it with existing resources and without increasing costs to taxpayers.

I also placed a priority on strengthening election security, providing physical and cybersecurity resources to our county election officials. I also launched the first-of-its-kind certification training for our election officials, so we can provide greater expertise and consistency in the administration of election laws statewide, ensuring every vote and voter is treated the same.

But we also need to secure our state in other ways. President Trump is right. We need to stop China from buying farmland next to our military bases. It’s a matter of security. Our nation’s adversaries have no business setting up covert operations next to critical infrastructure, whether it is a military base, world-class animal health facility in Manhattan, or a nuclear power plant in northeast Kansas.

Finally, we need to return to the values and the principles that have always fueled us and have given me the strength to lead in Topeka.

I have a proven conservative record and a servant’s heart. It’s important for Kansas to take the right path. That’s why I’m running for governor. I look forward to continuing this conversation with Kansans across the state over the next two years.