Overland Park mayor enters race for Kansas governor just before deadline

TOPEKA, Kan. (KCTV) - Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog has entered the Democratic Primary for Governor of Kansas, running alongside Dr. Jen B. McKenney.

Skoog is a Topeka native and has served as the mayor of Overland Park since 2021 and, before that, was elected to the city council in 2005.

Lt. Governor candidate Dr. Jen B. McKenney is a family physician in Fredonia, Kansas, and owns her own practice.

“As a Mayor and a physician, Jen and I work every single day to help the people we serve,” Skoog said. “At City Halls and hospitals across Kansas, there’s no time for culture wars or political games. We’re too busy focused on what actually matters most. That’s how our government should work, and that’s why Jen and I are in this race.”

The deadline to run ends at noon today, June 1, and Skoog joins two other democratic primary candidates, Ethan Corson and Cindy Holscher. The primary election is August 4, 2026.

The current governor of Kansas, Democrat Laura Kelly, has served since 2018.