New Frontrunner Emerges In Kansas Governor Race As GOP Candidate Shatters Fundraising Records

A surprise new frontrunner is emerging in Kansas’ Republican gubernatorial primary, and it is not one of the career politicians long expected to dominate the race.

Philip Sarnecki, a businessman and political outsider who entered the contest just months ago, has shattered the state’s all-time gubernatorial fundraising record, instantly reshaping the race.

According to newly disclosed figures, contributions supporting Sarnecki have reached $3 million, eclipsing every previous fundraising benchmark for a Kansas gubernatorial candidate at this stage of the campaign. His campaign alone raised more than $2.7 million, while organizations supportive of Sarnecki added nearly $250,000, pushing total backing to the record-setting figure.

Even more striking, Sarnecki now holds over $2.3 million cash on hand, giving him a massive financial advantage over the rest of the Republican field and positioning him as the best-funded candidate in the race by a wide margin.

Sarnecki was the last Republican to enter the race, announcing his campaign just four months ago. Despite that late start, he has now outraised every other gubernatorial candidate in Kansas history for a comparable reporting period. The sudden fundraising surge has fueled a growing perception that Sarnecki is no longer an underdog but the new financial and momentum leader in the GOP primary.

Sarnecki has consistently framed his candidacy around his background as a businessman and outsider, arguing that Kansas needs leadership untethered from entrenched political interests. That message appears to be resonating with donors across the state, particularly Republican voters looking for a nontraditional candidate.

“Our campaign has raised the most money in Kansas gubernatorial history and we did it in far less time than every other republican candidate in the field,” Sarnecki said in a statement. “There’s an incredible energy around our campaign. Kansans are tired of losing and they’re tired of career politicians!”

“Kansans are hungry for a business leader and an outsider, someone like Trump, to win this race. The support we have received across Kansas proves that to be true. We’re just getting started. It’s our time to win,” he added.

A Republican based in Johnson County, Sarnecki formally launched his campaign in September 2025 and entered a competitive GOP primary to replace term-limited Democratic Governor Laura Kelly.

He is the founder and president of RPS Financial Group, a wealth management firm with offices operating across several states, and has also been involved in other business ventures, including automotive service franchises and media-related projects. His campaign messaging centers on economic growth, tax relief, and limiting government overreach, with a particular focus on reducing regulations that he says stifle small businesses.

Sarnecki has also made parental rights and education reform central to his platform, arguing that families should have greater control over their children’s schooling and that the state has become too intrusive in classroom decision-making. Politically, Sarnecki has aligned himself closely with President Donald Trump, signaling support for Trump’s policy agenda and style of leadership.

Fundraising is often one of the clearest indicators of grassroots enthusiasm and institutional confidence. In Sarnecki’s case, the numbers suggest both.