SMART-TD Kansas Makes Historic Break with Political Tradition, Endorses Ty Masterson for Governor

Historic endorsement breaks with more than half a century of Kansas labor political tradition

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following press release was written and submitted by Kansas State Safety & Legislative Director Ty Dragoo.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 16, 2026 —TOPEKA, KAN.

The SMART Transportation Division Kansas State Legislative Board has become the first major labor union in Kansas to endorse Republican Ty Masterson for governor in the 2026 General Election, marking a significant moment in the state’s labor and political landscape.

For SMART-TD’s Kansas State Safety & Legislative Director Ty Dragoo, the significance of the endorsement goes beyond party politics.

“This isn’t about supporting Republicans or Democrats. It’s about remembering who we work for,” Dragoo said. “We work for our members. Our endorsement belongs to them—not to a political party, not to a candidate and not to anyone who believes labor’s support should simply be automatic.”

SMART’s decision is particularly notable, because the union has supported every Democratic gubernatorial nominee for generations, including Governor Laura Kelly in the 2022 gubernatorial election. Four years later, the organization is supporting the Republican nominee.

Dragoo said that change reflects SMART’s longstanding position that endorsements must be earned based on issues affecting working men and women.

A Record of Working with Labor

During his time in Senate leadership, Masterson has been willing to engage on issues that directly affect SMART members and working families, including railroad train-length and safety issues, reforms to Kansas’ unemployment system, and major economic-development and construction projects that have created or have the potential to create thousands of good-paying jobs across Kansas.

SMART pointed in particular to the state’s pursuit of major economic-development projects. These projects don’t simply represent billions of dollars of investment; they mean construction jobs, transportation jobs, manufacturing jobs and long-term opportunities for Kansas working families.

“Senator Masterson and I don’t agree on everything, and I don’t expect that we ever will. That’s not the standard in that building,” Dragoo said. “What matters to us is that when an issue affecting working people comes before the Kansas Senate, Ty has been willing to sit down, put everyone at the table, hear us out, and work through the issue. You don’t have to agree with labor 100 percent of the time to respect labor, and there is a big difference between disagreement and disrespect. When other candidates choose to advocate a full-on stoppage of job creator projects and double down and backtrack all in the same breath, that makes this conversation much easier”

Dragoo said Masterson’s willingness to bring competing interests together has been particularly important on complicated issues involving railroads, employers, organized labor and economic development.

“I’ve sat across the table from Senator Masterson on difficult issues. I’ve watched him bring people into the same room who didn’t agree with one another and say, essentially, ‘Let’s figure out what we can do.’ That’s leadership,” Dragoo said. “He has given labor a seat at that table, and just as importantly, he has listened when we were sitting there.”

That approach has produced results on issues affecting workers, including efforts to address Kansas’ unemployment system and support transformative economic-development projects capable of generating thousands of construction and permanent jobs.

For SMART, Masterson’s willingness to engage on rail safety and train-length concerns is especially significant. Railroad operating practices directly affect not only SMART members but also the communities through which increasingly long freight trains operate.

An Endorsement Based on Issues, Not Party

SMART Kansas evaluates candidates through the lens of issues directly affecting its members and organized labor, including railroad safety, two-person train crews, local control, project labor agreements and other workplace protections.

The organization emphasized that the Masterson endorsement should not be interpreted as a wholesale shift toward either political party. SMART will continue supporting candidates from both parties based on their records and positions on labor issues.

“Nobody owns labor’s vote,” Dragoo said. “Democrats shouldn’t assume they have it because of history. If you stand with our members, we’ll stand with you. If you attack our interests, take our support for granted or believe you’re entitled to our endorsement, we’re going to hold you accountable—regardless of party.”

Dragoo said organized labor’s relationship with the Democratic Party has historically produced important victories for workers and that many Democratic elected officials in Kansas remain strong allies of SMART members. But that history cannot become an obligation to provide unquestioned political support.

“We have tremendous friends in the Democratic Party, and we’re proud to stand beside them. We also have tremendous friends in the Republican Party who have stood up for our members when it mattered. That’s what this endorsement process is supposed to recognize,” Dragoo said. “Our members aren’t political property. They are railroaders, tradespeople, parents and taxpayers. They expect us to fight for them, not for a party.”

Labor’s Support Must be Earned

The endorsement also sends a broader message about SMART Kansas’ approach to the 2026 election: candidates seeking labor support should expect to earn it.

“Sometimes the strongest thing an organization can do is remind everyone that its support comes from its members,” Dragoo said. “We aren’t walking away from anyone. We’re walking toward a model where relationships are based on mutual respect. When labor stands with you, we expect you to stand with labor.”

SMART Kansas believes the decision may ultimately strengthen labor’s political influence by demonstrating that endorsements are based on accountability rather than tradition.

“This may surprise people. It may make some people uncomfortable. But our responsibility isn’t to preserve political comfort,” Dragoo said. “Our responsibility is to protect the men and women we represent. On that responsibility, we will never compromise.”

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The SMART Transportation Division Kansas Legislative Board advocates on behalf of Kansas members on rail safety, workplace protections, and legislative and regulatory issues affecting transportation workers and their families.