Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson is running for a fifth term representing his district. Wichita resident Sasha Islam is hoping to unseat him. 

Republicans have won this seat in the past five elections. 

Election Day is Nov. 5. Oct. 15 is the last day to register to vote. Early voting starts Oct. 16. You can find your polling place and the races you vote in here. 

Who are the candidates in Kansas Senate District 16?

Democrat Sasha Islam 

Islam studied at the University of Phoenix and worked in a variety of food service, retail, customer service and health care jobs. Islam said her work experience helps her relate to voters.  

“I am one of them,” she said. “We don’t feel like our voices are heard or given much consideration when they are heard by our representatives. Be the change you wish to see.”

She is endorsed by the Kansas branch of the AFL-CIO and the Cannabis Justice Coalition-Kansas. 

Her campaign website is here. 

Republican Ty Masterson (Incumbent) 

Masterson is the Senate president. He has massive influence over what bills advance and what legislation dies. 

Masterson was first elected in 2008. He previously served in the Kansas House and on the Andover City Council. He owns a small business, and he and his wife have six children and five grandchildren. 

“Senator Masterson has been a champion for center-right conservative principles, including limited government, individual liberty, free enterprise and traditional values,” his campaign website said. 

He is endorsed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Kansas, Kansas Farm Bureau, the Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life and the Kansas Rifle Association. 

His campaign website is here. 

If elected, which of these politicians would you most closely resemble?

Options include: Joe Biden, Sharice Davids, Bob Dole, Nancy Kassebaum, Laura Kelly, Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, Donald Trump or someone else.

Islam: Honestly, I don’t want to compare myself to another politician. I am an individual, but have been taking notes and learning from multiple politicians over the last 10 or so years. I have witnessed some of the Democratic women in political offices and consider them my inspiration to keep pushing forward with my campaigns. I’m not sure what my “style of leadership” or how my point of view might differ from the other women I look up to from afar. I hope to bring a new perspective and think outside the box for future solutions as they’re brought into focus.

Masterson: Masterson didn’t respond to the questionnaire. Responses are from his campaign website, voting history and other public statements. 

If you could pass any bill, what would it be and why? 

Islam: I have two in mind. I want to undo or repeal the anti-DEI law that was signed into state law back in April, that went into effect July 1.

The next would be a “Medical Privacy Act” that would mean Kansas could not step in between medical professionals and women getting reproductive care; prevent the state from trying to monitor women’s reproductive cycles or them traveling to other states; and children getting gender affirming care (that’s between parents and their children). This would appease many of the state’s residents, as we made history in August 2022 for reproductive rights! 

Masterson: Masterson has helped push GOP priorities by killing or advancing bills in the Senate.

How would you have voted on the following items? You can vote yes, no or pass. 

The Aug. 2, 2022, constitutional amendment on abortion

Voting no meant the state constitution would continue to protect the right to abortion. Voting yes would have meant it can be regulated or banned. 

Islam: No. I voted no to keep women’s bodily autonomy rights. I continue to educate those who were confused by the way the ballot explained it. The “save both” doesn’t save both, it puts mothers at risk. Many mothers already have children and they shouldn’t lose a parent when it’s preventable.

Masterson: Masterson is endorsed by anti-abortion group Kansans for Life and has said, “the pro-life activist who stands in front of an abortion clinic and convinces a young mother to choose life … is a patriot.”

Flat tax on income

A flat tax on income was packaged with property tax cuts and eliminating Social Security income tax. Democrats and Republicans agreed on other parts of the plan, but were at odds over a flat tax.  A single rate on income didn’t pass this year.

Islam: I am still learning about that. I feel like it would have benefited the people of Kansas, but at the same time, I understand the state, counties and cities use taxes to fund things.

Masterson: Yes. “It’s not this progressive structure that penalizes you the better you do. It’s fair. The structure is what’s so important you can’t continue to buy economic development,” Masterson told The Kansas City Star during the session. 

Banning transgender women from women’s sports

Banning transgender women from women’s sports. Voting yes would mean athletes have to compete as the gender they’re assigned at birth. This bill was vetoed but the veto was overridden in 2022. 

Islam: No. I’ve met and know transgender people. Some are in different stages of transitioning. I wouldn’t want a transgender person in the locker rooms with their birth gender, because it’s wrong and puts them at risk of bullying and abuse. Trans people are and have been injured when in similar situations.

Masterson: Yes. The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act is about just that – fairness. It simply sets guidelines that ensure the fair playing field continues for women that we have recognized for decades. 

Banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Voting yes means children under 18 can’t get puberty blockers, hormone treatment, and in rare cases, gender-reassignment surgery. This bill narrowly failed this year and is expected to come up again in 2025. 

Islam: No. I have two people in my home that need access to gender-affirming care. Gender-affirming care is not just for trans or people with body dysmorphia. When will they try to ban it for adults too? Is that when they’ll realize it has more uses?

Masterson: Yes. The Senate took a firm stand in support of helping and not harming children by making it clear that radical transgender ideology and the mutilation of minors is not legal nor welcome in Kansas.

Chiefs and Royals stadium-financing bill

This bill didn’t spend any taxpayer money to attract the teams, but it did set aside future sales tax dollars from future stadium districts to pay off bonds. This law passed by a comfortable margin, and voting yes opens the door to the Chiefs and Royals in Kansas. 

Islam: Yes. I’m for it. It can and would bring in more tourism to Kansas. This would generate more income and could boost the economy of the state. I understand it might be a bumpy road to success, but I feel like it will pay off in the long run. 

Masterson: Yes. “The potential to establish a home for the Chiefs family here on the Kansas side of the state line is an opportunity that deserves a thorough conversation. We have reached out to the Chiefs organization and asked them to weigh in on the possibility of using Kansas’ unique STAR bond funding tool and explore what that collaboration could hold. We’re excited that the Chiefs are open to this conversation and look forward to seeing what mutually beneficial opportunities might lie ahead for both the people of Kansas and the Chiefs franchise,” Masterson said in a joint statement with the speaker of the House. 

APEX (Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion)

This bill had billions in tax incentives to bring a Panasonic battery plant to De Soto, Kansas. As it was being passed, lawmakers were not told which company would be coming, but were told the bill is necessary to attract large businesses.  Voting yes approved a massive tax incentive plan for companies. 

Islam: With recent knowledge of Lake Cheney being under 60% (capacity), I want to learn where the plant(s) would be buying their water from? If they can buy responsibly from reservoirs and bodies of water that are at 80% or better on average through the year, I’d allow it.

Masterson: Yes. “I’d much prefer an incentive like this that incentivizes this kind of stable generational growth. It’s akin to bringing aviation to Wichita, which is still there 100 years later,” he told The Star. 

Mail ballot grace period

Currently, any mail ballot in Kansas can arrive three days after Election Day and still be counted if it was postmarked on or before Election Day. Voting yes would eliminate that grace period. 

Islam: No. I understand why that rule is in place. It’s to make sure that each person’s ballot is counted and making their choices known. 

Masterson: Yes. Masterson didn’t respond to the voter guide, but legislators who supported the bill said it will restore faith in elections. Without the grace period, almost all ballots would be counted by election night. 

A bill loosening child care regulations

It would expand allowed child-to-staff ratios and allow teenagers to work at these facilities. Voting yes approves the loosened restrictions. Learn more about this bill here. 

Islam: Yes, just as long as children are 14 and older, with a school program to make sure the grades are not failing, as they do with school sports. Limit them to only 12-20 hours weekly until they’re 16.

Masterson: Yes. Masterson didn’t respond to the voting guide, but lawmakers who supported the bill said stripping away burdensome regulations will let businesses grow.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights

This bill lets parents pull their kids out of classes if they are being taught objectionable material. Republicans say it is up to parents to determine what their children should be learning. Democrats say this bill addresses a problem that doesn’t exist. 

Islam: This is a split issue for me. I am not a parent, but do participate in the raising of my roommate’s child. I prefer the children to be in class, but some parts of the science and health classes, such as the sex (education), is a day or week the parent could pull the child or don’t sign the waivers. 

Masterson: Yes. It states a common-sense long-established premise — that a parent has a right to direct the education, upbringing, and moral or religious training of their children.