Rep. Waymaster Included in Inaugural Power 50: Most Influential Kansans
A Topeka-based online publication has released its inaugural Power 50 Report, listing the most influential Kansans who hold the power to shape the landscape of Kansas now and in the future.
Among the 50 in the report written by Hawver's Capital Report/State Affairs is 109th Representative Troy Waymaster from Bunker Hill.
The report said "With a shift in the budget development process, Rep. Waymaster's role as the House Appropriations Committee chair has become even more pivotal. The House represented the starting point for this year’s budget, so the Bunker Hill Republican took the first crack at developing the spending plan for fiscal years
2025 and 2026."
Rep. Waymaster has served the 109th District since 2013.
Here's the complete Power 50 list compiled by Bryan Richardson and Matt Resnick:
1. Gov. Laura Kelly: A steadfast Democratic leader in a predominantly Republican state, Kelly wields significant influence extending beyond Kansas’ borders. A blue buoy in a sea of red, she has represented a stumbling block for a lot of Republican desires on hot-button issues related to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, positioning her as a formidable counterforce to the GOP majority. While Republicans have grown in power in the Legislature, Kelly still appears ready to wave her veto pen during her last two years in office. Her strategic leadership is further highlighted by her role as the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, a position she assumed from
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in August.
2. Senate President Ty Masterson: The elephant in the room for Masterson is an expected gubernatorial run in 2026. He hasn’t made any announcements as of this writing, but his credentials include a 2024 stint as the chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council and conservative bona fides that have proven useful as he leads the Republican caucus. He started the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency, an acknowledged nod to the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency.
3. House Speaker Dan Hawkins: Like Kelly, the speaker is serving his last two years in office. Unlike the term-limited governor, Hawkins has chosen to end his time in the Legislature. On the way out, he is wielding his power to reform the legislative process. His most significant impact has been shifting budget development from a
governor-initiated process to one led by the Legislature — ensuring an early edge for Republicans’ priorities. Hawkins, along with Masterson, also crafted a condensed 90-calendar-day session schedule.
4. Secretary of State Scott Schwab: Schwab’s fierce defense of election security in Kansas at times has put him in opposition with his own Republican Party. His crucial work squashing misinformation — with the aid of real-time election results — impeded election-denying efforts in the state after the 2024 cycle. He will assume a higher political profile as the first declared candidate in the 2026 governor’s race. The Great Bend native served in the House from 2003 to 2019 before becoming the state’s chief elections officer.
5. Attorney General Kris Kobach: The Kansas attorney general frequently made good on his 2022 election promise to sue President Joe Biden’s administration. His relationship with President Donald Trump is well established, which means it will take only one trip to Washington for the rumor mill to start churning about the possibility of Kobach taking a key position in the administration. Republican lawmakers look to him to uphold and enforce their policy priorities around the state. He is also a leading advocate for a constitutional amendment to replace gubernatorial appointments of Kansas Supreme Court justices with elections.
6. Lt. Gov./Commerce Secretary David Toland: It’s unclear if Toland will take the next step and run for governor in 2026, but he has a potential feather in his cap — the possibility of the Kansas City Chiefs or Royals coming to Kansas from Missouri. Toland is negotiating with the teams about a move after the Legislature passed a 2024 incentive package to build new stadiums. A move by either team would be a financial windfall for the state.
7. House Majority Leader Chris Croft: Though Croft declined to run for U.S. House in 2024, his name often appears in the mix for a higher office. His big legislative push has involved targeting the potential influence of foreign adversaries — China chiefly among them — in Kansas. His status as a retired U.S. Army colonel carries weight on the issue. The Overland Park Republican has proposed prohibiting countries of concern from buying real estate within a 100-mile radius of military bases or security zones and barring agencies from buying drone components from those countries.
8. Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi: At 31, Blasi continues his rapid rise through the Senate ranks, firmly establishing himself as an archetype of the next generation of Kansas politicians. The Wichita Republican entered the chamber in 2023 to fill out the remainder of Gene Suellentrop’s term. His first general election in November 2024 was quickly followed by the Republican caucus selecting him as majority leader the next month. Before his Senate stint, Blasi served as chief of staff for Masterson and former Senate President Susan Wagle.
9. U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran: First elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010, Moran also served seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and eight years in the state Senate. Known for his passionate advocacy for military and combat veterans, the Kansas Republican holds high-ranking roles on several committees and subcommittees — notably as chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. He recently proposed a bill to make firing Veterans Affairs employees more difficult amid Department of Government Efficiency-led upheavals.
10. U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall: Before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020, Marshall spent two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and a quarter century as a physician-owner of a private medical practice in central Kansas. He has established himself as the fiercer President Donald Trump supporter of the state’s two senators — being on the president’s good side is never a bad thing. Marshall serves on several Senate committees, including Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, as well as Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Finance, and Budget.
11. Kelly Chief of Staff Will Lawrence: President Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” when it came to foreign policy. In the Statehouse, Lawrence represents that metaphorical big stick. He has been tasked with the sometimes challenging job of wrangling the Democratic legislative caucus. As senior adviser of the governor’s Middle of the Road PAC, he used its resources to target Democrats who ran afoul of Kelly during the 2024 primary.
12. Sen. Renee Erickson: The Wichita Republican is guiding the future of K-12 education funding in Kansas. She chairs the Education Funding Task Force, charged with creating the next funding formula by 2027. Her guidance — including the push for a draft by the end of 2025 — is crucial as the group works on a formula that’s typically scrutinized legally. She also leads the Senate Education and the Government Efficiency committees.
13. Rep. Troy Waymaster: With a shift in the budget development process, Waymaster’s role as the House Appropriations Committee chair has become even more pivotal. The House represented the starting point for this year’s budget, so the Bunker Hill Republican took the first crack at developing the spending plan for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.
14. Sen. Rick Billinger: The Goodland Republican heads the Senate’s budget efforts as the Ways and Means Committee chair. Billinger is the co-figurehead of the legislative-led process as his committee received the budget bill after the House wrapped up its work. Leaders said the goal of the switch was to provide the Legislature more time to develop the budget — and hopefully find more efficiencies.
15. Sen. Caryn Tyson: Taxes have been a key part of the most recent legislative sessions, so Tyson’s position as Assessment and Taxation Committee chair is one of the more prominent roles in the Statehouse. Lawmakers have noted the Parker Republican’s strong negotiation skills, which was pivotal in resolving property tax relief disputes this year. Tyson’s committee took an aggressive approach in advancing the Senate’s position early in the 2025 session.
16. Rep. Adam Smith: The Weskan Republican is Tyson’s counterpart in the House, where he chairs the tax committee. House Republican leaders have praised Smith for his dedication and long hours in crafting legislation that has seen a surprising amount of bipartisan support in the past two sessions. Smith and Tyson collaborated with legislative leaders to find a path to agreement.
17. Charles Koch and family: With a net worth of $67.5 billion, the Wichita native and businessman extraordinaire is one of the most influential Kansans in history. His family’s Koch Inc. — founded in 1940 by his father, the late Fred Koch — ranks as the nation’s second-largest privately held company by revenue. The family has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into the campaigns of GOP candidates, all the way up to the president.
18. U.S. Rep. Ron Estes: Estes has prioritized tax reform and deregulation during his time representing Kansas’ 4th Congressional District. In his first year in Congress, the Wichita Republican helped pass the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. He also serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and was Kansas State Treasurer from 2011 to 2017. His wife — state Rep. Susan Estes, R-Wichita — was elected to the Kansas House in 2021.
19. U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt: After falling to incumbent Gov. Kelly in the 2022 gubernatorial race, Schmidt made a political comeback, throwing his hat into the ring after U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner sprung a surprise retirement announcement last year. On the campaign trail, Schmidt touted immigration reform as his top policy issue. He is also the second-longest-serving attorney general in Kansas history, having held the role for 12 years. Schmidt, a Republican representing Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District, spent a decade in the state Senate.
20. U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann: The Republican representing the Sunflower State’s 1st Congressional District since 2021 describes himself as a “tireless advocate for Kansas agriculture and conservative Kansas values.” That makes him an ideal fit for the House Agriculture Committee. Mann also serves on the House Transportation and
Infrastructure committees. The Salina native briefly served as lieutenant governor under Jeff Coyler in 2018.
21. U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids: Following her 2018 election triumph, Davids joined New Mexico’s Deb Haaland as one of the first Native American women in the U.S. House of Representatives. The lone Democrat in the Kansas congressional delegation, Davids also completed a White House fellowship under President Barack Obama. During her time representing the state’s 3rd Congressional District, she has emphasized the importance of public education and advocated for affordability in higher education. She also has prioritized health care affordability and accessibility.
22. Kansas Republican Party Chair Danedri Herbert: Attorney General Kobach’s communications director is the new leader of the state GOP. The former journalist said she plans to stay out of the spotlight more than her predecessor, Mike Brown. Herbert has said her experience running Kobach’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign, albeit unsuccessful, makes her uniquely qualified to steer the party’s ship in 2026.
23. Kansas Democratic Party Chair Jeanna Repass: Democrats reelected Repass for a second term as chairwoman in 2025. After her party’s disappointing showing in the November elections, Repass looks ahead to 2026. The chair said the Democratic Party’s pathway to keeping the governor’s seat and cutting into Republican power includes connecting with rural voters.
24. House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard: Woodard is in his first year as the House Democrats’ leader following Vic Miller’s departure for an unsuccessful run at the state Senate. Woodard’s positioning aligns him more closely with Gov. Kelly, who clashed with his predecessor. But Woodard is navigating rocky terrain with caucus member Rep. Ford Carr, who has criticized his leadership.
25. Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes: Sykes has been minority leader since 2021. Coming into the Kansas Senate as a moderate Republican, she switched parties in 2018 in a wave that saw three other female legislators defect to the Democratic Party. Though it’s tough sledding in the superminority, Sykes still looks for ways to influence where she can.
26. Laura Howard, secretary of Aging and Disability Services and Children and Families: Only one secretary leads two state agencies — Howard. Gov. Kelly appointed her to the positions in 2019 with the eventual plan of creating the Kansas Department of Human Services, a merger of the agencies. However, the vision never came to fruition. Howard heads vital social welfare agencies, putting her in the line of fire when operations falter.
27. University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas A. Girod: Perched atop the state’s largest postsecondary institution since 2017, Girod has overseen the most significant student enrollment increase in University of Kansas history. Meanwhile, he has helped establish “new medical oversight models for student healthcare services,” according to his KU bio. As vice chair of the Association of American Universities board of directors and a Big 12 Conference board member, his influence extends beyond Kansas’ borders. And at the end of the day, Girod is the straw that stirs the drink for the state’s largest economic driver.
28. Kansas State University President Richard Linton: Serving as president since 2022, Linton was the architect of the institution’s strategic plan Next-Gen K-State, resulting in advancements in student recruitment, research funding and facilities upgrades while emphasizing athletic department excellence. Linton’s vision has led to a $700 million philanthropy windfall for the school and more than $150 million in state and federal funding, according to his Kansas State University bio.
29. Wichita State University President Richard Muma: Muma, who started his role in 2020, has overseen the opening of the student-centric Shocker Success Center while launching an initiative that has led to improved graduation rates and persistence rates, which measure students’ ability to continue their academic journey. As president, Muma has emphasized business and industry, helping to open an on-campus ATF Crime Gun Intelligence Center and a Digital Research and Transformation Hub.
30. Emporia State University President Ken Hush: Hush’s three years in the university’s top post have been marked by declining enrollment, financial challenges and an ongoing lawsuit by tenured faculty terminated in 2022. The suit — and a related bill targeting tenure — could have lasting implications on professor employment. Despite the criticisms, Hush, a former president of Koch Minerals & Carbon, has devised strategies to reverse the school’s enrollment slide and helms the only Regents institution not to request a tuition hike for the 2024-25 academic year.
31. Kansas Board of Regents CEO Blake Flanders: Serving in his role since 2015, Flanders has considerable influence over the state’s higher education system. He can often be seen around the Kansas Statehouse testifying on an array of key education measures. Flanders has served in several other high-level capacities — including liaison between the Board of Regents and the Kansas Department of Commerce.
32. Kansas Board of Regents Chair Carl Ice: Before his time as a regent, Ice spent over four decades with BNSF Railway, where he ascended to chief operating officer of the largest freight railroad network in North America. Ice is a highly regarded businessman and philanthropist, as evidenced by his 2023 induction into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame. Additionally, his generous donations to his alma mater Kansas State University led to naming honors of the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering and the $18 million practice facility Ice Family Basketball Center.
33. Education Commissioner Randy Watson: With decades of experience in various capacities in the education arena, Watson has served as commissioner of the Kansas State Department of Education since 2014. He has been influential in redirecting the state’s K-12 education framework to a model dubbed “Kansas Can,” focused on equipping every student with support and resources that pave the way for classroom success. According to his state agency bio, Watson has made in-person visits to each of the state’s 286 school districts.
34. Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert: A member of the high court since 2003, Luckert became chief judge in 2019. Luckert leads a court that’s come under intense criticism for its decisions from Republicans. Lawmakers passed a measure for a ballot question asking if justice selections should be conducted via elections instead of gubernatorial appointments. Luckert also established a committee to address the state’s rural lawyer shortage, leading to a 2025 bill seeking financial incentives to fix the problem.
35. Johnson County District Court Judge K. Christopher Jayaram: Jayaram is the judge behind the temporary injunction on Kansas’ enforcement of a 24-hour waiting period for abortions. The injunction, which Jayaram ordered in October 2023, remains in place until he provides a ruling on the issue. Abortion providers’ challenge of the Kansas Woman’s Right to Know Act, which introduced several abortion restrictions, is scheduled for trial at the end of June.
36. Shawnee County District Court Judge Teresa Watson: Appointed in 2014, Watson has ruled on various cases involving the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission. Her proximity to the legislative action in Topeka means she is asked to weigh in as a lower court judge on agency actions. Her 2024 temporary injunction allowed the
state to continue enforcing a law preventing gender changes on driver’s licenses. The Republican Legislature overrode the governor’s veto to pass the 2023 law.
37. Kansas State Board of Education Chair Cathy Hopkins: Hopkins’ background include a three-year stint as executive director of the international association branch of a global ministry. Hopkins, who values “faith, family and education,” according to her Kansas State Department of Education bio, has worked for a national law firm
and spent nearly a decade as a small-business owner.
38. Kansas State Board of Education Vice Chair Danny Zeck: Zeck and Hopkins lead a more conservative board after the November 2024 election. It’s worth keeping an eye on to see what impact he and Hopkins will have. Zeck, who spent 16 years as a Leavenworth school board member, is known for his conservative views as a state board of education member after making parental authority a campaign platform.
39. ACLU of Kansas Legal Director Monica Bennett: Bennett is new to the role, taking over in July 2024 for Sharon Brett, now an associate professor at the University of Kansas School of Law. The state arm of the American Civil Liberties Union is tasked with fighting for Kansans’ rights on a variety of issues. Among the efforts Bennett is involved in is an ongoing appeal of the state’s ban on gender changes on driver’s licenses, which affects transgender Kansans.
40. Kelly water adviser Vijay Ramasamy: Lawmakers and stakeholders have noted the improved coordination within the state’s water supply system. People can thank Ramasamy for that. In 2023, Kelly created the water adviser role filled by Ramasamy. He leads the subcabinet, which provides cross-agency coordination, collaboration and planning for the water officials scattered across various agencies. Ramasamy also has met with stakeholders during the development of the Office of Natural Resources proposal.
41. Kansans for Life Director of Government Relations Jeanne Gawdun: The push for what Republicans call “life legislation” doesn’t really get started until the annual Kansas March and Rally for Life. Gawdun’s organization provides the marching orders for the session, and the Legislature follows. Kansans for Life has had to work within the margins since voters in 2022 affirmed their desire that the right to abortion remains protected in the Kansas Constitution.
42. Wichita Mayor Lily Wu: Wu is well known for her community-related endeavors and activism, having served on an array of boards and committees. Among her many achievements is the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies’ 2024 Spotlight Award. She’s also Wichita’s first Asian American mayor and the only Libertarian mayor in the top 100 U.S. cities by population. As mayor, Wu has prioritized public safety and government transparency.
43. Kansas City Mayor Tyrone Garner: Garner was sworn in as the first Black mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City in 2021. He previously held a high-ranking law enforcement role as commander of the western portion of Kansas City — capping a three-decade career with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department. Garner is also a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He announced last year he would not seek reelection as mayor.
44. Former House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr.: Whether or not the Kansas City Chiefs end up in the Sunflower State, the former House speaker has played a significant role in the lobbying effort. Ryckman, who served as speaker from 2017 to 2023, lobbied for Scoop and Score, the organization that pushed for last year’s STAR bond package. The company banked on his connection to the Legislature to provide inroads.
45. KBI Director Tony Mattivi: Appointed in 2023, Mattivi has shown a particular fervor for combating fentanyl distribution during his time as director. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Highway Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations teamed up to form the Joint Fentanyl Impact Team early in Mattivi’s tenure. The KBI recently reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for state law enforcement officers to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
46. Kansas Farm Bureau President Joe Newland: With agriculture being a major driver of the state economy, the Kansas Farm Bureau president wields a great deal of influence. Newland left the state House, where he served from 2019 to 2022, to take up the mantle of leadership at the Farm Bureau in late 2022. The Farm Bureau is a constant Statehouse presence, with its lobbyists regularly weighing in on proposals touching on a wide range of topics.
47. Kansas Policy Institute CEO Dave Trabert: Trabert’s perspective is usually front and center when hearings arrive for bills representing key Republican priorities in taxes and education. GOP legislators frequently reference his remarks during debates on educational matters. His calculations showing how special education is fully funded when local monies are applied were pivotal.
48. Josh Ney and Ryan A. Kriegshauser of Kriegshauser Ney Law Group: The two law partners have frequently taken on the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, including representing Republican clients accused of a pass-through scheme to circumvent the state’s campaign donation limits. Ney has played an active role in pushing legislation targeted at easing the limits. He and Kriegshauser recently served as counsel for the Overland Park advocacy group Fresh Vision OP in its successful quest to avoid being labeled a political action committee.
49. Former Kansas Republican Party Chair Mike Brown: Regardless of how one feels about the former Kansas Republican Party chairman, he presided over a very successful 2024 election cycle. His decision not to run again as the state party leader naturally has stoked speculation about his future. Gubernatorial run?
50. Dave DePue, state director of Kansas Capitol Commission: Legislators turn to DePue when they need spiritual guidance during the session, including through Bible studies. Many lawmakers praise the council he provides during a stressful time. He’s a fixture around the Statehouse, sitting in on committee and caucus meetings. DePue’s roots in politics involve former Gov. Sam Brownback, for whom he served as a spiritual adviser.