Kansas Republican Candidate Claims Opponent Uses Witchcraft
Kansas Republican gubernatorial candidate Ty Masterson told a Wichita church audience that his Democratic opponent, Cindy Holscher, is involved in demonic witchcraft. He pointed to TikTok videos made by Holscher's daughter, which were playful clips set to music from Wicked. The daughter later joked that the accusations were true.
At a Wichita church on Sunday, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Ty Masterson framed his race as a spiritual conflict and said Democrat Cindy Holscher’s side was casting spells on TikTok. His evidence appeared to be lighthearted clips from Holscher’s 20-year-old daughter, Maddie, including an April video of the two brushing teeth to a Wicked song.
Holscher previously called her daughter’s goofy posts meaningful and invited people to watch them. After Masterson’s remarks, Maddie joked Tuesday that the accusations were accurate, sharing a childhood Halloween photo of herself and a sibling dressed as witches. Republicans have spent far more than Democrats in the Kansas governor’s race.
The episode may deepen voter cynicism about political rhetoric, especially among Kansans weighing the governor’s race. It could also draw more attention to candidates’ families and social media, raising privacy concerns for relatives pulled into campaigns. Religious voters may react differently to claims of demonic activity, while undecided voters could view the controversy as a distraction from substantive issues. The ultimate effect remains uncertain and may depend on local coverage and how both campaigns respond.