Kansas politician Scott Schwab has cancer, will continue campaign for governor

Kansas politician Scott Schwab announced a cancer diagnosis on Friday, but said it won’t keep him from continuing in his current job or from running for higher office.

“During a routine cancer screening in December doctors found that I have a lung nodule that is cancerous, and I will be undergoing surgery next week to have it removed,” Schwab, the secretary of state, said in a social media post Friday afternoon. “It has not spread or changed.

“My doctors have confirmed it was found very early, and no further treatment will be required post-surgery. I will make a full recovery. While I will take some time to recover, I remain committed to serving Kansans as Secretary of State and returning to the campaign trail as I continue my run for governor.”

Schwab, a Republican, is running for governor in 2026. He was elected secretary of state in 2018 and reelected in 2022 after serving in the Legislature, representing an Olathe district.

He is the biggest name so far to declare for the 2026 gubernatorial race, though more candidate announcements are expected next month after the legislative session ends.

Politicians, government officials have shared cancer diagnoses in recent years

Schwab joins a list of Kansas politicians and government officials who have publicly shared cancer diagnoses in recent years, often while continuing to serve.

In 2021, Jeff Colyer dropped out of the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary race and endorsed Derek Schmidt after a prostate cancer diagnosis.

In 2023, Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced a breast cancer diagnosis. The Topeka Republican continued serving in her elected office while being treated. Schmidt shared that she was cancer-free later the same year.

Also in 2023, Kansas State University president Richard Linton shared that he had been diagnosed with throat and tongue cancer. Around the same time, Kansas Board of Regents member and then-chair Jon Rolph was also diagnosed with cancer.

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.