When Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sen. Cindy Holscher selected Wichita State Rep. KC Ohaebosim as her running mate for lieutenant governor, the move immediately reshaped the dynamics of Kansas’ crowded Democratic primary.
The pairing did more than unite two longtime legislative allies. It connected Kansas’ two largest population centers — the Kansas City metro and Wichita — while also adding generational diversity, geographic balance and racial representation to the ticket.
At 57, Holscher represents experience and a familiar face in Kansas Democratic politics. Ohaebosim, 47, brings a younger voice, urban energy and the possibility of energizing Black, immigrant and younger voters Democrats increasingly need to turn out in stronger numbers.
For many in Wichita, Ohaebosim’s rise has been years in the making.
Long before reaching the Statehouse, he was active in local politics, working on campaigns to help elect local candidates and building connections throughout Sedgwick County politics. He unsuccessfully ran twice for the Kansas Senate before winning election to the Kansas House in 2016 at age 37.
Since then, he has been reelected seven times to represent the 89th District, which covers a large portion of northeast Wichita, generally north of 21st Street to 53rd Street and east of I-135 to Woodlawn.
Ohaebosim’s story also reflects the changing face of Kansas.
His parents immigrated to Wichita from Nigeria. His father completed part of his residency in Kansas City and moved to Wichita, where he established a medical practice in northeast Wichita. Over a 41-year career, he delivered more than 1,000 babies. Ohaebosim’s mother worked as a nurse.
Ohaebosim said watching his parents care for people helped shape his view of public service.
“My family loves Kansas,” Ohaebosim said during an interview with The Community Voice. “A lot of citizens didn’t have healthcare or health insurance, but we still cared for them. That was something that really touched me.”
Ohaebosim graduated from Wichita Heights High School. He later attended Wichita State University and earned a business administration degree from Newman University in 2005. While in college, he joined Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
The Holscher campaign says Ohaebosim’s background, legislative experience and relationships across Kansas made him an attractive choice for the ticket.
The two lawmakers entered the Legislature together in 2016 during the political fallout of former Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax-cut experiment and spent years working side-by-side in Topeka.
Ohaebosim said the two shared office suites for four years before Holscher was elected to the Kansas Senate, giving them time to build both a political and personal working relationship.
“We both came in when the Brownback tax experiment had really crippled our state,” Ohaebosim said. “We reversed the Brownback tax cuts. We started rebuilding our bond rating. We started solving problems for the people of Kansas.”
According to the campaign, Ohaebosim’s legislative priorities closely align with Holscher’s platform focused on affordability, healthcare access, public education and worker protections.
The campaign platform includes expanding Medicaid, increasing education funding, raising the minimum wage, reducing property taxes and legalizing medical marijuana.
Ohaebosim repeatedly framed those issues as policies that would help all Kansans, while also addressing disparities that often hit minority communities hardest.
“Kansas today still has not expanded Medicaid,” Ohaebosim said. “Minorities are often the ones without access to healthcare. But expanding Medicaid benefits everybody.”
Campaign officials also believe Ohaebosim brings added energy and visibility to the race.
Peter Adams, a senior staffer for the Holscher campaign, said Ohaebosim’s candidacy represents “hope” and the “American dream” for Black and immigrant communities while also showing young Kansans what is possible.
“When they see KC Ohaebosim, they see hope, they see the American dream, they see character, honesty, integrity and empathy,” Adams said.
Kansas has never elected a Black lieutenant governor, and in a competitive Democratic primary, Ohaebosim’s selection immediately created buzz among many Black Democrats and younger voters.
“I think I’m going to bring a lot of excitement this cycle,” Ohaebosim said.
Still, Ohaebosim said he does not want voters focused solely on the historic nature of the candidacy.
“What I want people to see is that no matter your background, you can aspire to be anything you want to be,” he said.
For Holscher, the choice ultimately may come down to trust as much as strategy.
“We’ve been working together a very long time,” Ohaebosim said. “We know how to solve problems together.”
