Craig Bowser
Craig Bowser | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bowser in 2009 | |
| Member of the Kansas Senate from the 1st district | |
| Assumed office January 13, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Dennis Pyle |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Warrensburg, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Erin |
| Education | Emporia State University (B) Washburn University (MBA) Henley-Putnam School of Strategic Security (PhD) |
| Military service | |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1991-2015 |
| Unit | U.S. Army Reserve |
| Awards | |
Craig Bowser is an American politician serving as a member of the Kansas Senate from the 1st district.
Early life and education
[edit]Bowser was born in Warrensburg, Missouri, and raised by a single mother on a ranch near Holton, Kansas. After graduating from Holton High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Emporia State University and an MBA from Washburn University. After leaving the U.S. Army Reserves, Bowser used his G.I. Bill to earn his doctorate in strategic security from the Henley-Putnam School of Strategic Security.[1]
Career
[edit]Bowser served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1991 to 2015 as a civil affairs officer and helped facilitate elections in Iraq in 2005. He was awarded the Meritorious Honor Award from the U.S. Department of State during one of his combat tours.[1]
In 2018, governor Jeff Colyer appointed Bowser to the Kansas Commission on Emergency Planning and Response. He served as CEO of SAVE Farms, a nonprofit farm based in Manhattan training veterans for agribusiness careers.[1]
He currently works for the State of Kansas as an information security officer. In 2023, emails surrounding the 2023 police raid of the Marion County Record showed Bowser was on the criminal investigation team for the raid.[2]
Kansas Senate
[edit]Elections
[edit]2020
[edit]In 2020, Bowser challenged incumbent Democrat Tom Hawk for the 22nd district.[1] He opposed Medicaid expansion and government spending, instead emphasizing increasing the state's revenue through medical cannabis, sports betting, and privatizing the Kansas Turnpike.[3] He was defeated in the general election with 48.7% of the vote.
2024
[edit]In 2024, Bowser announced he would challenge incumbent state senator Dennis Pyle in the Republican primary election. Pyle had previously served as an independent from 2022 to 2024 and ran for governor as one in the 2022 election, irking the Kansas Republican Party's leadership.[4] Bowser defeated state representative John Eplee and Pyle in the primary election with 40.6% of the vote.[5] He was unopposed in the general election.[6]
Tenure
[edit]In 2025, Bowser supported a bill nullifying racial covenants on land owned by Wichita State University.[7]
Electoral history
[edit]2020
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Craig Bowser | 5,232 | 60.5 | |
| Republican | Bryan Pruitt | 3,411 | 39.5 | |
| Total votes | 8,643 | 100 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Tom Hawk (incumbent) | 15,687 | 51.3 | |
| Republican | Craig Bowser | 14,911 | 48.7 | |
| Total votes | 30,598 | 100 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2024
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Craig Bowser | 5,069 | 40.64 | |
| Republican | John Eplee | 4,543 | 36.43 | |
| Republican | Dennis Pyle (incumbent) | 2,860 | 22.93 | |
| Total votes | 12,472 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Craig Bowser | 29,530 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 29,530 | 100.00 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Personal life
[edit]Bowser and his wife, Erin, live on their farm near Holton, Kansas.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Here's what divides candidates running for Manhattan area state Senate seat". The Journal. October 16, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ^ Smith, Sherman (November 6, 2023). "Kansas officials downplayed involvement in Marion newspaper raid. Here's what they knew". Missouri Independent. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ^ Peoples, Brandon (October 28, 2020). "Bowser hoping to unseat two-term incumbent in District 22 state senate race". KMAN. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ^ Mesa, Blaise (July 26, 2024). "The Kansas primary election races that could shift political balance in the Statehouse". The Beacon. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ^ Hills, Grace (August 7, 2024). "Bowser calls for unity after defeating senator and rep in 'most controversial' Kansas primary race". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ^ Richardson, Bryan (November 4, 2024). "General election 2024: Full Kansas Legislature results". State Affairs. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ^ Carpenter, Tim (March 4, 2025). "Kansas Senate bill voids racist housing covenant on Wichita State University land". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved September 10, 2025.