Jeff Colyer

Jeffrey William Colyer (born June 3, 1960) is an American surgeon and politician. On January 31, 2018, he became the 47th Governor of Kansas. Before, he was the 49th Lieutenant Governor of Kansas serving under Governor Sam Brownback. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was a member of the Kansas Senate (2009–2011) and of the Kansas House of Representatives (2007–2009).^[1]

Jeff Colyer
47th Governor of Kansas
In office January 31, 2018 – January 14, 2019
Lieutenant	Tracey Mann
Preceded by	Sam Brownback
Succeeded by	Laura Kelly
49th Lieutenant Governor of Kansas
In office January 10, 2011 – January 31, 2018
Governor	Sam Brownback
Preceded by	Troy Findley
Succeeded by	Tracey Mann
Member of the Kansas Senate from the 37th district
In office January 12, 2009 – January 10, 2011
Preceded by	Dennis M. Wilson
Succeeded by	Raymond Merrick
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 48th district
In office January 8, 2007 – January 12, 2009
Preceded by	Eric Carter
Succeeded by	Marvin Kleeb
Personal details
Born	Jeffrey William Colyer (1960-06-03) June 3, 1960 (age 65) Hays, Kansas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Ruth Gutierrez
Education	Georgetown University (BS) Clare Hall, Cambridge (MA) University of Kansas, Kansas City (MD)

Colyer was a White House Fellow under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He worked in international affairs.^[2]

On January 24, 2018, Vice President Mike Pence broke a 49-49 tie vote to make Governor Brownback the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.^[3] Governor Brownback resigned on January 25, 2018 to serve as the ambassador, thus making Colyer the designate governor.^[4]

On August 14, 2018, Colyer lost the Republican nomination to Secretary of State Kris Kobach for Governor in the 2018 election by 345 votes.^[5][6]