Nancy Kassebaum Baker, former Kansas senator, dies at 94

Nancy Kassebaum Baker, a trailblazing former U.S. senator from Kansas who was the first woman elected to the Senate without first being appointed or following a spouse into office, died Friday, August 21, 2026. She was 94 years old. Her death was confirmed by her son, Bill Kassebaum.

Kassebaum Baker, a moderate Republican who served three terms from 1978 to 1997, built a legacy of independence and bipartisanship during her 18 years in Washington. She died of natural causes at her home in Kansas, her family announced. A private memorial service will be held at a later date, and the family has requested that memorial contributions be directed to the Capper Foundation or the Kansas 4-H Foundation.

"She loved Kansas. She loved people from Kansas and representing Kansas for 18 years in the U.S. Senate," Bill Kassebaum said. "She was an independent-minded Republican who was willing to stand up for what she thought was right, even if that meant going against the party."

Born Nancy Landon in Topeka on July 29, 1932, she was the daughter of Alf Landon, a former Kansas governor and the 1936 Republican presidential nominee. She launched her own historic political career in 1978, winning a...