David Toland

David Toland
Official portrait, 2020
David Toland
Born	David C. Toland 27 5, 1977
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	52nd Lieutenant Governor of Kansas; Kansas Secretary of Commerce
Education	University of Kansas (BA, MPA)
Children	2

David C. Toland (born May 27, 1977) is an American politician and businessman who serves concurrently as the 52nd lieutenant governor of Kansas and as secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce. Appointed secretary of commerce by Governor Laura Kelly in January 2019, Toland brought to the role an unusual background rooted in rural economic development in southeast Kansas, where he had spent years working to revitalize small communities. His appointment was not without controversy; his confirmation hearing before the Kansas Senate in 2019 became contentious, drawing scrutiny of his business dealings and social media activity before the Senate ultimately approved him. In December 2020, Governor Kelly announced her intention to appoint Toland as lieutenant governor following the departure of Lynn Rogers, who left the position to become Kansas state treasurer. Toland assumed the lieutenant governor's office on January 2, 2021, while continuing to lead the Department of Commerce. In his dual role, Toland has overseen a range of economic development initiatives, including business expansions, workforce programs, rural development grants, and community revitalization efforts across Kansas. In July 2025, Toland announced that he would not seek the Kansas governorship in the 2026 election cycle.

Early Life

David C. Toland was born on May 27, 1977. Details of his early childhood and family background are not extensively documented in publicly available sources. Toland grew up and eventually established deep roots in Kansas, developing an interest in public service and community development that would shape his professional career.

Before entering state government, Toland lived and worked in southeast Kansas, a largely rural region that faces persistent economic challenges including population decline, limited employment opportunities, and aging infrastructure. His experience in this part of the state informed his later approach to economic development policy, with a particular emphasis on the needs of rural and small-town communities.

Education

Toland attended the University of Kansas, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently returned to the university to complete a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. His graduate education in public administration provided a foundation for his later work in both nonprofit community development and state government.

Career

Rural Economic Development

Prior to his appointment to state government, Toland worked in rural economic development in southeast Kansas. He was associated with Thrive Allen County, an organization focused on community and economic development in Allen County, Kansas. His work there involved efforts to improve economic conditions, health outcomes, and quality of life in the rural county. This experience in grassroots rural development distinguished Toland from many previous commerce secretaries and became a central element of his public profile when he was nominated for the state position.

Appointment as Kansas Secretary of Commerce

On January 14, 2019, Toland began serving as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce, following his appointment by newly inaugurated Governor Laura Kelly. He succeeded Robert North in the position. Kelly's selection of Toland was seen as reflecting her administration's interest in addressing the economic needs of rural Kansas, a priority the governor had emphasized during her campaign.

However, Toland's appointment became entangled in broader political tensions. Reporting by KCUR described how a combination of local disputes and partisan politics threatened to complicate the confirmation process.

Confirmation Controversy

Toland's confirmation hearing before the Kansas Senate became one of the more contentious gubernatorial appointment proceedings of the Kelly administration. On March 20, 2019, Republican senators questioned Toland about his business dealings and a social media post, subjecting the nominee to pointed scrutiny. The following day, the confirmation hearing before the Senate panel further deteriorated, with reporting by The Topeka Capital-Journal describing the proceedings as having "devolved into bitterness."

Despite the contentious hearings, the Kansas Senate approved Toland's nomination on April 1, 2019. The confirmation vote followed weeks of debate and was characterized in media reports as a vote on a "controversial nominee."

Leadership of the Kansas Department of Commerce

As secretary of commerce, Toland undertook a restructuring of the Kansas Department of Commerce aimed at improving the agency's effectiveness in promoting economic growth across the state. Under his leadership, the department pursued a range of initiatives spanning business recruitment, workforce development, community revitalization, and rural investment.

One notable area of policy activity during Toland's tenure involved efforts to address the costly interstate economic development competition between Kansas and Missouri, particularly in the Kansas City metropolitan area. For years, the two states had engaged in a "border war" in which businesses were offered tax incentives to relocate across the state line, often moving only short distances while costing both states significant revenue. In August 2019, The Wall Street Journal covered the armistice agreement between the two states, which sought to end the practice of using subsidies to poach companies from one side of the border to the other.

Toland also led efforts to reinvigorate the Kansas Main Street program, which provides support for the revitalization of historic downtown commercial districts in communities across the state. The program has continued to be a focus of Commerce Department activity under Toland, with the department announcing funding awards for upper floor housing projects in Kansas Main Street communities as recently as February 2026.

In August 2020, Toland and Governor Kelly made announcements regarding business expansion projects expected to bring new jobs to Kansas.

Appointment as Lieutenant Governor

On December 14, 2020, Governor Laura Kelly announced her intention to appoint David Toland as the next lieutenant governor of Kansas, succeeding Lynn Rogers, who had been elected Kansas state treasurer. The appointment was also covered by The Kansas City Star, which noted the significance of Toland's dual role.

Toland took office as the 52nd lieutenant governor of Kansas on January 2, 2021, while continuing to serve simultaneously as secretary of commerce. This dual appointment was consistent with the Kansas constitutional framework, which does not prohibit the lieutenant governor from holding an additional cabinet-level position. The arrangement allowed Toland to continue leading the state's economic development efforts while also fulfilling the ceremonial and constitutional duties of the lieutenant governorship.

Continued Commerce Department Initiatives

In his continuing role as secretary of commerce, Toland has overseen numerous programs and grant initiatives. In July 2025, he appeared before state legislators to discuss repeated state audits of an economic grant program administered by the Department of Commerce, expressing frustration with what he characterized as the taxpayer cost of conducting multiple audits of the same program.

In early 2026, the Department of Commerce under Toland's leadership announced several new initiatives. In January 2026, the department launched the WorKS: Public Broadcasting Grant, designed to promote rural opportunities in Kansas. In February 2026, the department announced the launch of two new Kansas Community Empowerment Grants. Also in February 2026, Toland announced the reopening of tax credit opportunities through the Community Service Program (CSP) Tax Credit program for nonprofits and healthcare entities. Additionally, the department promoted workforce development through the KANSASWORKS Virtual Job Fair program, encouraging both jobseekers and employers to participate.

Decision Not to Run for Governor

On July 22, 2025, Toland announced that he would not seek the Kansas governorship in the 2026 election. Governor Kelly, a Democrat, was term-limited and could not run for re-election, which had prompted speculation about whether Toland might enter the race to succeed her. In his announcement, Toland confirmed that he would not be a candidate.

Personal Life

Toland has two children. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to his appointment to state government, he lived in southeast Kansas, where his work in community development gave him first-hand experience with the challenges facing rural communities in the state.

Recognition

Under Toland's leadership, the Kansas Department of Commerce received recognition from economic development industry publications. In 2021, Area Development magazine recognized Kansas with a Gold Shovel Award, which is given to states for their success in attracting new business investment and job creation. Also in 2021, Site Selection magazine included Kansas among its top competitive states, awarding the state a Prosperity Cup ranking that evaluated economic development performance across multiple metrics.

These recognitions were cited as evidence of the Kelly administration's economic development record during a period that included significant challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.