The Republican establishment fights back. The Kansas State Legislature lost 11 Tea Party types close to Governor Brownback, including the Senate Majority Leader.
A top Senate leader and at least 10 other conservative Kansas legislators lost their seats as moderate Republicans made Tuesday’s primary election a referendum on the state’s budget problems and education funding.
Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce, of Nickerson, fell in his south-central Kansas district to Ed Berger, former president of Hutchinson Community College. Bruce’s defeat came amid a backlash against Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and his allies that appeared to spell trouble for conservatives.
Five other conservative senators lost in races that spanned the state. So did five conservative House members, all of them from affluent Kansas City-area suburbs in Johnson County, the state’s most populous, where voters have cherished good public schools for decades.
Well isn't that special. Turns out you can go to far to the right even for Kansas Republicans, when your crazy costs comfortable conservatives their schools (meaning property values) and the state's credit rating.
And the US Congress can say good by to Tim Huelskamp, who had been a thorn in the side of John Boehner and others in the party, and paid the price for that last night.
The Huelskamp campaign became the subject of ridicule after it kicked out reporters from their watch party, as seen in the video by KSNT.
Associated Press A doctor backed by agriculture and business groups has defeated U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp in the Republican primary to represent a district spanning much of central and western Kansas.
Great Bend obstetrician Roger Marshall won the tough contest against Huelskamp in Tuesday's primary, making him the strong favorite to take the seat in November.
Marshall's supporters argued Huelskamp's combativeness has harmed the district. Huelskamp lost his seat on the House Agriculture Committee in 2012 and farm groups turned against him.
Huelskamp is a tea party favorite with a national profile from clashing with GOP leaders over farm and budget legislation. He was a critic of former House Speaker John Boehner
You knew it wasn't going to be a good night for them when the Huelskamp campaign barred reporters from their "victory" party, even before the results had come in.
Losers.
Last pic of the party I may get tonight. Camp volunteer just shut the door. #huelskamp #ks01 pic.twitter.com/bCYHn5opef
— KAKE Chris Stanford (@ChrisAStanford) August 3, 2016
