political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology ...

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...

United States Republican Party The Republican Party, also referred to as the GOP ("Grand Old Party"), is one of the Two-party system, two Major party, major contemporary political parties in the United States. The GOP was founded in 1854 by Abolitionism in the United Stat ...

U.S. House The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

U.S. Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

state legislature A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...

state treasurer In the state governments of the United States, 48 of the 50 states have the executive position of treasurer. New York abolished the position in 1926; duties were transferred to New York State Comptroller. Texas abolished the position of Texas ...

Laura Kelly Laura Jeanne Kelly (born January 24, 1950)"Laura Kelly,"
''Kansapedia,''

,

David Toland David C. Toland (born May 27, 1977) is an American politician and businessman concurrently serving as the 52nd lieutenant governor of Kansas and Kansas secretary of commerce. Early life and education A seventh-generation Kansas native, Toland w ...

, and

Lynn Rogers Lynn Leroy Rogers (born 1939) is an American biologist who studies wild black bears and is known as the ''Jane Goodall of bears''. He is the founder of the North American Bear Center. He teaches a yearly black bear field study course for the W ...

respectively.

Party structure and governance

The current internal operating rules for the Kansas Republican Party and its biannual platform can be found on the party webpage: www.kansas.gop. The current Kansas Republican Party structure includes the following elements: * Precincts: Kansas is divided into thousands of administrative voting districts called precincts. Precincts are not based on population and range from 0 registered voters to 2,500 voters. During the biannual primary election in August, the registered Republican voters in each precinct elect one precinct committeeman and one precinct committeewoman (also known as "precinct leaders"). Vacancies in precinct positions may be filled by the county party chair. In the event that an elected partisan state legislative or county office becomes vacant, the precinct leaders from that district will meet and elect a replacement. * County Party: Each of the 105 counties has an active Republican County Party. Every two years, between the primary election and 2 weeks after the general election, all the precinct committee people – the county party "Central Committee" – hold a meeting and elect county party officers, a chair, vice chair, secretary and treasurer. Each county party is responsible for recruiting, advising, and supporting county-level candidates and supporting all Republican candidates whose district includes all or part of the county. * County Delegates: At the biannual meeting of the precinct committeemen, county delegates are elected. Each county has two automatic delegates, its chair and vice chair. Additional delegates are awarded based on the total number of Republican votes from the county in the last primary election. While most counties have only 2 delegates, large counties, like Sedgwick and Johnson, have dozens of county delegates. * District Committee: The county delegates assemble in four different Congressional District Committees. In December or January after each general election, the District Committees meet and elect four officers (chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer) and 37 delegates and 37 alternate delegates to the state committee. In presidential election years, the District Committee meets to elect some of the delegates to the Republican National Convention. In the event a Congressional office becomes vacant, the District Committee will select the Republican candidate for the special election to fill the vacancy. * State Committee: The state committee, currently has 179 members, and is made up of 37 delegates from each congressional district, the chair and vice-chair of each district, the six state party officers, key elected officials and leaders of Republican affiliated groups. The State Committee meets at least twice a year. Every two years the newly elected delegates elect new state party officers – a chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer. During the first meeting in a Presidential election year, the state committee elects a National Committeeman and Committeewoman, who take office immediately after the Republican national convention. The state committee approves resolutions, changes to the state party constitution and by-laws, and approves the party platform every two years. * Executive Committee: The Executive committee currently has 38 members and is made up of the party officers, elected officials, leaders of Republican affiliated groups, and some specially appointed and elected individuals. The Executive Committee meets at State Committee meetings and by phone several times during the year. Budgetary and other administrative supervisory duties are tasked to the executive committee. * State party officers: There are six party officers. The chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer are elected every two years. The national committeeman and women are elected every four years. The chair may hire an executive director and other paid staff with the approval of the executive committee. * Republican House Campaign Committee (RHCC) and Kansas Republican Senatorial Committee (KRSC): These are special party organizations composed of Republican Representatives and Senators. The role of these organizations is to recruit, advise, and support Republican candidates for the Kansas House and Senate. The Representatives and Senators elect the leadership for each organization.

Current party leadership

Party officersParty Officials, The Republican Party of Kansas, http://ksgop.org/party_officials/, retrieved 15 February 2015 * Chair: Mike Kuckelman * Vice-chair: Sue Schlapp * Secretary: Emily Wellman * Treasurer: Cheryl Reynolds * National Committeewoman: Kim Borchers * National Committeeman: Mark Kahrs Executive Committee Members: * the 6 party officers * Senator Jerry Moran or Designee * Senator Roger Marshall or Designee * Congressman

Tracey Mann Tracey Robert Mann (born December 17, 1976) is an American businessman and politician who has served as the U.S. representative from Kansas's 1st congressional district since 2021. The district, popularly known as "the Big First," includes par ...

or Designee * Congressman

Jacob LaTurner Jacob Andrew Joseph LaTurner (born February 17, 1988) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, LaTurner was the 40th Kansas State Treasurer from 2017 ...

or Designee * Congressman

Ron Estes Ronald Gene Estes ( ; born July 19, 1956) is an American politician, engineer, and farmer who has been the U.S. representative for since April 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2011 to 2017. A fif ...

or Designee * Secretary of State Scott Schwab or Designee * Attorney General Derek Schmidt or Designee * Insurance Commissioner

Vicki Schmidt Vicki Schmidt (born September 15, 1955) is an American politician who is currently the Kansas Insurance Commissioner. She was a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 20th district, from 2005 to 2019. She also served as the Sena ...

or Designee * Senate President

Ty Masterson Ty Masterson (born September 23, 1969) is a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 16th district since 2009. From 2005 to 2008, he was a Representative in the Kansas House of Representatives. He lives in Andover and has serve ...

or Designee * Senate Majority Leader Larry Alley or Designee * Speaker of the House Ron Ryckman Jr. or Designee * House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins or Designee * Kansas Black Republican Council chair * Kansas Federation of Republican Women chair * Kansas Republican Hispanic Assembly chair * Kansas Federation of Young Republicans chair * Kansas Federation of College Republicans chair * The chair and vice-chair of each District Party Committee * One State Committee member from each district, elected by members of that district * Two individuals appointed by the Chair

Current Republican officeholders

Members of the Republican Party currently hold both U.S. Senate seats; three of the four U.S. House seats; three of six statewide offices, and a majority in both the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas Senate.

Members of Congress

U.S. Senate

Current Senators:U.S. Senate, The Republican Party of Kansas, http://ksgop.org/us_senate/, Retrieved 13 December 2011 File:Jerry Moran, official portrait, 112th Congress (cropped).jpg, Senior U.S. Senator File:Roger Marshall 117th Congress portrait (cropped).jpg, Junior U.S. Senator

U.S. House of Representatives

Current House members:U.S. House, The Republican Party of Kansas, http://ksgop.org/us_house/, retrieved 13 December 2011 *

KS-01 Kansas's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kansas. Commonly known as "The Big First", the district encompasses all or part of 64 counties in western and northern Kansas (more than half of the state), ma ...

:

Tracey Mann Tracey Robert Mann (born December 17, 1976) is an American businessman and politician who has served as the U.S. representative from Kansas's 1st congressional district since 2021. The district, popularly known as "the Big First," includes par ...

*

KS-02 Kansas' 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kansas that covers most of the eastern part of the state, except for the core of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The district encompasses less than a quarter ...

:

Jake LaTurner Jacob Andrew Joseph LaTurner (born February 17, 1988) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, LaTurner was the 40th Kansas State Treasurer from 2017 ...

* KS-04:

Ron Estes Ronald Gene Estes ( ; born July 19, 1956) is an American politician, engineer, and farmer who has been the U.S. representative for since April 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2011 to 2017. A fif ...

Statewide offices

* Secretary of State: Scott Schwab *

Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

: Derek Schmidt *

Insurance Commissioner An insurance commissioner (or commissioner of insurance) is a public official in the executive branch of a state or territory in the United States who, along with his or her office, regulate the insurance industry. The powers granted to the office ...

:

Vicki Schmidt Vicki Schmidt (born September 15, 1955) is an American politician who is currently the Kansas Insurance Commissioner. She was a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 20th district, from 2005 to 2019. She also served as the Sena ...

Statewide officials, The Republican Party of Kansas, http://ksgop.org/statewide_officials/, Retrieved 5 February 2018

States Legislature

Kansas Senate

* President of the Senate:

Ty Masterson Ty Masterson (born September 23, 1969) is a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 16th district since 2009. From 2005 to 2008, he was a Representative in the Kansas House of Representatives. He lives in Andover and has serve ...

* Senate Majority Leader: Larry Alley

Kansas House of Representatives

* Speaker of the House:

Ron Ryckman Jr. Ronald Ryckman Jr. (December 17, 1971) is an American politician who represented the 78th District in the Kansas House of Representatives from 2013 to 2023, and served as the Speaker of the House from 2017 to 2023. He was first elected to the Ka ...

* House Majority Leader: Dan Hawkins

Party history

Dominant political party of Kansas

The Kansas Republican Party has dominated Kansas politics since Kansas statehood in 1861. Kansas has had 45 governors: 32 Republicans, 11 Democrats and 2 Populists. Kansas has had 33 U.S. Senators: 28 Republicans, 3 Democrats, and 2 Populists. The last time a Democrat was elected to the U.S. Senate from Kansas was in 1932. Since 1960, the Republicans have won 107 of 131 Congressional elections and have won 71 of 93 statewide elections. The Democrats have won control of the Kansas Senate only in the 1912 election and control of the Kansas House only three times in the 1912, 1976, and 1990 elections. Beginning with the 1968 election, Kansas has consistently voted for the Republican Presidential candidate and since 1860 has voted for the Republican presidential candidate 20 times, the Democrat six times and the Populist candidate once. From the 2010 to the 2016 elections, Republicans went 32–0 in Kansas's federal and statewide elections. Currently, of the 1.9 million registered voters in Kansas, about 45% registered as members of the Republican Party, about 25% registered as members of the Democratic Party, and about 30% registered as unaffiliated with any political party. Bleeding Kansas Poster

Early party history 1854 to 1974

Territorial Kansas (1854–1860)

Kansas and the Republican Party owe their mutual existence to the passage of the

Kansas–Nebraska Act The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 () was a territorial organic act that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. It was drafted by Democratic Senator Stephen A. Douglas, passed by the 33rd United States Congress, and signed into law by ...

in 1854, which repealed the Missouri Compromise. The Compromise had outlawed slavery above the 36⁰30' latitude in the Louisiana territories. Eliminating the Missouri Compromise left the question of whether Kansas would be a slave or free state up to the Kansas voters. Anti-slavery and pro-slavery settlers came into Kansas in order to influence the outcome of the first election. The conflict was violent, known to history as Bleeding Kansas. In 1855, the anti-slavery settlers organized themselves as the Free-State political party, which, in 1859, became the Kansas Republican Party. The Kansas Republican Party was organized on May 18, 1859, at a convention held at the Jillson Hotel in Osawatomie, and was attended by Horace Greeley. When the Wyandotte Constitutional Convention met in July 1859, it consisted of 35 Republicans and 17 Democrats. It produced the

Wyandotte Constitution The Wyandotte Constitution is the constitution of the U.S. state of Kansas. Background The Kansas Territory was created in 1854. The largest issue by far in territorial Kansas was whether slavery was to be permitted or prohibited; aside from the m ...

, making Kansas a free state and was ratified by the people of Kansas on October 4, 1859. Abraham Lincoln, campaigning to be the new Republican Party's presidential nominee, visited Kansas in November and December 1859, speaking in Elwood, Troy, Atchison, and Leavenworth. Shortly after Lincoln's visit, John A. Martin, Atchison journalist and future governor, noted "We have formed a Republican Constitution, adopted it with Republican votes, sent a Republican delegate to bear it to the National Capital, ndelected Republican State Officers and a Republican State Legislature." No place, he added, was "as thoroughly Republican" as Kansas.

Basic party organization (1859–1908)

State Conventions: At the state level the party would hold a state convention in every general election year, and a second convention in presidential election years.The Annals of Kansas (1541-1885) Daniel W. Wilder, Topeka (1875), (1886); The Annals of Kansas,(1886-1925) Kansas State Historical Society, Kirke Mechem, ed (1954), (1956) The Convention was usually in Topeka. The State Convention consisted of delegates, the number determined by a formula. For instance in 1890, there were 564 State Convention Delegates – one delegate at-large from each county and one delegate for every 400 votes or fractional part of 400 cast for Republican presidential electors in 1888.Proceedings of the Twenty-Ninth Republican State Convention of Kansas, George W. Crane Publisher, Topeka, KS, (1890) at 5–6 Until the advent of primary elections in August 1908, the Convention would nominate the Republican candidates for all statewide offices, such as governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and at-large Congressman. Every four years, in Presidential election years, a second Convention would select the Republican presidential electors and the Kansas delegates to the Republican National Convention. Until 1912, U.S. Senators were elected by the state legislature. The Convention created committees for resolutions and the party platform, which were voted on by the Convention. The Convention also elected the state committee members. Obtaining the nomination for a statewide office required the support of a majority of the state convention delegates, which, in turn, required diligent detailed effort by a network of supporters to obtain the support of the majority of precinct committeemen in enough counties to win a majority of the delegates. An example of this process occurred in January 1904 when Governor Willis Bailey was working for re-nomination. On January 26, Reno County, elected a delegation that planned to support

Edward Hoch Edward Dentinger Hoch (February 22, 1930 – January 17, 2008) was an American writer of detective fiction. Although he wrote several novels, he was primarily known for his vast output of over 950 short stories. Biography Hoch (pronounced ...

as governor, followed immediately by Sumner County with the same result. A reform group called the Kansas Republican League had diligently recruited pro-Hoch precinct committeemen. On January 30, Governor Bailey announced he would not seek re-election as governor. State Officers, and Central & Executive Committees: The state convention also elected the officers of the state party's central Committee – a chair and a secretary. The state party central committee generally consisted of one person per congressional district (seven or eight) and one person per judicial district (around 30). The state party's executive committee generally had about eleven members. The Central and Executive Committees had powers designated to them by the Party Constitution. County and District Committees: Counties and Congressional Districts also had central committees with elected officers. Districts held conventions to nominate congressmen and counties held conventions to nominate county officials, candidates for the Kansas House, and delegates to the state convention. Until the late 1960s each of the 105 counties had one designated state representative, with the other 20 representatives distributed to counties with larger populations, resulting in several counties having two or three representatives. Senate districts consisted of one or more entire counties and held conventions to nominate the Republican Senate candidates. As a result, district and county chairs held immense power. Before 1908, they strongly influenced who the delegates would select as the Republican candidate and with the advent of the primary system, they could give or withhold support to anyone considering a run for office, in effect, determining if there would be a primary. Furthermore, the tradition in Kansas was that county chairs controlled who received state patronage jobs in their counties. The system, however, was susceptible to change from below, if the voters installed new precinct committeemen who elected different county or district chairs. National Committeemen: The National Committeeman was elected by the National Convention delegates for a four-year term, took office immediately after the National Convention, and tended to hold officer for long periods to build seniority and work up the National Party hierarchy. For instance, John A. Martin was National Committeeman from 1872 to 1884; Cy Leland Jr., was National Committeeman from 1884 until 1900, having served on the national Republican executive committee; and was followed by David W. Mulvane who served from 1900 to 1912, and also served on the national Republican executive committee.

Early statehood (1860–1890)

After statehood, Kansas remained a solidly Republican state for the next thirty years. The initial free-state movement established a core foundation of Republicans. During the Bleeding Kansas period many had died and towns had been sacked;– Kansas, Lincoln, John Brown, abolition, the Union Army and the Republican Party were woven together in a state narrative. Kansas sent a higher proportion of its eligible men to serve in the Union Army than any other state. Union veterans settling in Kansas after the Civil War were usually Republican and their veterans' organization, the

Grand Army of the Republic The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (U.S. Navy), and the Marines who served in the American Civil War. It was founded in 1866 in Decatur, Il ...

(GAR) was a strong supporter of Republican candidates. Farmers acquired land through the Homestead Act of 1862, passed by Republicans. Veterans' pensions came from the national Republican administration. Railroads, and the towns they helped create, were generally supportive of Republicans. Members of the Republican Party controlled not only local school boards and judgeships, but also won the vast majority of state legislative, governor and congressional positions. Between the 1860 and 1888 elections, of the 45 Congressional races, Republican candidates won 44 and, of the 14 Gubernatorial races, Republicans won 13. Republicans held solid majorities in the State Senate and House every year through 1888.Secretary of State's Records The Presidential election of 1860, won by Abraham Lincoln, was Kansas' first participation in a national election and 79% of its vote went to Lincoln. Kansas voted for the Republican Presidential candidate in every election between 1860 and 1888. The first Governor was Republican Charles Robinson, the first U.S. Senators were Republicans James Lane and

Samuel Pomeroy Samuel Clarke Pomeroy (January 3, 1816 – August 27, 1891) was a United States senator from Kansas in the mid-19th century. He served in the United States Senate during the American Civil War. Pomeroy also served in the Massachusetts House of ...

, the first Congressman was Republican

Martin F. Conway Martin Franklin Conway (November 19, 1827 – February 15, 1882) was a U.S. congressman, consul to France, abolitionist, and advocate of the Free-State movement in Kansas. Conway was born in Harford County, Maryland, the son of Dr. W. D. Con ...

, and Republicans in the first Kansas legislature held 29 of 36 state senate seats and 63 of 74 state representative seats. One of the major issues facing the Republican party during this time was prohibition. While most Republicans supported temperance, prohibition – legal restrictions on alcohol – was more problematic. In the late 1870s, the party split over the issue – those who supported temperance but not prohibition led by

John Martin John Martin may refer to: Business *John Martin (businessman) (1820–1905), American lumberman and flour miller *John Charles Martin (fl. 1913–1931), American newspaper publisher *John Martin (publisher) (born 1930), American founder of Black ...

and the more radical prohibition supporters led by

John St John John St. John may refer to: Politicians *John St. John (MP for Northamptonshire) (aft.1360-1424), MP for Northamptonshire in 1410, 1411, 1416, and 1421 *John St. John (MP for Bedfordshire) (bef. 1495–1558), MP for Bedfordshire, 1539, 1542 * John ...

. The St John faction won out, St John was twice elected governor, in 1878 and 1880, and Kansas imposed prohibition by Constitutional amendment in 1880. During the 1882 election,

St John Saint John or St. John usually refers to John the Baptist, but also, sometimes, to John the Apostle. Saint John or St. John may also refer to: People * John the Baptist (0s BC–30s AD), preacher, ascetic, and baptizer of Jesus Christ * John t ...

tried for a third term but was defeated when many "wet" Republicans refused to back him for a third term.Malin, John C., Kansas Historical Quarterly - Was Governor John A. Martin a Prohibitionist? November 1931(Vol. 1, No. 1), pages 63 to 73 In 1884, the state party convention nominated John A. Martin by acclimation and placed upon him the responsibility of rehabilitating the party and reconciling factional conflicts which had developed over prohibition.

Martin Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austral ...

endorsed prohibition arguing that his goal was to elect Republicans and prohibition had passed with a majority vote of the people. Martin was elected governor in 1884 and in 1886 was re-nominated by acclamation at the state Republican Convention and re-elected as governor. Republicans pursued policies that at the time were considered radical. In 1882, the Republican State party convention adopted a platform that supported woman's suffrage. The same convention nominated E.P. McCabe to run for state auditor, an election he won, becoming the first African-American elected to a statewide office outside of reconstruction. He was re-elected in 1884. In 1888, republican Alfred Farifax became the first African-American elected to the state house. In 1887, republican Susanna "Dora" Salter became the first woman elected to an executive position in American history, when she was elected mayor of Argonia.

Republicans vs Populists (1890–1898)Kansas Populism Ideas and Men, O. Jean Clanton, University of Kansas Press (1969)

The political movement called "populism", represented by the People's Party, exploded onto the Kansas political scene in the 1890s. Its primary base were farmers suffering from a combination of bad weather and an economic depression. It took the form of radical agrarianism hostile to banks, railroads, established interests and political parties. Its general political agenda called for a pro-debtor fiscal policy; the abolition of national banks; a graduated income tax; political reform through the direct election of Senators and civil service reform; and regulation of monopoly pricing through Government control of all railroads, telegraphs, and telephones. In the late 1880s, a national farmers advocacy organization, the

Farmers Alliance The Farmers' Alliance was an organized agrarian economic movement among American farmers that developed and flourished ca. 1875. The movement included several parallel but independent political organizations — the National Farmers' Alliance and ...

, grew in influence holding large national conventions. In 1890, through the clever and deft political maneuvering of political operatives, many from Kansas, the Farmer's Alliance became the People's or Populist Party, an organization dedicated to electing its members to office. In the 1890s the Populist movement was extremely successful in Kansas, but its inability to organize for effective legislative action doomed it to failure. The Republican Party responded by effectively countering the People's Party, the organization formed to channel the populist movement. Republicans split the populists on wedge issues such as prohibition and woman's suffrage, questioned the competence of populists to hold elected office, relied on the depth ansd tradition of Republican support among leading citizens; organized the grassroots level through Commercial and Republican Clubs, and partially adopted an agenda that addressed issues raised by the Populists. The result was wide swings in political control between the Populists who partially prevailed in 1890 and 1892; and controlled all state government in 1896 and the Republicans who regained control in 1894 and then permanently defeated the Populists in 1898 and 1900.

=1890 election cycle

= In the 1890 election, the Republicans went from 121 State Representatives to 26, a loss of 95 seats, and from holding all seven Congressional seats to holding two. The Kansas legislature then elected a Populist as U.S. Senator. The Populists probably would have elected a governor also, but a confused effort allowed the Republican candidate to win a plurality of the vote.

=1892 election cycle

= In the 1892 election, the Republicans gained 39 House seats for a total of 65 seats, a bare majority; went from 38 Senate seats to 15; held only two of eight Congressional seats, lost the governorship, and Kansas voted for the Populist presidential candidate. The makeup of the House was disputed resulting in the "Populist War." In the 1893 Session, the Populist members and the Republican members held simultaneous sessions, each claiming to have the majority. The Populist governor called out the militia, but since most of them were Republicans they refused to obey orders. The dispute was resolved by the Supreme Court, which, in a partisan vote, gave the majority to the Republicans.

=1894 election cycle

= In the 1894 election, the Republicans gained 27 more House seats for a total of 92; won seven of eight Congressional seats, and regained the governorship. The Populists, however, still held a majority in the state senate. There were several reasons for this electoral turn-around.Walter T.K. Nugent, How the Populists Lost in 1894, Kansas Historical Quarterly, XXXI (Autumn 1965), at 245–55. First, there was a public backlash to the circus-like antics of the 1893 legislative session. Second, the Populists sought to ease off on prohibition and women's suffrage, splitting their base vote. Last, the Republicans successfully prevented a fusion ticket of Populists and Democrats. Populists were in favor of woman's suffrage while Democrats opposed it. Republican leader Cy Leland convinced the Democrats to run their own gubernatorial candidate splitting the opposition vote.

=1896 election cycle

= In the 1896 election, the Populists and the Democrats merged efforts to form a Fusion Party and the Republicans lost 43 House seats for a total of 49; won only two of eight Congressional seats; lost the Governorship; the legislature elected a Populist to the U.S. Senate seat; and Kansas voted for William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic candidate for president. In August 1896 William Allen White, editor of the Emporia Gazette, wrote his famous editorial "What's the Matter with Kansas" criticizing the Populist movement.

=1898 election cycle

= In the 1898 election, the Republicans regained power, gaining 43 House seats for a total of 92; won seven of eight Congressional seats; and won the governorship, when William Stanley defeated populist incumbent John Leedy. Mort Albaugh, chairman of the Republican State Committee, was responsible for organizing the Republican effort that overthrew the Populist movement in Kansas. As a final step, the Republicans won a large majority in the 1900 State Senate election. The Populists, as a political organization, faded away after 1898 but their ideas and the issues that provoked this political uprising remained.

=1900 election cycle

= In 1900, the Republicans finished their restoration to power by winning seven of eight Congressional districts, the Governor and all statewides, and a majority in the state Senate and state House. In the 1901 session, with control of both houses of the legislature, the Republicans legislatively prevented future fusion tickets between Populists and Democrats by prohibiting any person to "accept more than one nomination for the same office" and that "the name of each candidate shall be printed on the ballot once and no more."

Standpatters vs Insurgents: progressive period (1900–1918)

The Kansas Republican Party that emerged in 1900 from the Populist period was a changed organization. The new reality was that it could no longer rely on "waving the bloody shirt," that is recalling the Civil War period, as most voters no longer had personal experience with War. Moreover, the demographic and economic make-up of Kansas was changing, creating new political issues and new constituencies—changes that fueled the Populist movement, were still strong in Kansas, and that Republicans needed to address. The Republicans successfully met the challenge of this new environment. From the 1900 to 1910 elections, Republicans won every gubernatorial and U.S. Senate election, 47 of 48 Congressional elections and solid majorities in the Kansas House and Senate. The major characteristic of Kansas political history during this period was reform agitation through factional maneuvering within the Republican Party, not, as in the 1890s, by third party political movements. Although this period was named the Progressive Era, there was no distinctive philosophy or body or principles that guided political activities. Instead, recombinations of factions within the republican party were the distinctive characteristic of the time, throughout all of which expansion of governmental services and responsibilities was the rule

=The factions

= There were several factions in the Republican Party that competed for power. During the 1900 and 1902 elections the two main factions were the "Machine," "Bosses," or "Old Crowd", of Cy Leland, Mort Albaugh, and future U.S. Senator

Chester Long Chester Isaiah Long (October 12, 1860July 1, 1934) was a United States representative and Senator from Kansas. Born in Greenwood Township, Pennsylvania, he moved with his parents to Daviess County, Missouri, in 1865 and to Paola, Kansas, in 187 ...

, which fought for control with the "Young Crowd", which also called itself the "Boss Busters," of future U.S. Senator

Joseph R. Burton Joseph Ralph Burton (November 16, 1852February 27, 1923) was a lawyer and United States Senator from the state of Kansas. He was the first Senator to be convicted of a crime. He served in the Kansas House of Representatives several times in the 18 ...

, David Mulvane, and future U.S. Senator and Vice President Charles Curtis. In the 1904 election,

Walter Stubbs Walter Roscoe Stubbs (November 7, 1858 March 25, 1929) was an American businessman who served as the 18th Governor of Kansas. Stubbs, a progressive Republican, was known for his prohibitionist beliefs, as well as for having signed the nation's ...

, future Governor, was elected to the state House and joined the Boss Buster faction. In 1906, when faction leader U.S. Senator Joseph Burton was convicted and forced to resign, his faction broke in two. One group, including Charles Curtis, joined the machine faction and together became known as the stand-patters or "regulars." The other group became the progressives, strong supporters of President Roosevelt, often called Square Dealers and included future Governors

Edward Hoch Edward Dentinger Hoch (February 22, 1930 – January 17, 2008) was an American writer of detective fiction. Although he wrote several novels, he was primarily known for his vast output of over 950 short stories. Biography Hoch (pronounced ...

and

Walter Stubbs Walter Roscoe Stubbs (November 7, 1858 March 25, 1929) was an American businessman who served as the 18th Governor of Kansas. Stubbs, a progressive Republican, was known for his prohibitionist beliefs, as well as for having signed the nation's ...

, U.S. Senator Joseph Bristow, Congressmen Edmond Madison and

Victor Murdock Victor Murdock (March 18, 1871 – July 8, 1945) was an American politician and newspaper editor who served as a U.S. Representative from Kansas. Life Victor Murdock was born March 18, 1871, in Burlingame, Kansas to Marshall Murdock, editor of ...

, and journalists like William Allen White. In the 1908 and 1910 elections, the Progressives and Standpatters intensely competed for power and election issues become more intertwined with national politics. The primary election process, first used in 1908, allowed progressives to take over, ousting U.S. Senator

Chester Long Chester Isaiah Long (October 12, 1860July 1, 1934) was a United States representative and Senator from Kansas. Born in Greenwood Township, Pennsylvania, he moved with his parents to Daviess County, Missouri, in 1865 and to Paola, Kansas, in 187 ...

in 1908, and defeating four standpatter congressmen in the 1910 primary elections. The rivalry became so intense that in the 1912 election, Progressives and Standpatters split over presidential electors and the Republican candidates were swept from power by the democrats. In 1913, some progressives, including William Allen White, Henry Allen, and

Victor Murdock Victor Murdock (March 18, 1871 – July 8, 1945) was an American politician and newspaper editor who served as a U.S. Representative from Kansas. Life Victor Murdock was born March 18, 1871, in Burlingame, Kansas to Marshall Murdock, editor of ...

formed a separate Progressive Party. Other progressives like U.S. Senator Joseph Bristow and future Goveronor and U.S. Senator

Arthur Capper Arthur Capper (July 14, 1865 – December 19, 1951) was an American politician from Kansas. He was the 20th governor of Kansas (the first born in the state) from 1915 to 1919 and a United States senator from 1919 to 1949. He also owned a radio ...

refuse to break with the Republican Party. In the 1914 election the Progressive candidates lost across the board to Republican candidates who returned to power throughout Kansas. Younger members who later rose to prominence included governor and presidential candidate Alf Landon and governor and U.S. Senator Clyde Reed. Younger progressive members who later rose to prominence included governor and presidential candidate Alf Landon and governor and U.S. Senator Clyde Reed. Progressives sought to solve problems that flowed from the new industrialized order, targeting giant corporations and corrupt political bosses who they felt had stolen America from its people. They viewed government intervention on behalf of the people as their primary tool of reform. They sought to use government power to limit the concentrated economic power of large business monopolies like the railroads and Standard Oil. They pushed for more direct grassroots involvement in government, favoring, for instance, primary elections over convention-nominated candidates to minimize the influence of political bosses, recall elections, lobbyist reform, campaign finance reporting, and civil service reform to reduce political patronage. They generally favored the use of government power to improve public morality favoring, for instance, strict prohibition, banning cigarettes, and restricting dancing. They tried to use government power to improve public health by implementing modern scientific techniques. Last, they adopted scientific management techniques from business to modernize government to make it more efficient and effective. A third group of Republicans were grassroots organizations that focused on contemporary social issues like prohibition, Carrie Nation and her hatchet attacks on saloons were emblematic of this group, or woman's suffrage. In 1912, with the support of all parts of the Republican Party, and partially as a way to strengthen the prohibition movement, the Kansas Constitution was amended to give women the right to vote.

=1900–1908 election cycles

= In 1900, the Insurgents controlled the state party convention and William Stanley was again elected governor. In 1902 the Old Guard was back in control, and Willis Bailey was elected governor. In 1904 and 1906, the Insurgents regained control of the state party convention and

Edward W. Hoch Edward Wallis Hoch (March 17, 1849 – June 1, 1925) was an American newspaper editor, politician and the 17th Governor of Kansas. Hoch Auditoria at the University of Kansas was named after him. Biography Hoch was born in Danville, Kentucky. H ...

was elected and re-elected governor. Primary elections were adopted in a special legislative session in January 1908 and the first primary election held in August 1908. In 1908,

Walter Stubbs Walter Roscoe Stubbs (November 7, 1858 March 25, 1929) was an American businessman who served as the 18th Governor of Kansas. Stubbs, a progressive Republican, was known for his prohibitionist beliefs, as well as for having signed the nation's ...

was elected governor and Joseph Bristow, a progressive, was elected to the U.S. Senate after defeating incumbent establishment Republican

Chester Long Chester Isaiah Long (October 12, 1860July 1, 1934) was a United States representative and Senator from Kansas. Born in Greenwood Township, Pennsylvania, he moved with his parents to Daviess County, Missouri, in 1865 and to Paola, Kansas, in 187 ...

in the first primary. Inb the 1910 primary progressives challenged all seven Congressman and unseated four.

=1910 election cycle

= In August 1910, factionalism reached new intensity and there were fierce primary battles for every federal and statewide office. The 1910 Congressional general election slate went from six "Regulars" and two "Insurgents" to two "Regulars" and six "Insurgents." One commentator observed: "Kansas fired a shot that will be heard around the country. The prairies are afire with insurgency. What does it profit a StandPat Congressman if he saves his face in Washington and loses his hide in Kansas?"

Walter Stubbs Walter Roscoe Stubbs (November 7, 1858 March 25, 1929) was an American businessman who served as the 18th Governor of Kansas. Stubbs, a progressive Republican, was known for his prohibitionist beliefs, as well as for having signed the nation's ...

won re-election as governor.

=1912 election cycle – fractured party

= In 1912, factionalism exacerbated by the national

Howard Taft William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857March 8, 1930) was the 27th president of the United States (1909–1913) and the tenth chief justice of the United States (1921–1930), the only person to have held both offices. Taft was elected pre ...

–

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

split, caused the two Kansas Republican factions to split the party with members of the Insurgent faction running their own candidates in some elections in opposition to the Kansas Republican Party's official candidate. Many Republican voters did not vote, resulting in lower voter turnout than in 1908. As a result, the Republicans lost the gubernatorial race, by 29 votes, lost control of the State Senate and House, and lost five of eight Congressional seats. Democratic presidential candidate

Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...

won Kansas. Former Governor

Walter Stubbs Walter Roscoe Stubbs (November 7, 1858 March 25, 1929) was an American businessman who served as the 18th Governor of Kansas. Stubbs, a progressive Republican, was known for his prohibitionist beliefs, as well as for having signed the nation's ...

defeated incumbent U.S. Senator Charles Curtis in the primary election, but then lost to the Democrat in the general election. In December, some Kansas Republicans attended a meeting in Chicago to form a separate Progressive Party.

=1914 and 1916 election cycles, party reuniting

= In 1914, most of the Progressive faction rejoined the Kansas Republican Party, although some, like Henry Allen, broke away and joined a new, separate "Progressive Party". As a result, in 1914 the Republicans regained control of the House. In 1916, after the break-away progressives rejoined republican ranks, the Republicans regained control of the State Senate and won seven of eight Congressional seats.

Arthur Capper Arthur Capper (July 14, 1865 – December 19, 1951) was an American politician from Kansas. He was the 20th governor of Kansas (the first born in the state) from 1915 to 1919 and a United States senator from 1919 to 1949. He also owned a radio ...

, a former newspaper editor and member of the progressive faction, was elected governor in 1914 and again in 1916 (he had lost in 1912) and brought the two factions together. Governor Capper gained support from the grassroots by making Kansas a "bone-dry" state (no alcoholic beverages at all). He gained support from the establishment by imposing fiscally conservative policies such as paying off all state debt in 1916. He retained support from progressives by signing, for example, legislation strengthening Blue Sky securities laws and workers compensation. He was the first governor to describe government reforms using business concepts such as being in favor of "modern scientific business methods, in the elimination of useless positions and requiring the highest efficiency on the part of every public servant" and noted that the burden of taxation had "increased at an alarming rate without commensurate benefit to the public."

=Campaign operations

= In the 1918 gubernatorial campaign, the Republican candidate, Henry Allen, was still in France. His campaign manager, Harvey H. Motter of Wichita, a traveling salesman, decided, through necessity, to forego the traditional campaign of personal visits by the candidate and campaigning through surrogates – prominent local citizens – and instead relied on networks of local volunteers and numerous local contributions. The new campaign style succeeded and was copied by future candidates of both parties.

Optimism, prosperity and the new conservatives (1918–1930)

Throughout the 1920s, Kansans held an optimistic belief that the material aspects of life were steadily improving, evidenced by, for instance, higher incomes, higher crop yields, science, industry, better roads, schools, more efficient farming, electricity, and cars. They believed that thrift, self-sufficiency and wholesome living were keys to this success. Republicans positioned themselves as the party of the proud past and the architects of the current and future prosperity. They were the party of prosperity, good roads, child welfare, and public safety, with necessary periodic reforms of government to keep taxes low and programs effective. The voters agreed with this proposition. Between 1918 and 1930, Republicans held the governorship for all but one term, their majority in the State Senate never dropped below 30 and was as high as 37 of 40 seats, in the Kansas House the number of Republicans was never below 90 and was as high as 113 of 125 seats. Republicans held at least seven of the eight Congressional seats every election and held both U.S. Senate seats. Among several reforms enacted in the 1920s were government funded kindergarten, creation of the Board of Regents, and, after a major political battle, a constitutional amendment in 1928 that allowed the state government to pay for a highway system. Until then, roads and other internal improvements were county and township responsibilities. In the 1920s, the party still consisted of two factions, usually labeled conservative and progressive, which manifested itself in gubernatorial election politics. Between 1904 and 1920, all Republican governor candidates had come from the progressive wing. But a new generation of conservatives entered Kansas politics, most World War One veterans and members of the American Legion. John D. M. Hamilton,

Clifford R. Hope Clifford Ragsdale Hope (June 9, 1893 – May 16, 1970) was a U.S. Representative from Kansas, and a member of the Republican Party. Born in Birmingham, Iowa, Hope attended public schools and Nebraska Wesleyan University, in Lincoln, Nebraska. ...

, and Frank "Chief" Haucke were representative members of this new group who challenged the older progressive politicians. In the 1918 and 1920 elections, Henry Allen, a progressive, was elected governor. In 1922, after a 7-way primary, the Republican candidate was conservative William Y. Morgan. He lost to the Democratic candidate, a victim of a severe farm recession and probable desertion of some progressive Republican voters. In 1924, conservative Benjamin Paulen beat out progressives Clyde Reed and former Governor

Walter Stubbs Walter Roscoe Stubbs (November 7, 1858 March 25, 1929) was an American businessman who served as the 18th Governor of Kansas. Stubbs, a progressive Republican, was known for his prohibitionist beliefs, as well as for having signed the nation's ...

to win the nomination. Paulen went on to win the governorship defeating both the Democrat and William Allen White, who ran as an independent attacking the Ku Klux Klan. Paulen was re-elected easily in 1926. In 1928, Clyde Reed, a progressive, won out in a 6-way primary, with his closest opponent being John D. M. Hamilton, a young conservative war veteran and Speaker of the House. In 1930, as the depression began, Governor Clyde Reed was defeated in the primary by Frank Hauke, a young conservative war veteran and head of the American Legion, who was supported by David Mulvane, John D. M. Hamilton, John W. Breyfogle, and William Y. Morgan. Hauke lost the gubernatorial race to the Democratic candidate by 200 votes, in a race that also included

John R. Brinkley John Romulus Brinkley (later John Richard Brinkley; July 8, 1885 – May 26, 1942) was an American quack. He had no properly accredited education as a physician and bought his medical degree from a "diploma mill". Brinkley became known as the ...

, the "goat gland doctor", running as an independent. Alf Landon, future governor and presidential candidate, started firmly in the progressive camp, helping the Allen and White campaigns, and serving as Reed's campaign manager in 1928, but by the end of the 1920s had become disenchanted with progressive ideology.McCoy, Donald R., Landon of Kansas, University of Nebraska Press (1966), at 45.

Role of the party chair

In the first half of the twentieth century, the state party chair was elected every two years at the state party convention, which was held two weeks after the primary. The accepted practice was that the Republican gubernatorial candidate selected the chair, who was elected and then served as the campaign manager for the governor's campaign. The chair would raise funds, accompany the candidate, and work with county chairs to turn out the vote. Once the campaign ended, the state party chair became a de facto assistant governor, fending off job seekers, coordinating state and federal patronage, serving as a liaison with legislators and party officials, and gathering political intelligence to help the legislative program. At this time the legislature met every two years, in the non-election year. In January of the election year, candidates would network and announce their candidacies at the Kansas Day social events in Topeka, an event the party chair would attend. This would initiate the primary election campaigns and the cycle would start again.

Depression and the New Deal (1930–1936)

The stock market crash of October 1929 marked the start of the decade-long economic downturn known as the Great Depression, which took hold in Kansas between the 1930 and 1932 elections. Kansas voters concluded that the Republican agenda of rigorous austerity in government, cutting government size, and reducing taxes was not working and needed to be supplemented by other programs – programs of the type offered by the national Democrats. Between 1930 and 1938 the Kansas Republican Party sustained a period of political decline. Republicans lost the governorship in 1930 and 1936. Alf Landon, elected governor in 1932, had managed to balance the state's budget and to be re-elected in 1934, the only Republican governor in the nation re-elected. On that basis he became the Republican presidential candidate for 1936, but lost his home state in the election. A Democrat won a special election and in 1932 was re-elected as U.S. Senator. The Republicans held four of the seven Congressional seats in 1932–36. In the State House, Republicans dropped from 101 representatives after the 1928 election to between 65 and 75 seats, a bare majority. In the Senate, they dropped from 37 seats to 26 seats in 1932 and 24 seats in 1936. In response, Kansas Republicans changed to reflect the popular will and adopted more expansive government-backed economic agenda, while maintaining strict prohibition, even after national prohibition was removed in 1932. Landon, a self-described "pragmatic progressive", demonstrated the Kansas Republican Party's capacity to adapt to the new realities of the Depression and remain the majority party. Some of the reforms instituted by Republicans were passage of a state income tax in 1933, passage of a state sales tax in 1937, and requiring all local government entities to use a standard accounting and auditing system. In 1937 women were added to the statutory party structure by the addition of three provisions: (1) each precinct would now elect one precinct committeewoman in addition to the committeeman, (2) county, district and state committees would now elect a vice-chair, in addition to the chair, secretary and treasurer, with the requirement that the chair and vice-chair be of opposite gender, and (3) the National Committeewoman was added to the party council. This was codified in KS Statute 25-221, with the opposite gender requirement at 25-221a.

Alf Landon and the Republican establishment (1938–1955)

After the loss of the Governor's race in 1936 and wanting a solid anti-New Deal front, the Republican gathering for the 1937 Kansas Day became a major planning session to regroup and reorganize the party. The leaders of this effort turned the tide and then ran the party for the next 15 years. Prominent behind-the-scenes players included Dane G. Hansen of Logan, Harry Darby (future national committeeman and U.S. Senator) and Lacy Haynes (prominent writer for the K.C. Star) of Kansas City, Harm Voss of Downs, Walter Fees (future party chair) of Iola, Dick Robbins of Pratt, Lester McCoy of Garden City, and Jess Harper of Sitka.Jones, Billy M.; Dane Gray Hansen Titan of Northwest Kansas 1883-1965, Ctr of Business Admin Wichita State University (1982), at 139 Other leaders of the rejuvenation were Blake Williamson, Ed Boddington, and Art Stanley from Kansas City; Dolph Simons, Sr. (owner of the Lawrence newspaper), and Charles Stowe of Lawrence; Drew McLaughlin of Paola; Senator Harris from Ottawa; Watson Marple of Fort Scott; W.R. Hagman of Pittsburg; Mrs. Effie Semple (future national committeewoman) of Columbus; Rolla Clymer, Dick Woodward, and Gale Moss of Eldorado; Ernie Shawver,

Edward F. Arn Edward Ferdinand Arn (May 19, 1906 – January 22, 1998) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 32nd governor of Kansas from 1951 to 1955. A member of the Republican Party, he previously was the 31st attorney general of Kansas ...

(future governor), Pat Patterson, George A. Brown, and Wash Loston of Wichita; Stewart Newlin of Sumner County; Kirke E. Dale and George Templar of Arkansas City; Wes Roberts (future party chair) of Oskaloosa; Paul Wunsch (future state senate president pro tem) of Kingman; Wayne Rogler of Chase County; Hugh Edwards of Eureka; Jess Denious of Dodge City; Lester McCoy and Cap Burtis of Garden City; Ernie Briles of Stafford; Andrew Frank Schoeppel (future governor and U.S. Senator) of Ness City; Congressman Frank Carlson (future governor and U.S. Senator) and Edward Burge of Concordia;

McDill "Huck" Boyd McDill "Huck" Boyd (April 17, 1907 – January 9, 1987) was a noted small-town newspaper publisher in Phillipsburg, Kansas, United States, and twice a candidate for governor of that state. Journalism career Boyd for decades was the publisher o ...

(future national committeeman) of Phillipsburg;

Wint Smith Wint Smith (October 7, 1892 – April 27, 1976) was a U.S. Representative from Kansas from 1947 to 1961. Biography Born in Mankato, Kansas, Smith attended a public school and graduated from Mankato High School. During the First World War he se ...

(future Congressman) of Mankato; Henry Buzik of Sylvan Grove; Ben Bernie of Hill City; Tuffy Lutz of Sharon Springs; Frank "Chief" Haucke of Council Grove; Warren Shaw, Mark Bennett and Harry Crane (future party chair) of Topeka; Casey Jones of Olathe; Jay Parker of Hill City; Ross Beach, Murray Eddy and Ed Flood of Hays; Charles Cushing of Downs;

Albert M. Cole Albert McDonald Cole (October 13, 1901 – June 5, 1994) was a U.S. Representative from Kansas. Born in Moberly, Missouri, Cole moved to Topeka, Kansas, in 1909. He attended the grade schools of Topeka, Kansas, Sabetha (Kansas) High Schoo ...

of Jackson County (later 1st District Congressman); William Beck of Holton; Dick Becker of Coffeyville; John Wall of Sedan; Charles Arbuthnot of Lebanon; C.I. Moyer (future party chair) of Doniphan County; Lloyd Ruppenthal (future party chair) and Adrian Smith of McPherson; Lee Larabee of Liberal; Roy Smith of Edmund, O.O. Osborne of Stockton; and August Lauterbach of Colby. By November 1938, Kansas voters were disenchanted with the distant aggregation of power in Washington and the marked tendency of urban dwellers on the east coast to belittle Kansas, referring to it as "backward," "unprogressive," "unsophisticated," and "antediluvian." While some parts of the country continued to support the New Deal, the common opinion in Kansas was to view it as a wasteful intrusion of government bureaucracy by arrogant and ignorant easterners. An October 1938 poll indicated that 59% of Kansans disapproved of Roosevelt. This feeling burst out in the 1938 elections where Republicans regained the U.S. Senate seat, when former Governor Clyde M. Reed defeated the Democratic incumbent, won six of seven Congressional seats, and went from 74 seats to 107 of the 125 seats in the Kansas House. In the 1940 election Republicans went from 24 to 35 of the 40 seats in the Kansas Senate. Throughout the 1940s and early 1950s Republicans firmly controlled Kansas Government. Every Governor was Republican and won re-election:

Payne Ratner Payne Harry Ratner (October 3, 1896 – December 27, 1974) was an American lawyer serving as the 28th governor of Kansas from 1939 to 1943. Biography Born in Casey, Illinois, Ratner graduated from Blackwell High School in Oklahoma. During Wo ...

(1938 and 1940 elections), Andrew Frank Schoeppel (1942 and 1944 elections); Frank Carlson (1946 and 1948 elections), and

Edward F. Arn Edward Ferdinand Arn (May 19, 1906 – January 22, 1998) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 32nd governor of Kansas from 1951 to 1955. A member of the Republican Party, he previously was the 31st attorney general of Kansas ...

(1950 and 1952 elections). After U.S. Senator Clyde M. Reed died in office on 1949, Henry Darby was appointed to finish the term and former Governor Frank Carlson was elected in 1950 as U.S. Senator and went on to serve three complete terms, before retiring. U.S. Senator

Arthur Capper Arthur Capper (July 14, 1865 – December 19, 1951) was an American politician from Kansas. He was the 20th governor of Kansas (the first born in the state) from 1915 to 1919 and a United States senator from 1919 to 1949. He also owned a radio ...

, having served five full terms was succeeded by former Governor

Andrew Schoeppel Andrew Frank Schoeppel (November 23, 1894 – January 21, 1962) was an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was the 29th governor of Kansas from 1943 to 1947 and a U.S. Senator from 1949 until his death. He was born in 1 ...

who won the 1948 election and served two complete terms before dying in office during his third term. In the State House, of the 125 seats Republicans always held between 90 and 107 seats; in the State Senate, of the 40 seats, Republicans held between 34 and 39 seats. This smooth continuity was the result of intense behind-the-scenes efforts by party leaders to achieve consensus. Alf Landon, as governor from 1932 to 1935, and presidential candidate in 1936, was a national Republican leader and, until 1948, generally controlled the Kansas Republican party.McCoy, Donald, Landon of Kansas, University of Nebraska(1966) He backed

Payne Ratner Payne Harry Ratner (October 3, 1896 – December 27, 1974) was an American lawyer serving as the 28th governor of Kansas from 1939 to 1943. Biography Born in Casey, Illinois, Ratner graduated from Blackwell High School in Oklahoma. During Wo ...

,

Andrew Schoeppel Andrew Frank Schoeppel (November 23, 1894 – January 21, 1962) was an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was the 29th governor of Kansas from 1943 to 1947 and a U.S. Senator from 1949 until his death. He was born in 1 ...

and his former campaign manager, Frank Carlson for governor, as well as Clyde M. Reed for U.S. Senator in 1938 and 1944. He was the Kansas Republican national convention delegation leader in 1940 and 1944 and selected the delegation's members. Landon, however, was challenged by

Andrew Schoeppel Andrew Frank Schoeppel (November 23, 1894 – January 21, 1962) was an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was the 29th governor of Kansas from 1943 to 1947 and a U.S. Senator from 1949 until his death. He was born in 1 ...

who announced that in 1948 he would run for U.S. Senate against Landon's choice, the aging

Arthur Capper Arthur Capper (July 14, 1865 – December 19, 1951) was an American politician from Kansas. He was the 20th governor of Kansas (the first born in the state) from 1915 to 1919 and a United States senator from 1919 to 1949. He also owned a radio ...

. This dispute resulted in a fracture in the state party, with many of Landon's former supporters refusing to back Capper. In January 1948, the state party central committee changed the rules for selecting national delegates in a way that diminished Landon's influence, resulting in only six of the 18 delegates being Landon supporters. Harry Darby, an

Andrew Schoeppel Andrew Frank Schoeppel (November 23, 1894 – January 21, 1962) was an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was the 29th governor of Kansas from 1943 to 1947 and a U.S. Senator from 1949 until his death. He was born in 1 ...

supporter, was re-elected national committeeman and elected chair of the delegation. Senator

Arthur Capper Arthur Capper (July 14, 1865 – December 19, 1951) was an American politician from Kansas. He was the 20th governor of Kansas (the first born in the state) from 1915 to 1919 and a United States senator from 1919 to 1949. He also owned a radio ...

, aged 83, then decided not to file for re-election and Landon was left without direct political power, but remained an elder statesman for years.

"Young Turk" insurgents (1952–1960)

=Emergence of the Young Turks

= The 1952 election saw the emergence of a new Republican faction – the "Young Turks" – which included state senator and future Governor

John Anderson John Anderson may refer to: Business *John Anderson (Scottish businessman) (1747–1820), Scottish merchant and founder of Fermoy, Ireland * John Byers Anderson (1817–1897), American educator, military officer and railroad executive, mentor of ...

; Lieutenant Governor and future Governor Fred Hall; Senator John Woelk; Senator William Weygand; Senator John Crutcher (Hutchinson), future state party chair and U.S. Senator James Pearson; Representative John Glades; and future state party chair Donald Schnacke.Beatty, Bob, "For the Benefit of the People" A Conversation with Former Governor John Anderson Jr." Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains 30 (Winter 2007/2008: 252–269.Frederick Seaton, The Man in the Middle, the Career of Senator James B. Pearson, Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains 34 ((Winter 2011-2012) 296–315. They took on the "Old Guard" establishment, which included Governor

Edward Arn Edward Ferdinand Arn (May 19, 1906 – January 22, 1998) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 32nd governor of Kansas from 1951 to 1955. A member of the Republican Party, he previously was the 31st attorney general of Kansas ...

, U.S. Senator Frank Carlson, U.S. Senator Andrew Schoeppel, Congressman Ed Reese, Wesley Roberts, Senator Steadman Ball, Senator Paul Wunsch (who was President Pro Tem of the Senate from 1949 to 1964),

McDill "Huck" Boyd McDill "Huck" Boyd (April 17, 1907 – January 9, 1987) was a noted small-town newspaper publisher in Phillipsburg, Kansas, United States, and twice a candidate for governor of that state. Journalism career Boyd for decades was the publisher o ...

, and Harry Darby (National Committeeman from 1940 to 1964), and who controlled the patronage system and party structure. The Young Turks resented the perceived abuses of patronage, political deal-making, and cronyism as well as the power county party chairs had to control patronage and influence elections. A common motivation was to "clean-up the mess in Topeka."Lee, R. Alton, The Triple Switch: How the Missouri Plan Came to Kansas, The Journal of the Kansas Bar Association, January 2004, 28–37. Fred Hall was elected lieutenant governor in 1950 and again in 1952, defeating Wayne Ryan a veteran senator and friend of Governor Arn. In 1954, Hall was elected governor, beating Old Guard candidate George Templar. He did not owe his election success to the party establishment, clashed with, and refused to work with party leaders. Exacerbating this new factional fighting, was President Eisenhower's January 1953 appointment of C. Wesley Roberts as chair of the Republican National committee. Roberts was a Kansas newspaperman, former Kansas state party chair, U.S. Senator Frank Carlson's 1950 campaign manager, and an old-fashioned party loyalist who could work the patronage system. A KC Star article, however, exposed that Roberts possibly improperly took money to transfer property to the state and he resigned, giving the Young Turks more ammunition in their fight with the establishment. The effects of these disputes were felt in the 1954 election where the Republican hold on the Kansas House dropped from 105 to 89 seats. The 1954 election was also the first to make use of political advertising on television.

=1956 election cycle

= As resistance to Governor Hall grew, he sought to control the party structure. The state chair, Lloyd Ruppenthal, had been his campaign manager and a supporter, but fought Hall's attempts to take control of state patronage away from county chairs, supporting the traditional power of county chairs to control patronage. Hall sought to oust National Committeeman Harry Darby and control the delegates going to the 1956 National Convention. The State Convention, however, re-elected Darby as National Committeeman and Mrs. Semple as National Committeewoman – breaking tradition by doing it before the convention. They also elected chair Ruppenthal as a delegate, and he refused Governor Hall's demand that Ruppenthal resign as state chair. In the 1956 legislative session, the Republican legislature passed Right-to-Work legislation only to have Governor Hall veto it. The Republican State Committee passed a resolution supporting "Right to Work", condemning the governor for his veto. Hall was soundly defeated in the 1956 primary by Clyde Reed Jr., which was particularly vitriolic in tone. This helped Democrat George Docking win the governorship in the 1956 election. In January 1957, with two weeks left in his governor's term, Hall resigned and his former lieutenant governor, now governor, John McCuish, appointed Hall to a recent Kansas Supreme Court vacancy. This insider crony deal became known as the "Triple Play" and brought more embarrassment to the Republican Party.

=1958 election cycle

= Republican dominance continued to decline with the 1958 election. George Docking became the first two-term Democratic governor in Kansas history. There were several reasons for this –serious intra-Republican factional fighting distracted the party, the right-to-work Constitutional amendment was on the ballot in 1958 which galvanized Democratic turnout, demographic changes undercut the Republican base resulting in fewer farms and a decline in rural population, growth of larger towns and cities; and an economic shift towards non-agricultural trade and industry. Additionally, George Docking successfully positioned himself as more fiscally conservative than his Republican opponents, defining himself as a stringent fiscal conservative, seeking fiscal sanity, supporter of law and order, but a social moderate. In 1958, Docking campaigned on repealing the 0.5% increase in the state sales tax enacted by the Republican legislature. Of the six Congressional seats, the Democrats picked up two new seats, splitting the delegation – three to three. Republicans lost 14 seats in the Kansas House, leaving them with just 69 out of 125 seats. The voters of Kansas, however, remained conservative in outlook. In 1958, despite opposition from Democrats, unions, some clergy, university professors, and Governor Docking, Kansas voters approved a constitutional Right-To-Work Amendment, a proposition rejected by many other states.

=1960 election cycle

= In 1960,

John Anderson John Anderson may refer to: Business *John Anderson (Scottish businessman) (1747–1820), Scottish merchant and founder of Fermoy, Ireland * John Byers Anderson (1817–1897), American educator, military officer and railroad executive, mentor of ...

, one of the Young Turks, was elected governor, defeating

McDill "Huck" Boyd McDill "Huck" Boyd (April 17, 1907 – January 9, 1987) was a noted small-town newspaper publisher in Phillipsburg, Kansas, United States, and twice a candidate for governor of that state. Journalism career Boyd for decades was the publisher o ...

, the party establishment's candidate, in the primary and Democrat George Docking, trying for a third term, in the general. This victory restored Republican control and consolidated a generational shift to new Republican leadership. The Republicans continued to hold both U.S. Senate seats, five of six Congressional seats, a gain of two, 32 State Senate seats, and gained 13 seats in the House. Anderson's campaign manager, James Pearson, became the State Party chair. The 1960 election was when

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

was first elected to Congress with the support of his mentor

McDill "Huck" Boyd McDill "Huck" Boyd (April 17, 1907 – January 9, 1987) was a noted small-town newspaper publisher in Phillipsburg, Kansas, United States, and twice a candidate for governor of that state. Journalism career Boyd for decades was the publisher o ...

and Dane Hansen, in the Sixth District – northwest Kansas.

Social changes and an expanding federal government (1960–1974)

In the 1960s, new issues came to the forefront – the Vietnam War, international communism, government's expanded role in social welfare, changing sexual morality and gender relations, and civil rights for minorities. Throughout the 1960s, the Republican Party maintained a working majority in state government. They held both U.S. Senate seats, almost always held all five Congressional seats, held majorities in both legislative chambers, with around 85 seats in the House and 30 seats in the Senate. Republicans won the governorship in the 1960, 1962, and 1964 elections, but lost it in 1966, 1968, and 1970. One of the contributing factors to the loss in 1966 was the magnitude of change achieved by the Republican administrations in the first half of the decade. The state school system was completely re-engineered with thousands of school districts consolidated, a new State School Board created, and a new educational finance system created. Redistricting, based on one-man, one-vote, became a major topic in the legislature. To pay for the education reforms, state income tax withholding was imposed and the state sales tax was increased. There were also a plethora of social issues before the legislature including birth control, civil rights, and fair housing.

=1964 election cycle - first conservative insurgency

= In the Kansas Republican party, a new Conservative faction emerged that was inspired by Arizona Senator

Barry Goldwater Barry Morris Goldwater (January 2, 1909 – May 29, 1998) was an American politician and United States Air Force officer who was a five-term U.S. Senator from Arizona (1953–1965, 1969–1987) and the Republican Party nominee for presiden ...

. This faction, taking the approach of other insurgent factions, recruited new precinct leaders and managed to gain working control of the state party by 1964. The part of Goldwater's message that resonated with many Kansans Republicans was ineffective and wasteful big government programs and interference in the marketplace. It was similar to the message articulated by

Arthur Capper Arthur Capper (July 14, 1865 – December 19, 1951) was an American politician from Kansas. He was the 20th governor of Kansas (the first born in the state) from 1915 to 1919 and a United States senator from 1919 to 1949. He also owned a radio ...

and Alf Landon in the 1930s. The arguments, however, were now stronger, with much higher taxes and much large social welfare programs. Goldwater's national supporters included

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

and

Phyllis Schlafly Phyllis Stewart Schlafly (; born Phyllis McAlpin Stewart; August 15, 1924 – September 5, 2016) was an American attorney, conservative activist, author, and anti-feminist spokesperson for the national conservative movement. She held paleocons ...

. Republican leadership in Kansas was split on the Presidential choice for 1964. At the April 1964 party convention in Topeka, Governor

John Anderson John Anderson may refer to: Business *John Anderson (Scottish businessman) (1747–1820), Scottish merchant and founder of Fermoy, Ireland * John Byers Anderson (1817–1897), American educator, military officer and railroad executive, mentor of ...

and Senator James Pearson supported

Nelson Rockefeller Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (July 8, 1908 – January 26, 1979), sometimes referred to by his nickname Rocky, was an American businessman and politician who served as the 41st vice president of the United States from 1974 to 1977. A member of t ...

, Congressman

Clifford Hope Clifford Ragsdale Hope (June 9, 1893 – May 16, 1970) was a U.S. Representative from Kansas, and a member of the Republican Party. Born in Birmingham, Iowa, Hope attended public schools and Nebraska Wesleyan University, in Lincoln, Nebraska. ...

favored

Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (July 5, 1902 – February 27, 1985) was an American diplomat and Republican United States senator from Massachusetts in both Senate seats in non-consecutive terms of service and a United States ambassador. He was considered ...

, Congressman

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

and conservative business leader Gorden Greb supported Goldwater. The Kansas Republican Party delegates threw their support to Goldwater. In an unprecedented move, the party denied its own governor,

John Anderson John Anderson may refer to: Business *John Anderson (Scottish businessman) (1747–1820), Scottish merchant and founder of Fermoy, Ireland * John Byers Anderson (1817–1897), American educator, military officer and railroad executive, mentor of ...

, a position as a voting delegate to the

1964 Republican National Convention The 1964 Republican National Convention took place in the Cow Palace, Daly City, California, from July 13 to July 16, 1964. Before 1964, there had been only one national Republican convention on the West Coast, the 1956 Republican National Conven ...

held in San Francisco, and described as the ugliest since 1912, as entrenched moderates faced off against conservative insurgents. In an era in which a national consensus seemed to have coalesced around advancing civil rights, containing Communism and expanding government, the moderates believed they had to win to preserve the Republican Party. The conservatives wanted to contain the role of the federal government and roll back Communism.

Barry Goldwater Barry Morris Goldwater (January 2, 1909 – May 29, 1998) was an American politician and United States Air Force officer who was a five-term U.S. Senator from Arizona (1953–1965, 1969–1987) and the Republican Party nominee for presiden ...

did not win the Kansas Presidential vote in 1964, but he won a substantial minority (45%). His loss motivated his core supporters to create a distinctively conservative voice in Kansas, but after 1964, the conservative faction lost some support. The average Kansas voter had contradictory feelings on federal programs. While they voiced support for individual self-sufficiency and attacked government interference and high taxes, they took full advantage of social security and medicare for the elderly, farm subsidies, small business loans, and road and community development funding. The 1964 Kansas Republican Governor's primary, which chose Governor Anderson's successor, was probably the most "power-packed" in state history.Bob Beatty, "You Have to Like People" A Conversation with Former Governor William H. Avery, Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains 31 (Spring 2008): 48–67, at 59, n.18. There were eight candidates with six being political powers: William Avery, Congressman, who won the primary and the general elections; Paul Wunsch, state senator, former Speaker, and 28-year legislative veteran; Harold Chase, the Lieutenant Governor;

McDill "Huck" Boyd McDill "Huck" Boyd (April 17, 1907 – January 9, 1987) was a noted small-town newspaper publisher in Phillipsburg, Kansas, United States, and twice a candidate for governor of that state. Journalism career Boyd for decades was the publisher o ...

, newspaper publisher, activist, and ally of Congressman Bob Dole; William Ferguson, the Attorney General; and Grant Dohm, three-term legislator.

=1966 election cycle

= In the 1966 elections, Congressman

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

and U.S. Senator James Pearson, both prevailed in their primaries. Pearson suspected that the Goldwater or conservative faction encouraged Congressman Ellsworth, from the party's liberal wing, to run against him in the primary. In the same election, Republican Governor William Avery lost his re-election bid to Democrat

Robert Docking Robert Blackwell Docking (October 9, 1925October 8, 1983) was an American politician who served as the 38th governor of Kansas from 1967 until 1975. Early life Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Docking attended public school in Lawrence, K ...

(son of Governor George Docking). Docking campaigned on an agenda of lower taxes, austere government, and law and order. Avery, the Republican, campaigned on the major expansion of education funding under his administration but was left defending the increase in sales taxes, the imposition of income tax withholding, and higher liquor and cigarette taxes.

=1968 election cycle

= In 1968, at the urging of retiring Senator Frank Carlson, Congressman

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

defeated former governor William Avery in the primary and went on to be elected U.S. Senator. In 1968, Kansas voted for Nixon in the presidential race. Republicans won all five Congressional seats, gained five seats in the State Senate, gained 11 seats in the State House, but lost the Governor's race to Robert Docking who ran on an agenda of fiscal responsibility, tax reform, and executive branch reorganization.

=Party as a campaign organization (late 1960s and early 1970s)

= After the election losses to Robert Docking, the state party was viewed as an ineffective campaign organization, having lost focus on its primary role of electing Republicans and instead serving as a battleground where each faction fought to get supporters elected as precinct leaders, county officers, and delegates. In contrast, the Democrat Docking had run a thoroughly modern and focused campaign with polling, mass media advertising, and effective use of TV. The conclusion drawn by most Kansas candidates was that mass media was better at voter mobilization than party precinct organizations and that the party organization was being replaced by individual political entrepreneurs and consultants running candidate-centered campaigns.

=1970 election cycle

= *U.S. SenateStatistics of the Presidential and Congressional Elections of November 3, 1970, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1970election.pdf'': There was no U.S. Senate Election. *U.S. Congress: Republican incumbent Keith Sebelius won re-election in the 1st District; Democrat

Bill Roy William Robert Roy (February 23, 1926 – May 26, 2014), also known as Bill Roy, was a United States representative from Kansas, a physician, and a columnist for ''The Topeka Capital-Journal''. He was the Democratic nominee for U.S Senator of K ...

upset Republican incumbent Chester Mize in the 2nd District, Republican incumbent

Larry Winn Edward Lawrence Winn Jr. (August 22, 1919 – December 31, 2017) was an American politician and member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Kansas's 3rd district from 1967 to 1985. He was a member of the Republican Party. Born in ...

won re-election in the 3rd District; Republican incumbent

Garner Shriver Garner E. Shriver (July 6, 1912 – March 1, 1998) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Kansas. Biography Born in Towanda, Kansas, Shriver attended the public schools of Towanda and Wichita. He moved to Wichita, ...

won the 4th District, and Republican incumbent

Joe Skubitz Joe Skubitz (May 6, 1906 – September 11, 2000) was an American politician and U.S. Representative from Kansas. Early life Skubitz was born in Frontenac, Crawford County, Kansas; his parents were immigrants from Slovenia. He attended ...

won re-election in the 5th District. *Kansas Statewide: Democrat

Robert Docking Robert Blackwell Docking (October 9, 1925October 8, 1983) was an American politician who served as the 38th governor of Kansas from 1967 until 1975. Early life Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Docking attended public school in Lawrence, K ...

won re-election as governor for an unprecedented third term, defeating Kent Fizzell; Republican Reynolds Schultz was elected lieutenant governor; Elwill Shanahan was re-elected as Secretary of State; William Fletcher was re-elected as insurance commissioner; and Walter Peery was re-elected as treasurer. *Kansas Senate: There were no State Senate elections. *Kansas House:The Republicans won 84 seats, a loss of three. Calvin Strowig was elected Speaker. *State Party: In August 1970, the State Committee elected William Falstad as chair. Huck Boyd was re-elected as National Committeeman.

=1972 election cycle

= *PresidentStatistics of the Presidential and Congressional Elections of November 7, 1972, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1972election.pdf: Republican candidate

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...

carried Kansas and won the election, defeating

George McGovern George Stanley McGovern (July 19, 1922 – October 21, 2012) was an American historian and South Dakota politician who was a U.S. representative and three-term U.S. senator, and the Democratic Party presidential nominee in the 1972 pres ...

. The national Republican convention was held in Miami Beach, FL. *U.S. Senate: Republican James Pearson was re-elected to the U.S. Senate. *U.S. Congress: Republican incumbent Keith Sebelius won re-election in the 1st District; Democrat

Bill Roy William Robert Roy (February 23, 1926 – May 26, 2014), also known as Bill Roy, was a United States representative from Kansas, a physician, and a columnist for ''The Topeka Capital-Journal''. He was the Democratic nominee for U.S Senator of K ...

was re-elected in the 2nd District, Republican incumbent

Larry Winn Edward Lawrence Winn Jr. (August 22, 1919 – December 31, 2017) was an American politician and member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Kansas's 3rd district from 1967 to 1985. He was a member of the Republican Party. Born in ...

was re-elected in the 3rd District; Republican incumbent

Garner Shriver Garner E. Shriver (July 6, 1912 – March 1, 1998) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Kansas. Biography Born in Towanda, Kansas, Shriver attended the public schools of Towanda and Wichita. He moved to Wichita, ...

was re-elected in the 4th District, and Republican incumbent

Joe Skubitz Joe Skubitz (May 6, 1906 – September 11, 2000) was an American politician and U.S. Representative from Kansas. Early life Skubitz was born in Frontenac, Crawford County, Kansas; his parents were immigrants from Slovenia. He attended ...

was re-elected in the 5th District. *Kansas Statewide: Democrat

Robert Docking Robert Blackwell Docking (October 9, 1925October 8, 1983) was an American politician who served as the 38th governor of Kansas from 1967 until 1975. Early life Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Docking attended public school in Lawrence, K ...

won re-election as governor for unprecedented fourth term, defeating

Morris Kay Morris Kay (born July 31, 1932) was an American politician in the state of Kansas. A Republican, he served in the Kansas House of Representatives. Kay was born in St. John, Kansas and attended primary schooling there while helping his father on t ...

, who had prevailed in the Republican primary over former Governor

John Anderson John Anderson may refer to: Business *John Anderson (Scottish businessman) (1747–1820), Scottish merchant and founder of Fermoy, Ireland * John Byers Anderson (1817–1897), American educator, military officer and railroad executive, mentor of ...

, Ray Frisbie, and Lt Governor Reynolds Schultz; Republican David C. Owen, a close associate of Bob Dole, was elected Lt Governor; Elwill Shanahan was re-elected as Secretary of State; William Fletcher was re-elected as insurance commissioner; and Tom Van Sickle was elected as treasurer. *Kansas Senate: Republicans won 27 seats, a net loss of 5 seats since the 1968 election. Robert Bennett was elected Senate President. *Kansas House: Republicans won 80 seats, a loss of four seats. Pete McGill was elected Speaker. *State Party: William Falstad continued as state party chair until January 1973 when the state committee elected Jack Ranson chair. The change in dates reflected the changeover from 2-year to 4-year terms for the governor and other statewide elections.

=Statutory party organization (1972-1992)

= In 1972, the legislature further regulated the structure and operations of political parties. The changes added additional detailed guidance on filling precinct vacancies, requiring county committees to reorganize within two weeks of the primary, that district committees would reorganize within 90 days of the primary, that the state committee would consist of 22 delegates from each district (eliminating the old provision that each county chair was a delegate), that the executive committee would include the state officers, district chairs and vice-chairs, and the primary federal and state elected officials or their designees, and it re-designated the party council as the platform committee. This statute was amended somewhat in 1977, 1980, 1988, and 1989 adding the chairs of affiliated groups to the executive committee.

Modern party history: 1974 to today

The modern political history of Kansas begins in the early 1970s as a result of two major structural changes. First, in the late 1960s, one-man one-vote became the legal standard governing redistricting. Before this, each of Kansas' 105 counties had one state representative, regardless of population, with the remaining 20 representatives allocated to a county based on population. The House reapportioned the 20 extra legislators in 1959 and 1909. State Senate and Congressional districts had no requirement to be of roughly equivalent population and consisted of groups of entire counties. The old system heavily weighted the legislature in favor of rural areas and diluted the political power of the new population centers in Wichita, Topeka, and Johnson County. The new paradigm for legislative districts caused substantial changes to state legislative districts and the composition of the legislature, increasing the political power of cities and suburbs at the expense of the rural areas. Second, the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1972 to make the term for statewide office, such as governor, starting with the 1974 election, four years instead of two years. Additionally, the governor and lieutenant governor would henceforth run as a single ticket, not as separate campaigns.

Post-Watergate decline (1974–1978)

=1974 election cycle

= *U.S. Senate:Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Elections of November 4, 1974, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1974election.pdf

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

experienced a close race from challenger Democrat and two-term Congressman

Bill Roy William Robert Roy (February 23, 1926 – May 26, 2014), also known as Bill Roy, was a United States representative from Kansas, a physician, and a columnist for ''The Topeka Capital-Journal''. He was the Democratic nominee for U.S Senator of K ...

. Senator Dole, for the first time in Kansas politics, made abortion a central campaign issue, using it to win over Wichita.

Bill Roy William Robert Roy (February 23, 1926 – May 26, 2014), also known as Bill Roy, was a United States representative from Kansas, a physician, and a columnist for ''The Topeka Capital-Journal''. He was the Democratic nominee for U.S Senator of K ...

campaigned intensely around Kansas City linking Dole to Nixon, Watergate, and Ford's pardon of Nixon. *U.S. Congress: Republican incumbent Keith Sebelius won re-election in the 1st District; Democratic incumbent

Martha Keys Martha Elizabeth Keys (; born August 10, 1930) is an American retired politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas from 1975 to 1979. Early life and education Born in Hutchinson, Kansas, Keys graduated from Paseo Hig ...

was elected in the 2nd District, beating John C. Petersen; incumbent

Larry Winn Edward Lawrence Winn Jr. (August 22, 1919 – December 31, 2017) was an American politician and member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Kansas's 3rd district from 1967 to 1985. He was a member of the Republican Party. Born in ...

won re-election in the 3rd District; Republican incumbent

Garner Shriver Garner E. Shriver (July 6, 1912 – March 1, 1998) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Kansas. Biography Born in Towanda, Kansas, Shriver attended the public schools of Towanda and Wichita. He moved to Wichita, ...

was re-elected in the 4th District, and incumbent

Joe Skubitz Joe Skubitz (May 6, 1906 – September 11, 2000) was an American politician and U.S. Representative from Kansas. Early life Skubitz was born in Frontenac, Crawford County, Kansas; his parents were immigrants from Slovenia. He attended ...

was re-elected in the 5th District. *Kansas Statewide: The 1974 statewide office elections were the first for the new 4-year terms. Republican Bob Bennett won the governorship, after winning a close 3-way primary he defeated Democrat and former attorney general, Vern Miller. Republican Shelby Smith was elected lieutenant governor; Elwill Shanahan was re-elected as Secretary of State; and William Fletcher was re-elected as insurance commissioner. *Kansas Senate: No election. After Robert Bennett resigned from the Senate to become governor, Richard Rodgers served as Senate President for the 1975 session, then was confirmed as a U.S. District Court Judge, and Ross Doyen became Senate President for the 1976 session. *Kansas House: Republicans won 72 seats, a net loss of eight seats. Pete McGill was re-elected Speaker *State Party: In 1975, the State Committee elected Jack Ranson as chair. Huck Boyd was re-elected as national committeeman.

=1976 election cycle

= The 1976 was one of the worst election cycles for Kansas Republicans since the depression due to the fallout from Watergate and a general anti-incumbent mood with the voters. The Republicans lost control of the Kansas House and a Congressional seat. *PresidentStatistics of the Presidential and Congressional Elections of November 2, 1976, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1976election.pdf: Republican candidate

Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. ( ; born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913December 26, 2006) was an American politician who served as the 38th president of the United States from 1974 to 1977. He was the only president never to have been elected ...

carried Kansas, but lost nationally to Democrat

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he previously served as th ...

. The Republican vice-presidential candidate was Kansas Senator

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

. The national Republican convention was held in Kansas City, MO. *U.S. Senate: ''There was no U.S. Senate Election.'' *U.S. Congress: Republican incumbent Keith Sebelius was re-elected in the 1st District; incumbent

Larry Winn Edward Lawrence Winn Jr. (August 22, 1919 – December 31, 2017) was an American politician and member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Kansas's 3rd district from 1967 to 1985. He was a member of the Republican Party. Born in ...

won re-election in the 3rd District; and incumbent

Joe Skubitz Joe Skubitz (May 6, 1906 – September 11, 2000) was an American politician and U.S. Representative from Kansas. Early life Skubitz was born in Frontenac, Crawford County, Kansas; his parents were immigrants from Slovenia. He attended ...

was re-elected for the eighth time in the 5th District. Democratic incumbent

Martha Keys Martha Elizabeth Keys (; born August 10, 1930) is an American retired politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas from 1975 to 1979. Early life and education Born in Hutchinson, Kansas, Keys graduated from Paseo Hig ...

was re-elected in the 2nd District, beating Ross Freeman. Democrat

Dan Glickman Daniel Robert Glickman (born November 24, 1944) is an American politician, lawyer, lobbyist, and nonprofit leader. He served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1995 until 2001, prior to which he represented as a Democrat in Congr ...

defeated 8-term incumbent Republican

Garner Shriver Garner E. Shriver (July 6, 1912 – March 1, 1998) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Kansas. Biography Born in Towanda, Kansas, Shriver attended the public schools of Towanda and Wichita. He moved to Wichita, ...

in the 4th District. *Kansas Senate: Republicans won 21 seats, a net loss of 6 seats since the 1972 election. The Senate elected Ross Doyen as Senate President and Norman Gaar as Majority Leader. *Kansas House: Republicans lost the majority in the House to the Democrats for only the second time in Kansas history, winning only 60 seats, a net loss of 12. *State Party: In January 1977, the State Committee re-elected Jack Ranson as chair. Huck Boyd was re-elected as National Committeeman.

Major reduction in party patronage (1975–1980s)

A profound change for party power and influence in Kansas was the substantial reduction in the extent of political patronage, that is, the practice of elected officials filling government positions with political allies of his or her own choosing. From the party's perspective, the reduction in party patronage, materially reduced the power and influence of the county chair position, which, in-turn, weakened the entire party organization. In Kansas, since the 1860s, newly elected officials had always had broad discretion in the hiring of state and local employees and used this power to reward political allies. Elected officials would work with and on the recommendation of local county party chairs. The patronage system not only rewarded political supporters for past support, it also encouraged future support, because persons who have a patronage job try to retain it by campaigning for the party at the next election. Patronage maintained strong political organizations by offering campaign workers rewards. More importantly, patronage put people into government who agreed with the political agenda of the victor. Cooperation, loyalty, and trust flowed from this arrangement. The issue surrounding patronage was not whether elected officials should have the discretion to hire certain government employees, but how far down the organizational chain that power should extend. Too far down the chain could result in inefficiency and too little created a class of state bureaucrats unresponsive to the officials elected by the people. Over time, Kansas civil service reforms had reduced the extent of patronage, up to the early 1970s it was still common, politically astute, and a generally accepted practice. The substantial reduction in patronage from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s was a result of post-Watergate reforms. Governor Bennett remarked that " n 1974we campaigned on the promise that we were going to operate the government on a very efficient and economical basis - that we were not going to rely on patronage. So that sort of foreclosed the party from a very active role in appointments. They had a passive role. Sometimes they tried to play it and sometimes they didn't even do that." Democratic Governor Carlin (1979–86) had similar observations on the change "county chairs across the state were very, very unhappy . . . They didn't follow issues, they followed patronage. They followed what they had run on to become county chair. And, you know, people were asking, what's going on here?".

Bob Dole and the Republican establishment (1978–1992)

The next 14 years lacked continual or substantial Republican control. After Bob Bennett failed to win re-election as governor, Democrat John Carlin held it for two terms (1979–1986), Republican

Mike Hayden John Michael Hayden (born March 16, 1944) is a retired American politician and veteran who served as the 41st governor of Kansas, from 1987 to 1991. He subsequently served as the Secretary of the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department under Kan ...

then held it for one term (1987–1990), but failed to be re-elected, Democrat

Joan Finney Joan Marie Finney (née McInroy; February 12, 1925 – July 28, 2001) was an American politician who served as the 42nd governor of Kansas from 1991 to 1995. Prior to her tenure as governor, Finney served four terms as the Kansas state treasurer ...

held the governorship for one term (1991–1994) and did not run again, then Republican

Bill Graves William Preston Graves (born January 9, 1953) is an American former politician who was the 43rd governor of Kansas from 1995 until 2003. Career Graves was born in Salina, Kansas to parents who owned a trucking firm. After graduating from Kans ...

held it for two terms (1995–2002). The Democrats always held one or two Congressional seats. The Republicans lost the House majority in the 1990 election and their numbers in the House ranging from 62 to 76 of the 125 seats. The Republican majority in the Senate ranged from 22 to 24 of the 40 seats. During this period, U.S. Senator

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

was the most influential leader of the Kansas Republican Party. He effectively ensured that his supporters and former staff were in influential positions throughout Kansas.

=Party campaign operations (1974–1990)

= Two developments merged in the mid-1970s to redirect the state party's campaign focus and techniques. First, before 1974 the state party had been a temporary organization focused primarily on electing governors. Once the governor's term was extended to four years, the party was able to spread its focus to supporting other races. Second, as part of the post-Watergate reforms, the Republican National Committee funded efforts to professionalize state party operations and to develop statewide voter, volunteer, and contributor lists. By the late 1970s, the party was actively helping state legislative, congressional, and other statewide races by swapping volunteer and contributor lists. The state party also had the resources to conduct direct mail fund raising. By the early 1980s, the state party was able to provide some financial support to candidates. By 1990, for the first time, the party ran training seminars for vulnerable incumbent candidates, trained all candidates on campaign finance laws, and conducted some polling. The party also started doing telemarketing fund raising.

=1978 election cycle

= *U.S. SenateStatistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1978election.pdf: After incumbent Republican Senator James Pearson retired, Nancy Kassebaum was elected to the U.S. Senate after defeating Democrat

Bill Roy William Robert Roy (February 23, 1926 – May 26, 2014), also known as Bill Roy, was a United States representative from Kansas, a physician, and a columnist for ''The Topeka Capital-Journal''. He was the Democratic nominee for U.S Senator of K ...

and winning an 8-way primary that included future Congresswoman

Jan Meyers Janice Lenore Meyers ( née Crilly; July 20, 1928 – June 21, 2019) was an American Republican party politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Kansas. Biography Meyers was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. She attended ...

. Kassebaum was the first woman to win a Senate seat in her own right (not as a widow of a senator) *U.S. Congress: Keith Sebelius was re-elected to the 1st District; James Jeffries was elected to the 2nd District after the Democratic incumbent did not run;

Larry Winn Edward Lawrence Winn Jr. (August 22, 1919 – December 31, 2017) was an American politician and member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Kansas's 3rd district from 1967 to 1985. He was a member of the Republican Party. Born in ...

was re-elected to the 3rd district and

Bob Whittaker Robert Russell Whittaker (born September 18, 1939) is a former U.S. Representative from Kansas. Early life Whittaker was born in Eureka, Kansas and was educated in the Greenwood County public schools. He attended the University of Kansas from 1 ...

was re-elected to the 5th district. Democrat

Dan Glickman Daniel Robert Glickman (born November 24, 1944) is an American politician, lawyer, lobbyist, and nonprofit leader. He served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1995 until 2001, prior to which he represented as a Democrat in Congr ...

was re-elected to the 4th District. *Kansas Statewide: Democrat

John W. Carlin John William Carlin (born August 3, 1940) is an American educator and politician who served as the 40th governor of Kansas from 1979 to 1987, and the archivist of the United States from May 30, 1995, to February 15, 2005. He teaches at Kansas ...

was elected governor after defeating incumbent Republican Bob Bennett; Democrat Paul Dugan was elected Lt Governor; Bob Stephan was elected Attorney General; Jack Brier was elected Secretary of State; Fletcher Bell was re-elected as insurance commissioner; and Democrat

Joan Finney Joan Marie Finney (née McInroy; February 12, 1925 – July 28, 2001) was an American politician who served as the 42nd governor of Kansas from 1991 to 1995. Prior to her tenure as governor, Finney served four terms as the Kansas state treasurer ...

was re-elected as treasurer. *Kansas House: Republicans won 69 seats, a net gain of 9 seats, and recovered the majority in the Kansas House. The House elected Wendall Lady as Speaker and Robert Frey as Majority Leader. *State Party: In January 1979, the State Committee elected Morris Kay as chair.

=1980 election cycle

= *PresidentStatistics of the Presidential and Congressional Elections of November 4, 1980, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1980election.pdf: Republican Presidential candidate

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

easily won Kansas and the Presidency. Kansas held a Presidential primary, won by Ronald Reagan. The national Republican convention was held in Detroit, Michigan. *U.S. Senate:

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

was re-elected to the U.S. Senate with 64% of the vote. *U.S. Congress: Keith Sebelius was re-elected for the sixth time to the 1st District;

James Edmund Jeffries James Edmund Jeffries (June 1, 1925 – August 22, 1997) was a U.S. Representative from Kansas from 1979 to 1983. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Jeffries attended the public schools. He graduated from Cranbrook School, Bloomfield Hills, Michig ...

was re-elected in the 2nd District,

Larry Winn Edward Lawrence Winn Jr. (August 22, 1919 – December 31, 2017) was an American politician and member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Kansas's 3rd district from 1967 to 1985. He was a member of the Republican Party. Born in ...

was re-elected to the 3rd district and

Bob Whittaker Robert Russell Whittaker (born September 18, 1939) is a former U.S. Representative from Kansas. Early life Whittaker was born in Eureka, Kansas and was educated in the Greenwood County public schools. He attended the University of Kansas from 1 ...

was re-elected to the 5th district. Incumbent Democrat

Dan Glickman Daniel Robert Glickman (born November 24, 1944) is an American politician, lawyer, lobbyist, and nonprofit leader. He served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1995 until 2001, prior to which he represented as a Democrat in Congr ...

held the 4th District, defeating Clay Hunter. *Kansas Senate: Republicans won 24 seats, a net gain of 3 seats. The Senate elected

Ross Doyen Ross O. Doyen (October 1, 1926 – July 3, 2014) was an American rancher, farmer, and politician. Born near Rice, Kansas, Doyan served in the United States Navy during World War II. Doyen received his bachelor's degree in agricultural engi ...

as Senate President and Robert Talkington as Majority Leader. *Kansas House: Republicans won 72 seats, a net gain of 3 seats. The House elected Wendall Lady as Speaker and Robert Frey as Majority Leader. *State Party: In January 1981, the State Committee re-elected Morris Kay as chair. The executive director was Merlyn Brown.

=1982 election cycle

= *U.S. SenateStatistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 1982, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1982election.pdf: ''There was no U.S. Senate race.'' *U.S. Congress: Pat Roberts won the 1st District after Keith Sebelius retired;

Larry Winn Edward Lawrence Winn Jr. (August 22, 1919 – December 31, 2017) was an American politician and member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Kansas's 3rd district from 1967 to 1985. He was a member of the Republican Party. Born in ...

was re-elected to the 3rd district and

Bob Whittaker Robert Russell Whittaker (born September 18, 1939) is a former U.S. Representative from Kansas. Early life Whittaker was born in Eureka, Kansas and was educated in the Greenwood County public schools. He attended the University of Kansas from 1 ...

was re-elected to the 5th district. Democrat

Jim Slattery James Charles Slattery (born August 4, 1948) is an American politician. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1995 representing Kansas's 2nd congressional district as a Democrat, was the Democratic nominee for governor in ...

won the 2nd District by defeating Morris Kay after incumbent Republican

James Edmund Jeffries James Edmund Jeffries (June 1, 1925 – August 22, 1997) was a U.S. Representative from Kansas from 1979 to 1983. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Jeffries attended the public schools. He graduated from Cranbrook School, Bloomfield Hills, Michig ...

did not run. Democrat

Dan Glickman Daniel Robert Glickman (born November 24, 1944) is an American politician, lawyer, lobbyist, and nonprofit leader. He served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1995 until 2001, prior to which he represented as a Democrat in Congr ...

was re-elected to the 4th District, defeating Jerry Caywood. *Kansas Statewide: Democrat

John W. Carlin John William Carlin (born August 3, 1940) is an American educator and politician who served as the 40th governor of Kansas from 1979 to 1987, and the archivist of the United States from May 30, 1995, to February 15, 2005. He teaches at Kansas ...

won re-election as governor; Democrat Thomas Docking was elected Lt Governor; Bob Stephan won re-election as Attorney General; Jack Brier was re-elected as Secretary of State; Fletcher Bell was re-elected as insurance commissioner; and Democrat Joan Finney was re-elected as treasurer. *Kansas House: Republicans held steady winning 72 seats. The House elected

Mike Hayden John Michael Hayden (born March 16, 1944) is a retired American politician and veteran who served as the 41st governor of Kansas, from 1987 to 1991. He subsequently served as the Secretary of the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department under Kan ...

as Speaker and Joseph Hoagland as Majority Leader. *State Party: In January 1983, the State Committee elected Mary Alice Lair as chair, but she gave it up in favor of Robert Bennett. The executive director was Vern Chesbro.

=1984 election cycle

= *PresidentStatistics of the Presidential and Congressional Elections of November 6, 1984, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1984election.pdf: Republican presidential candidate

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

swept Kansas and won the presidency. The national Republican convention was held in Dallas, TX. *U.S. Senate: Nancy Kassebaum was re-elected as U.S. Senator. *U.S. Congress: Pat Roberts held the 1st District;

Jan Meyers Janice Lenore Meyers ( née Crilly; July 20, 1928 – June 21, 2019) was an American Republican party politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Kansas. Biography Meyers was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. She attended ...

was elected to the 3rd district, defeating Democrat John Reardon, after a five-way primary, and

Bob Whittaker Robert Russell Whittaker (born September 18, 1939) is a former U.S. Representative from Kansas. Early life Whittaker was born in Eureka, Kansas and was educated in the Greenwood County public schools. He attended the University of Kansas from 1 ...

was re-elected to the 5th district. Incumbent Democrat

Jim Slattery James Charles Slattery (born August 4, 1948) is an American politician. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1995 representing Kansas's 2nd congressional district as a Democrat, was the Democratic nominee for governor in ...

won the 2nd District defeating Jim Van Slyke. Incumbent Democrat

Dan Glickman Daniel Robert Glickman (born November 24, 1944) is an American politician, lawyer, lobbyist, and nonprofit leader. He served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1995 until 2001, prior to which he represented as a Democrat in Congr ...

won the 4th District defeating William Krause. *Kansas Senate: Republicans won 24 seats, holding even. The Senate elected Robert Talkington as Senate President and Paul "Bud" Burke as Majority Leader. *Kansas House: Republicans won 76 seats, a net gain of 4 seats. The House elected

Mike Hayden John Michael Hayden (born March 16, 1944) is a retired American politician and veteran who served as the 41st governor of Kansas, from 1987 to 1991. He subsequently served as the Secretary of the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department under Kan ...

as Speaker and James Braden as Majority Leader. *State Party: In January 1985, the State Committee elected Vern Chesbro as chair. The executive director was Eric Rucker.

=1986 election cycle

= *U.S. SenateStatistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1986, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1986election.pdf:

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

won re-election to the U.S. Senate with 70% of the vote. *U.S. Congress: Pat Roberts held the 1st District;

Jan Meyers Janice Lenore Meyers ( née Crilly; July 20, 1928 – June 21, 2019) was an American Republican party politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Kansas. Biography Meyers was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. She attended ...

held the 3rd district, and

Bob Whittaker Robert Russell Whittaker (born September 18, 1939) is a former U.S. Representative from Kansas. Early life Whittaker was born in Eureka, Kansas and was educated in the Greenwood County public schools. He attended the University of Kansas from 1 ...

held the 5th district. Incumbent Democrat

Jim Slattery James Charles Slattery (born August 4, 1948) is an American politician. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1995 representing Kansas's 2nd congressional district as a Democrat, was the Democratic nominee for governor in ...

won the 2nd District beating

Phill Kline Phillip D. Kline (born December 31, 1959) is a former American attorney who served as a Kansas state legislator, district attorney of Johnson County, and Kansas Attorney General. Kline, a member of the Republican Party, lost re-election as at ...

. Incumbent Democrat

Dan Glickman Daniel Robert Glickman (born November 24, 1944) is an American politician, lawyer, lobbyist, and nonprofit leader. He served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1995 until 2001, prior to which he represented as a Democrat in Congr ...

won the 4th District beating

Bob Knight Robert Montgomery Knight (born October 25, 1940) is an American former basketball coach. Nicknamed "the General", Knight won 902 NCAA Division I men's college basketball games, a record at the time of his retirement, and currently fourth all-ti ...

. *Kansas StatewideKS Legislative Research Records:

Mike Hayden John Michael Hayden (born March 16, 1944) is a retired American politician and veteran who served as the 41st governor of Kansas, from 1987 to 1991. He subsequently served as the Secretary of the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department under Kan ...

, defeated Democrat Tom Docking, to be elected governor, after winning a 7-way primary that included Jack Breir, Larry Jones, and Gene Bicknell. Jack Walker was elected lieutenant governor. Bob Stephan was re-elected as attorney general.

Bill Graves William Preston Graves (born January 9, 1953) is an American former politician who was the 43rd governor of Kansas from 1995 until 2003. Career Graves was born in Salina, Kansas to parents who owned a trucking firm. After graduating from Kans ...

was elected Secretary of State.

Fletcher Bell Fletcher Bell (July 26, 1929 – February 18, 2000) was an American politician who served as the Kansas Insurance Commissioner The Kansas Insurance Commissioner (KIC), in full the Kansas State Insurance Commissioner, has the primary responsi ...

was re-elected Commissioner of Insurance. Democrat

Joan Finney Joan Marie Finney (née McInroy; February 12, 1925 – July 28, 2001) was an American politician who served as the 42nd governor of Kansas from 1991 to 1995. Prior to her tenure as governor, Finney served four terms as the Kansas state treasurer ...

was re-elected as state treasurer. *Kansas House: Republicans won 74 seats for a net loss of 2 seats. The House elected James Braden as Speaker and Joe Knopp as Majority Leader. In 1987 a fiscal conservative group, the Republican Reform Caucus, formed consisting of 12 Republican lawmakers who banded together in Topeka to challenge the establishment moderate leadership. Its leaders were Kerry Patrick, Bob Vancrum, David Miller, J.C. Long, and Gayle Mollenkamp *State Party: In January 1987, the State Committee elected Fred Logan as chair. The executive director was Catherine Whitaker.

=1988 election cycle

= *PresidentStatistics of the Presidential and Congressional Elections of November 8, 1988, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1988election.pdf: Republican candidate

George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker BushSince around 2000, he has been usually called George H. W. Bush, Bush Senior, Bush 41 or Bush the Elder to distinguish him from his eldest son, George W. Bush, who served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009; pr ...

won Kansas and the presidency. Kansas held a presidential caucus. The national Republican convention was held in New Orleans. *U.S. Senate: ''There was no election for the U.S. Senate.'' *U.S. Congress: Pat Roberts held the 1st District;

Jan Meyers Janice Lenore Meyers ( née Crilly; July 20, 1928 – June 21, 2019) was an American Republican party politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Kansas. Biography Meyers was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. She attended ...

held the 3rd district, and

Bob Whittaker Robert Russell Whittaker (born September 18, 1939) is a former U.S. Representative from Kansas. Early life Whittaker was born in Eureka, Kansas and was educated in the Greenwood County public schools. He attended the University of Kansas from 1 ...

won the 5th district. Incumbent Democrat

Jim Slattery James Charles Slattery (born August 4, 1948) is an American politician. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1995 representing Kansas's 2nd congressional district as a Democrat, was the Democratic nominee for governor in ...

won the 2nd District, defeating Phil Meinhardt. Incumbent Democrat

Dan Glickman Daniel Robert Glickman (born November 24, 1944) is an American politician, lawyer, lobbyist, and nonprofit leader. He served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1995 until 2001, prior to which he represented as a Democrat in Congr ...

won the 4th District, defeating Lee Thompson. *Kansas Senate: The Republicans won 22 seats, for a net loss of 2 seats. The Senate elected Bud Burke as Senate President; Eric Yost as Senate Vice-President; Fred Kerr as Majority Leader; and Ben Vidricksen as Assistant majority Leader. *Kansas House: The Republicans won 68 seats, for a net loss of 6 seats. The House elected James Braden as Speaker; Dale Sprauge as Speaker Pro Tem; Bob Miller as Majority Leader, and Max Moomaw as Assistant Majority Leader. *State Party: In January 1989, the State Committee elected Rochelle Chronister as chair. The executive director was Catherine Whitaker.

=1990 election cycle

= * U.S. SenateStatistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1990election.pdf: Nancy Kassebaum easily won re-election to the U.S. Senate. * U.S. Congress: Pat Roberts held the 1st District;

Jan Meyers Janice Lenore Meyers ( née Crilly; July 20, 1928 – June 21, 2019) was an American Republican party politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Kansas. Biography Meyers was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. She attended ...

held the 3rd district, and Dick Nichols won the 5th district. Incumbent Democrat

Jim Slattery James Charles Slattery (born August 4, 1948) is an American politician. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1995 representing Kansas's 2nd congressional district as a Democrat, was the Democratic nominee for governor in ...

won the 2nd District defeating Scott Morgan. Incumbent Democrat

Dan Glickman Daniel Robert Glickman (born November 24, 1944) is an American politician, lawyer, lobbyist, and nonprofit leader. He served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1995 until 2001, prior to which he represented as a Democrat in Congr ...

won the 4th Congressional District, defeating Roger Grund. * Kansas Statewides: Democrat

Joan Finney Joan Marie Finney (née McInroy; February 12, 1925 – July 28, 2001) was an American politician who served as the 42nd governor of Kansas from 1991 to 1995. Prior to her tenure as governor, Finney served four terms as the Kansas state treasurer ...

won the Governor's office, defeating incumbent Republican governor

Mike Hayden John Michael Hayden (born March 16, 1944) is a retired American politician and veteran who served as the 41st governor of Kansas, from 1987 to 1991. He subsequently served as the Secretary of the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department under Kan ...

, who had defeated Nestor Weigand in the primary. Governor Hayden was handicapped by substantial changes to the property tax system resulting from Constitutional changes made before his term began, including the first property value assessment in 20 years and the implementation of classification, i.e., assigning different tax rates based on the "class" of property as opposed to the traditional system of taxing all property at an "equal and uniform" rate".Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains 32 (Spring 2009) 46–74, at 67–72 The result was substantially higher commercial property rates. Governor Hayden, therefore, suffered a similar fate as Governor Avery did in 1966 – being held accountable for the tax implications of decisions made by the previous administration.

Robert Stephan Robert Taft Stephan (January 16, 1933 – January 2, 2023) was an American attorney who served four terms as Kansas Attorney General. Stephan was born on January 16, 1933, to Taft and Julia Stephan, of Lebanese descent. He graduated from Wash ...

was re-elected as attorney general.

Bill Graves William Preston Graves (born January 9, 1953) is an American former politician who was the 43rd governor of Kansas from 1995 until 2003. Career Graves was born in Salina, Kansas to parents who owned a trucking firm. After graduating from Kans ...

was re-elected as the Secretary of State. Ronald Todd was elected insurance commissioner. Democrat Sally Thompson won the state treasurer race. * Kansas House: For only the third time in Kansas history, the Republicans lost their majority in the Kansas House. They held 62 seats, a net loss of 7 seats, giving the Democrats a majority by one vote. The Republican Caucus elected Bob Miller as Minority Leader, and Wanda Fuller as Assistant Majority Leader. *State Party: In January 1991, the State Committee elected Kim Wells as chair; Janet Boisseau as vice-chair; Sara Ullman as secretary, and Duane Nightingale as treasurer. The executive director was Steve Brown.

=1992 Changes to party organization

= In 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a California statutory scheme, similar to Kansas', which regulated party structure and operations. After 1992, state parties were free to organize and operate free of government regulation, other than a bare minimum regarding election of precinct committeemen and women and filling vacancies in elected office. The major changes enacted since 1992 were to increase the state committee to 37 delegates from each Congressional district and specifying that the platform committee would be composed of two to four individuals from each district selected by the state committee chair.

The second conservative insurgency (1992–1998)

The new conservative wave was a result of two distinct political agendas that merged into one force. The first force was fiscal conservatism, which opposed what was seen as a state government grown too large, that taxed, spent, and borrowed too much. It first appeared in 1987 in the form of the "Republican Reform Caucus" a group of 12 legislators pushing for fiscal restraint. The second force, was the

anti-abortion Anti-abortion movements, also self-styled as pro-life or abolitionist movements, are involved in the abortion debate advocating against the practice of abortion and its legality. Many anti-abortion movements began as countermovements in respons ...

movement. In 1991, the

anti-abortion Anti-abortion movements, also self-styled as pro-life or abolitionist movements, are involved in the abortion debate advocating against the practice of abortion and its legality. Many anti-abortion movements began as countermovements in respons ...

movement showed its political power in Kansas during the "Summer of Mercy" when daily blockades of abortion clinics and a large rally took place in Wichita. In 1992, the conservative movement began a systematic effort to take over the party, recruiting precinct leaders with a goal of gaining control of the State Committee. In 1994, the conservative movement achieved several successes. It elected David Miller as state party chair and conservatives Todd Tiahrt and Sam Brownback to Congress. Conservative Tim Shallenburger became Speaker of the House. In 1996, David Miller was re-elected as State party chair. Sam Brownback, ignoring the requests of

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

and Governor

Bill Graves William Preston Graves (born January 9, 1953) is an American former politician who was the 43rd governor of Kansas from 1995 until 2003. Career Graves was born in Salina, Kansas to parents who owned a trucking firm. After graduating from Kans ...

, ran for and won the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Dole, defeating Lt Governor Shelia Frahm, in the primary. Conservatives Jerry Moran,

Vince Snowbarger Vincent K. Snowbarger (born September 16, 1949) is an American lawyer and politician from Kansas. He is a former Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. Early life Vincent K. Snowbarger ...

and Jim Ryun were elected, and Todd Tiahrt was re-elected, to Congress. In 1998, the conservative tide ebbed and the moderate faction after conducting a well-organized and funded effort regained control of the State Committee.

=1992 election cycle

= * PresidentStatistics of the Presidential and Congressional Elections of November 3, 1992, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1992election.pdf: Republican Presidential candidate

George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker BushSince around 2000, he has been usually called George H. W. Bush, Bush Senior, Bush 41 or Bush the Elder to distinguish him from his eldest son, George W. Bush, who served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009; pr ...

won Kansas, but lost the national election to

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

. Kansas held a presidential primary won by

George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker BushSince around 2000, he has been usually called George H. W. Bush, Bush Senior, Bush 41 or Bush the Elder to distinguish him from his eldest son, George W. Bush, who served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009; pr ...

with

Pat Buchanan Patrick Joseph Buchanan (; born November 2, 1938) is an American paleoconservative political commentator, columnist, politician, and broadcaster. Buchanan was an assistant and special consultant to U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, an ...

second. The national convention was held in Houston, Texas. The Presidential Electors were: Shari Caywood, James Bolden, Bruce Mayfield, Carlos Mayans, Charles Rayl, and Adolph Howard. * U.S. Senate:

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

easily won re-election to the U.S. Senate with 62% of the vote. * U.S. Congress: Pat Roberts and

Jan Meyers Janice Lenore Meyers ( née Crilly; July 20, 1928 – June 21, 2019) was an American Republican party politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Kansas. Biography Meyers was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. She attended ...

held the 1st and 3rd Congressional seats. Democratic incumbent

Jim Slattery James Charles Slattery (born August 4, 1948) is an American politician. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1995 representing Kansas's 2nd congressional district as a Democrat, was the Democratic nominee for governor in ...

won the 2nd District, defeating Jim Van Slyke. Democratic incumbent

Dan Glickman Daniel Robert Glickman (born November 24, 1944) is an American politician, lawyer, lobbyist, and nonprofit leader. He served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1995 until 2001, prior to which he represented as a Democrat in Congr ...

won the 4th Congressional district, defeating Eric Yost. Kansas lost its fifth Congressional district to reapportionment. * Kansas Senate: Running in newly redistricted districts, the Republicans held 27 seats, a gain of 5. The Senate elected Paul "Bud" Burke as Senate President; Jerry Moran as Senate Vice President; Sheila Frahm as Majority Leader, and Ben Vidrickisen as Assistant Majority Leader. * Kansas House: Running in newly redistricted districts, the Republicans regained the majority, with 66 seats, a net gain of 4 seats. The House elected Bob Miller as Speaker; Tim Shallenburger as Speaker Pro Tem;

Vince Snowbarger Vincent K. Snowbarger (born September 16, 1949) is an American lawyer and politician from Kansas. He is a former Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. Early life Vincent K. Snowbarger ...

as Majority Leader; and Robin Jennison as Assistant Majority Leader. *State Party: In January 1993, the State Committee re-elected Kim Wells as chair; Janet Boisseau as vice-chair; Sara Ullman as secretary, and Duane Nightingale as treasurer. Mike Harris was elected National Committeeman and Mary Alice Lair was re-elected National Committeewoman. The executive director was Steve Brown.

=1994 election cycle

= * U.S. SenateStatistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1994, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1994election.pdf: ''There was no U.S. Senate race.'' * U.S. Congress: All four Congressional seats were won by Republicans, a net gain of two seats. Pat Roberts was re-elected in the First District and

Jan Meyers Janice Lenore Meyers ( née Crilly; July 20, 1928 – June 21, 2019) was an American Republican party politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Kansas. Biography Meyers was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. She attended ...

was re-elected in the Third District. The Second District was won by Sam Brownback, defeating former Democratic Governor

John W. Carlin John William Carlin (born August 3, 1940) is an American educator and politician who served as the 40th governor of Kansas from 1979 to 1987, and the archivist of the United States from May 30, 1995, to February 15, 2005. He teaches at Kansas ...

, after the incumbent Democratic Congressman,

Jim Slattery James Charles Slattery (born August 4, 1948) is an American politician. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1995 representing Kansas's 2nd congressional district as a Democrat, was the Democratic nominee for governor in ...

, ran unsuccessfully for governor. Todd Tiahrt won the Fourth District defeating 9-term incumbent Democrat

Dan Glickman Daniel Robert Glickman (born November 24, 1944) is an American politician, lawyer, lobbyist, and nonprofit leader. He served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1995 until 2001, prior to which he represented as a Democrat in Congr ...

. * Kansas Statewides:

Bill Graves William Preston Graves (born January 9, 1953) is an American former politician who was the 43rd governor of Kansas from 1995 until 2003. Career Graves was born in Salina, Kansas to parents who owned a trucking firm. After graduating from Kans ...

won the governor's office defeating

Jim Slattery James Charles Slattery (born August 4, 1948) is an American politician. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1995 representing Kansas's 2nd congressional district as a Democrat, was the Democratic nominee for governor in ...

. Sheila Frahm won lieutenant governor. After she resigned in 1996 to run for the U.S. Senate, she was replaced by Gary Sherrer.

Carla Stovall Carla J. Stovall (born March 18, 1957, Hardtner, Kansas) - also known as Carla Stovall Steckline - is a Republican politician from Marion, Kansas who served as Attorney General of the State of Kansas from 1995 to 2003. During her tenure, she ...

won the Attorney General's office.

Ron Thornburgh Ron E. Thornburgh, (born December 31, 1962, Burlingame, Kansas) was the 29th Secretary of State of Kansas. He was elected into his first term in 1994 and was subsequently re-elected in 1998, 2002, and 2006. In July 2007, Thornburgh announced hi ...

won the Secretary of State's office. The Republicans lost the treasurer race to Sally Thompson and the insurance commissioner race to

Kathleen Sebelius Kathleen Sebelius (; née Gilligan, born May 15, 1948) is an American businesswoman and politician who served as the 21st United States secretary of Health and Human Services from 2009 until 2014. As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sebeli ...

. When Sally Thompson resigned as state treasurer in 1998, Clyde Graber (R) was appointed state treasurer. * Kansas Senate: There were no senate elections, but when Sheila Frahm resigned to become lieutenant governor, Jerry Moran became Majority Leader and Alicia Salisbury became Senate Vice President. * Kansas House: The Republicans held 81 seats, a net gain of 15 seats. The House elected

Tim Shallenburger Tim Shallenburger (born March 14, 1954) was Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas State Treasurer. Biography Shallenburger was raised in Baxter Springs, Kansas. He attended Pittsburg State University and Coffeyville Commu ...

as Speaker;

Susan Wagle Susan Wagle (born September 27, 1953) is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 30th district from 2001 to 2021. She was elected Kansas Senate President in 2013 and was reelected in 2017. ...

as Speaker Pro Tem; Robin Jennison as Majority Leader, and Doug Mays as Assistant Majority Leader. This constituted a conservative leadership slate. *State Party: In January 1995, the State Committee elected David Miller as chair; Barbara Lissendem as vice-chair; Mary Jane Bradley as secretary; and Paul Rosell as treasurer. This state party election was a victory of the ' pro-life,' conservative faction. The executive director was Kris Van Meteren.

=1996 election cycle

= * PresidentStatistics of the Presidential and Congressional Elections of November 5, 1996, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1996election.pdf: Republican Presidential candidate

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

easily won Kansas, but lost the national election to

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

. There was no presidential caucus or primary, all delegates were directed by the state committee to vote for Bob Dole. The national Republican convention was held in San Diego, California. The Presidential Electors were: Timothy Golba, Michael Harris, Betty Hanicke, Marynell Reece, Marjorie Robards, and John Watkins. * U.S. Senate: When

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

resigned his Senate seat in June 1996 to run for president and Nancy Kassebaum decided not to run for re-election as a U.S. Senator, there were open elections for both Kansas U.S. Senate seats. Pat Roberts easily won the seat previously held by Kassenbaum, defeating Democrat Sally Thompson, the state treasurer. Sam Brownback first won a primary against Sheila Frahm, who had been appointed to the seat by Governor

Bill Graves William Preston Graves (born January 9, 1953) is an American former politician who was the 43rd governor of Kansas from 1995 until 2003. Career Graves was born in Salina, Kansas to parents who owned a trucking firm. After graduating from Kans ...

. Then, in a special election, Sam Brownback defeated Jill Docking to win the seat previously held by Senator

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

. * U.S. Congress: Republicans continued to hold all four Congressional seats: Jerry Moran won the 1st district after Pat Roberts vacated the seat to run for the U.S. Senate, Jim Ryun won the 2nd district,

Vince Snowbarger Vincent K. Snowbarger (born September 16, 1949) is an American lawyer and politician from Kansas. He is a former Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. Early life Vincent K. Snowbarger ...

won the 3rd district after

Jan Meyers Janice Lenore Meyers ( née Crilly; July 20, 1928 – June 21, 2019) was an American Republican party politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Kansas. Biography Meyers was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. She attended ...

decided not to run for re-election, and Todd Tiahrt was re-elected in the 4th District. * Kansas Senate: The Republicans held even with 27 seats. The Senate elected Dick Bond as Senate President; Tim Emert as Senate Vice-President; Alicia Salisbury as Majority Leader, and Ben Vidricksen as Assistant Majority Leader. * Kansas House: The Republicans held 77 seats, a net loss of 4 seats. The House elected Tim Shallenburger as Speaker;

Susan Wagle Susan Wagle (born September 27, 1953) is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 30th district from 2001 to 2021. She was elected Kansas Senate President in 2013 and was reelected in 2017. ...

as Speaker Pro Tem; Robin Jennison as Majority Leader; and Doug Mays as Assistant Majority Leader. *State Party: In January 1997, the State Committee re-elected David Miller as chair; Kate Carty as vice-chair; Mary Jane Bradley as secretary; and Bill Adams as treasurer. Dwight Sutherland was elected National Committeeman and Mary Alice Lair was re-elected as National Committeewoman. David Miller resigned in 1998 to run against Gov Graves in the primary and was replaced by Steve Abrams. The executive director was Kris Van Meteren, then Karen Casto, then John Potter.

Moderate faction regains control (1998–2006)

=1998 election cycle

= * U.S. SenateStatistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1998election.pdf: Sam Brownback won re-election to his U.S. Senate seat in the regular election. * U.S. Congress: Jerry Moran in the 1st District, Jim Ryun in the 2nd District, and Todd Tiahrt in the 4th District won re-election. The Republicans lost the 3rd Congressional district when incumbent

Vince Snowbarger Vincent K. Snowbarger (born September 16, 1949) is an American lawyer and politician from Kansas. He is a former Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. Early life Vincent K. Snowbarger ...

lost to Democrat Dennis Moore. * Kansas Statewides:

Bill Graves William Preston Graves (born January 9, 1953) is an American former politician who was the 43rd governor of Kansas from 1995 until 2003. Career Graves was born in Salina, Kansas to parents who owned a trucking firm. After graduating from Kans ...

, after defeating David Miller in the primary, won re-election as governor in a landslide. Gary Sherrer won lieutenant governor.

Carla Stovall Carla J. Stovall (born March 18, 1957, Hardtner, Kansas) - also known as Carla Stovall Steckline - is a Republican politician from Marion, Kansas who served as Attorney General of the State of Kansas from 1995 to 2003. During her tenure, she ...

won re-election as attorney general.

Ron Thornburgh Ron E. Thornburgh, (born December 31, 1962, Burlingame, Kansas) was the 29th Secretary of State of Kansas. He was elected into his first term in 1994 and was subsequently re-elected in 1998, 2002, and 2006. In July 2007, Thornburgh announced hi ...

won re-election as Secretary of State. Tim Schallenberger won the election for state treasurer. Democrat

Kathleen Sebelius Kathleen Sebelius (; née Gilligan, born May 15, 1948) is an American businesswoman and politician who served as the 21st United States secretary of Health and Human Services from 2009 until 2014. As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sebeli ...

won the election for insurance commissioner. * Kansas House: The Republicans held 77 seats, a net loss of 4 seats. The House elected Robin Jennison as Speaker; Doug Mays as Speaker Pro Tem;

Kent Glasscock Kenton Lee "Kent" Glasscock (born November 4, 1952)''U.S. Public Records Index'' Vol 1 (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), 2010. is a former Republican politician from Manhattan, Kansas. Glasscock was born in Warrensburg, Missouri, to B ...

as Majority Leader; and Shari Weber as Assistant Majority Leader. *State Party: In January 1999, the State Committee elected Mark Parkinson as chair; Margie Canfield as vice-chair; Wanda Morrison as secretary; and Steve Martens as treasurer. This election was a victory of the moderate faction. Starting in 1997 the moderate faction had recruited hundreds of precinct leaders and elected a sufficient number in August 1998 to gain control of the party's state committee. The executive director was Kari Austen.

=2000 election cycle

= * PresidentStatistics of the Presidential and Congressional Elections of November 7, 2000, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2000election.pdf: Republican Presidential candidate

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...

easily swept Kansas. There was no presidential caucus or primary, all delegates attended the convention uncommitted. The national Republican convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Presidential Electors were: Shari Caywood, Richard Eckert, Mark Heitz, Gene Eastin, Susan Estes, and Charles Hostetler. * U.S. Senate: ''There was no United States Senate race.'' * U.S. Congress: The Republicans held three Congressional seats with Jerry Moran in the 1st, Jim Ryun in the 2nd, and Todd Tiahrt in the 4th winning re-election.

Phill Kline Phillip D. Kline (born December 31, 1959) is a former American attorney who served as a Kansas state legislator, district attorney of Johnson County, and Kansas Attorney General. Kline, a member of the Republican Party, lost re-election as at ...

lost to incumbent Democrat Dennis Moore in the 3rd District, after beating Greg Musil in the primary. * Kansas Senate: The Republicans held 30 seats, a net gain of 3 seats, of whom 15 were freshman. The Senate elected David Kerr as Senate President;

Sandy Praeger Sandy Praeger (born October 21, 1944) is a former politician from the U.S. state of Kansas who served as the Kansas Insurance Commissioner from 2003 to 2015. Prior to her term as insurance commissioner, she was a member of the Kansas Senate and ...

as Senate Vice President; Lana Oleen as Majority Leader; and Les Donovan as Assistant Majority Leader. * Kansas House: The Republicans won 79 seats, a net gain of 2 seats. The House elected

Kent Glasscock Kenton Lee "Kent" Glasscock (born November 4, 1952)''U.S. Public Records Index'' Vol 1 (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), 2010. is a former Republican politician from Manhattan, Kansas. Glasscock was born in Warrensburg, Missouri, to B ...

as Speaker; Clay Aurand as Speaker Pro Tem; Sheri Webber as Majority Leader; and John Ballou as Assistant Majority Leader. *State Party: In January 2001, the State Committee re-elected Mark Parkinson as chair; Margie Canfield as vice-chair; Wanda Morrison as secretary; and Brad Stout as treasurer. Calvin James and June Cooper were elected National Committeeman and woman. The executive director remained Kari Austen.

=2002 election cycle

= * U.S. SenateStatistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2002election.pdf: Pat Roberts won re-election to the U.S. Senate without opposition. * U.S. Congress: The Republicans held three Congressional seats with Jerry Moran in the 1st, Jim Ryun in the 2nd, and Todd Tiahrt in the 4th winning re-election. Adam Taff lost to incumbent Democrat Dennis Moore in the 3rd District. * Kansas Statewides: Republican Tim Shallenberger and David Lindstrom lost the race for governor against

Kathleen Sebelius Kathleen Sebelius (; née Gilligan, born May 15, 1948) is an American businesswoman and politician who served as the 21st United States secretary of Health and Human Services from 2009 until 2014. As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sebeli ...

.

Phill Kline Phillip D. Kline (born December 31, 1959) is a former American attorney who served as a Kansas state legislator, district attorney of Johnson County, and Kansas Attorney General. Kline, a member of the Republican Party, lost re-election as at ...

won the attorney general's office, defeating Chris Biggs.

Ron Thornburgh Ron E. Thornburgh, (born December 31, 1962, Burlingame, Kansas) was the 29th Secretary of State of Kansas. He was elected into his first term in 1994 and was subsequently re-elected in 1998, 2002, and 2006. In July 2007, Thornburgh announced hi ...

won re-election as Secretary of State.

Sandy Praeger Sandy Praeger (born October 21, 1944) is a former politician from the U.S. state of Kansas who served as the Kansas Insurance Commissioner from 2003 to 2015. Prior to her term as insurance commissioner, she was a member of the Kansas Senate and ...

won election as the insurance commissioner.

Lynn Jenkins Lynn Haag Jenkins (born June 10, 1963) is an American politician and lobbyist who served as the U.S. representative for , in office from 2009 to 2019. She previously served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2003 to 2008, in the Kansas House of Repre ...

won election as state treasurer. * Kansas Senate: There were no senate elections, but

John Vratil John Vratil (October 28, 1945) is a former Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the Kansas's 11th Senate district, 11th district from 1998 to 2013. He was the Senate Vice-President from 2003 to 2 ...

became Senate Vice President after

Sandy Praeger Sandy Praeger (born October 21, 1944) is a former politician from the U.S. state of Kansas who served as the Kansas Insurance Commissioner from 2003 to 2015. Prior to her term as insurance commissioner, she was a member of the Kansas Senate and ...

resigned to become insurance commissioner. * Kansas House: House candidates ran in new districts after redistricting. The Republicans held 80 seats, a gain of one. The House elected Doug Mays as Speaker; John Ballou as Speaker Pro Tem; Clay Aurand as Majority Leader; and

Ray Merrick Raymond F. Merrick (born October 18, 1939) is a Republican former member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing district 27 from 2013 to 2017. He was elected Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives in December 2012.Cooper, Br ...

as Assistant Majority Leader. *State Party: In January 2003, the State Committee elected Dennis Jones chair; Pat Ranson vice-chair; Pat Smith as secretary; and Morey Sullivan as treasurer. This was the third election where the moderate faction controlled the party. The executive director was Scott Poor. In 2002, the chair tried to make the party's primary an "open" primary, allowing unaffiliated or democratic voters to vote in the Republican primary. After a lawsuit brought by Susan Estes and others, the Court ruled that unless the state committee amended its Constitution, the primary would remain closed.

=McCain-Feingold campaign finance reforms

= In the 1980s and 1990s the state party often had a paid staff of six to ten, each with specific responsibilities. The Campaign Finance changes severely limited the amount of funds ultimately available to the state party and marked a major change in resources available to the party to use to support candidates.

=2004 election cycle

= * PresidentStatistics of the Presidential and Congressional Elections of November 2, 2004, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2004election.pdf: Republican Presidential candidate

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...

carried Kansas by a wide margin. There was no presidential caucus or primary, all delegates were to vote for George Bush. The national Republican convention was held in New York, New York. The Presidential electors were: Ruth Garvey Fink, Bernard "Bud" Hentzen, Dennis Jones, Wanda Konold Jack Ranson, and Patricia P. Smith. * U.S. Senate: Sam Brownback easily won re-election as U.S. Senator. * U.S. Congress: The Republicans held three Congressional seats with Jerry Moran in the 1st, Jim Ryun in the 2nd, and Todd Tiahrt in the 4th all winning re-election.

Kris Kobach Kris William Kobach ( ; born March 26, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician who is the Attorney General of Kansas. He previously served as the 31st Secretary of State of Kansas. A former Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, Kobach came ...

lost to incumbent Democrat Dennis Moore in the 3rd District after defeating Adam Taff in the primary. * Kansas Senate: Senate candidates ran in new districts established by the 2002 redistricting. The Republicans held steady with 30 seats. Steve Morris was elected Senate President;

John Vratil John Vratil (October 28, 1945) is a former Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the Kansas's 11th Senate district, 11th district from 1998 to 2013. He was the Senate Vice-President from 2003 to 2 ...

as Senate Vice President; Derek Schmidt as Majority leader; and Karin Brownlee as Assistant Majority Leader. * Kansas House: The Republicans held 83 seats, a net gain of 3 seats. Doug Mays was re-elected as Speaker;

Ray Merrick Raymond F. Merrick (born October 18, 1939) is a Republican former member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing district 27 from 2013 to 2017. He was elected Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives in December 2012.Cooper, Br ...

as Speaker Pro Tem; Clay Aurand as Majority Leader; and Joe McLeland as Assistant Majority Leader. *State Party: In January 2005, the State Committee elected

Tim Shallenburger Tim Shallenburger (born March 14, 1954) was Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas State Treasurer. Biography Shallenburger was raised in Baxter Springs, Kansas. He attended Pittsburg State University and Coffeyville Commu ...

as chair; Susan Estes as vice-chair; Beverly Caley as secretary; and Emmitt Mitchell as treasurer. Steve Cloud and Alicia Salisbury were elected National Committeeman and woman. The executive director was Derreck Sontag in 2005 and then Ron Freeman in 2006.

Republican low point and recovery (2006–2008)

The Republicans hit a low point in the 2006 election when Kathleen Sebelius won re-election as governor, Phill Kline lost his re-election bid as attorney general, and Jim Ryan lost his re-election bid for the Second Congressional District. Moreover, Mark Parkinson, former state party chair, became a Democrat and ran as Sebelius' lieutenant governor. This left the Republicans holding only three of the six statewide offices and only two of four Congressional seats. Intra-party factional feuding between moderates and conservatives reached new intensity, with some moderate leaders openly endorsing Democratic candidates. In 2008, however, the Republicans regained the initiative. The Kansas Democrats, in the year of Obama, poured money and effort into Kansas, but came up short, losing the Second Congressional District to Lynn Jenkins and showing no consequential gains in state legislative races. Republican success in 2008 was due to an energetic slate of candidates and to the statewide campaign organization of U.S. Senator Pat Roberts. The Roberts organization, under campaign manager David Kensinger, invested in and developed a statewide structure to conduct an effective grassroots campaign, registering and identifying Republican voters and then effectively getting them out the vote.

=2006 election cycle

= * U.S. SenateStatistics of the Congressional Elections of November 7, 2006, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2006election.pdf: ''There was no United States Senate election.'' * U.S. Congress: The Republicans lost one U.S. Congressional seat. Jerry Moran in the 1st District and Todd Tiahrt in the 4th District held their seats. Incumbent Jim Ryun in the 2nd District lost to Democrat

Nancy Boyda Nancy Boyda (born August 2, 1955) is an American chemist and politician. She is a former Democratic U.S. Representative for . On November 4, 2008, Boyda was defeated for re-election to a second term by Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins. Ea ...

. Chuck Ahner lost to incumbent Democrat Dennis Moore in the 3rd District. * Kansas Statewides: After a seven-way primary, Jim Barnett and

Susan Wagle Susan Wagle (born September 27, 1953) is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 30th district from 2001 to 2021. She was elected Kansas Senate President in 2013 and was reelected in 2017. ...

lost the gubernatorial election to incumbent Democrat

Kathleen Sebelius Kathleen Sebelius (; née Gilligan, born May 15, 1948) is an American businesswoman and politician who served as the 21st United States secretary of Health and Human Services from 2009 until 2014. As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sebeli ...

.

Phill Kline Phillip D. Kline (born December 31, 1959) is a former American attorney who served as a Kansas state legislator, district attorney of Johnson County, and Kansas Attorney General. Kline, a member of the Republican Party, lost re-election as at ...

lost his re-election bid for attorney general to Democrat Paul Morrison, who later resigned in a scandal and was replaced by Steve Six.

Ron Thornburgh Ron E. Thornburgh, (born December 31, 1962, Burlingame, Kansas) was the 29th Secretary of State of Kansas. He was elected into his first term in 1994 and was subsequently re-elected in 1998, 2002, and 2006. In July 2007, Thornburgh announced hi ...

won re-election as Secretary of State and after he resigned in 2010 was replaced by Democrat

Chris Biggs Chris Biggs (born October 14, 1958) is an American lawyer and politician who was the 30th Secretary of State of Kansas. He was appointed on March 16, 2010 by Governor Mark Parkinson to replace Ron Thornburgh who resigned on February 15, 2010. On ...

.

Sandy Praeger Sandy Praeger (born October 21, 1944) is a former politician from the U.S. state of Kansas who served as the Kansas Insurance Commissioner from 2003 to 2015. Prior to her term as insurance commissioner, she was a member of the Kansas Senate and ...

won re-election as the insurance commissioner.

Lynn Jenkins Lynn Haag Jenkins (born June 10, 1963) is an American politician and lobbyist who served as the U.S. representative for , in office from 2009 to 2019. She previously served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2003 to 2008, in the Kansas House of Repre ...

won re-election as treasurer. She resigned as state treasurer after winning the 2nd Congressional District in 2008 and was replaced by Democrat

Dennis McKinney Dennis McKinney (born July 24, 1960) is a former Kansas State Treasurer. He was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives where he represented the 116th House District for ten terms, the last six as the Democratic Party's leader (Minority ...

. * Kansas House: After the election and some defections to the Democrats, the Republicans held 78 House seats, a net loss of 5 seats. The House elected

Melvin Neufeld Melvin James Neufeld (October 3, 1940 – August 3, 2020) was a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives. He represented the 115th district. Neufeld first served from 1985 to 1988, and again from 1991 to 2010, when he lost the pr ...

as Speaker; Don Dahl as Speaker Pro Tem;

Ray Merrick Raymond F. Merrick (born October 18, 1939) is a Republican former member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing district 27 from 2013 to 2017. He was elected Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives in December 2012.Cooper, Br ...

as Majority Leader, and

Jene Vickrey Jene Vickrey (born August 8, 1959) is a former Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing the 6th district. He served from 1993 until his resignation in July 2020 following his decision not to seek reelection in 2020, ...

as Assistant Majority Leader. *State Party: In January 2007, the State Committee elected

Kris Kobach Kris William Kobach ( ; born March 26, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician who is the Attorney General of Kansas. He previously served as the 31st Secretary of State of Kansas. A former Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, Kobach came ...

as chair; Sharon Meissner as vice-chair; Beverly Caley as secretary; and David Thorne as treasurer. The conservative faction continued to control the party. The executive director for 2007–2008 was Christian Morgan.

=2008 election cycle

= * PresidentStatistics of the Presidential and Congressional Elections of November 4, 2008, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008election.pdf: In the year Democrat

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...

was elected president, Republican candidate

John McCain John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American politician and United States Navy officer who served as a United States senator from Arizona from 1987 until his death in 2018. He previously served two terms ...

carried Kansas by a wide margin. In the Kansas Presidential Caucus, Mike Huckabee prevailed. The national Republican convention was in St Paul, Minnesota. The Presidential electors were: Tom Arpke, David Kensinger, Mike Pompeo, Jeff Colyer, Kris Kobach, and Helen Van Etten. * U.S. Senate: Pat Roberts won re-election to the Senate by a large margin defeating former Democratic Congressman Jim Slattery. * U.S. Congress: Jerry Moran, in the 1st District, and Todd Tiahrt, in the 4th District, won re-election to Congress. In a close race,

Lynn Jenkins Lynn Haag Jenkins (born June 10, 1963) is an American politician and lobbyist who served as the U.S. representative for , in office from 2009 to 2019. She previously served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2003 to 2008, in the Kansas House of Repre ...

defeated incumbent Democrat

Nancy Boyda Nancy Boyda (born August 2, 1955) is an American chemist and politician. She is a former Democratic U.S. Representative for . On November 4, 2008, Boyda was defeated for re-election to a second term by Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins. Ea ...

to win the 2nd District, after defeating Jim Ryun in the primary. Nick Jordan lost to incumbent Democrat Dennis Moore in the 3rd District. * Kansas Senate: The Republicans gained a seat in the Kansas Senate winning 31 seats. The Senate re-elected Steve Morris as Senate President;

John Vratil John Vratil (October 28, 1945) is a former Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the Kansas's 11th Senate district, 11th district from 1998 to 2013. He was the Senate Vice-President from 2003 to 2 ...

as Senate Vice President; Derek Schmidt as Majority Leader, and Vicki Schmidt as Assistant Majority Leader. * Kansas House: The Republicans held their ground but lost a seat to a subsequent defection, leaving them with 77 seats. The House elected, in a surprise upset,

Michael O'Neal Michael O'Neal (born January 16, 1951) is an American lawyer and Republican politician from Hutchinson, Kansas. He served as the Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives from 2009 to 2013. Early life and education O'Neal was adopted as ...

as Speaker over the previous Speaker

Melvin Neufeld Melvin James Neufeld (October 3, 1940 – August 3, 2020) was a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives. He represented the 115th district. Neufeld first served from 1985 to 1988, and again from 1991 to 2010, when he lost the pr ...

;

Arlen Siegfreid Arlen Herbert Siegfreid (August 23, 1946 - April 11, 2020) was a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing the 15th district from 2003 to 2013 and the 121st district briefly from 2013 until his resignation a few months ...

as Speaker Pro Tem;

Ray Merrick Raymond F. Merrick (born October 18, 1939) is a Republican former member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing district 27 from 2013 to 2017. He was elected Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives in December 2012.Cooper, Br ...

as Majority Leader; and Peggy Mast as Assistant Majority Leader.

"Clean Sweep": Conservative faction takes control (2010–2018)

The 2010 and 2012 elections were watershed elections for the political history of Kansas. The 2010 election was a decisive victory for the Republican Party in the year of the "Tea Party", a grass roots, fiscally conservative movement that formed in early 2009. Led by the Brownback Campaign under campaign manager David Kensinger, the Republicans developed and implemented the "Clean Sweep" program focusing on early, detailed voter identification and a systematic data driven get-out-the-vote effort. The Republicans won all six statewide offices for the first time since the 1966 election, all four Congressional seats for the first time since the 1996 election, and gained 16 seats in the House, for 92 total seats, a number last equaled in the 1954 election. As a result, the conservative faction firmly held the executive branch and the House. In the Senate, the moderate and conservative Republican factions were of roughly equal number, allowing the Democrats, who usually aligned with the moderate faction, to control the outcome on divisive issues. The 2012 election did not change the overall number of Republicans in the legislature, but it radically changed the composition of the Senate. After bitter primaries, the conservative Republican candidates prevailed in most races and then went on to win in the general election. Some moderate senate incumbents, who lost in the primary election, endorsed Democrats. A completely new leadership took over the Kansas Senate.

=2010 election cycle

= * U.S. SenateStatistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010, Karen L. Haas, http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2010election.pdf: Jerry Moran became the new U.S. Senator, replacing Sam Brownback, after a tough primary victory over Todd Tiahrt. * U.S. Congress: Republicans won all four Congressional districts for the first time since 1996 with

Tim Huelskamp Timothy Alan Huelskamp (; born November 11, 1968) is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for from 2011 to 2017. Huelskamp, a member of the Republican Party, was rated the least bipartisan member of the House during the 114th ...

winning the first, after a seven-way primary; incumbent

Lynn Jenkins Lynn Haag Jenkins (born June 10, 1963) is an American politician and lobbyist who served as the U.S. representative for , in office from 2009 to 2019. She previously served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2003 to 2008, in the Kansas House of Repre ...

winning re-election in the second;

Kevin Yoder Kevin Wayne Yoder (born January 8, 1976) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for from 2011 to 2019. A Republican, Yoder was the Kansas State Representative for the 20th distr ...

winning the third, after a 13-way primary; and

Mike Pompeo Michael Richard Pompeo (; born December 30, 1963) is an American politician, diplomat, and businessman who served under President Donald Trump as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018 and as the 70th United State ...

winning in the fourth, after a four-way primary. * Kansas StatewidesElection Statistics, State of Kansas Office of the Secretary of State, http://www.kssos.org/elections/elections_statistics.html: The party swept all six statewide elections for the first time since 1964. Sam Brownback became governor,

Jeff Colyer Jeffrey William Colyer (born June 3, 1960) is an American surgeon and politician who served as the 47th governor of Kansas from January 31, 2018, to January 14, 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 49th lieutenant governor of Kans ...

lieutenant governor,

Kris Kobach Kris William Kobach ( ; born March 26, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician who is the Attorney General of Kansas. He previously served as the 31st Secretary of State of Kansas. A former Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, Kobach came ...

Secretary of State, Derek Schmidt attorney general,

Sandy Praeger Sandy Praeger (born October 21, 1944) is a former politician from the U.S. state of Kansas who served as the Kansas Insurance Commissioner from 2003 to 2015. Prior to her term as insurance commissioner, she was a member of the Kansas Senate and ...

was re-elected as insurance commissioner, and

Ron Estes Ronald Gene Estes ( ; born July 19, 1956) is an American politician, engineer, and farmer who has been the U.S. representative for since April 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2011 to 2017. A fif ...

state treasurer. * Kansas Senate: There were two special senate elections both won by Republicans, and Jay Emler was elected Majority Leader after Derek Schmidt resigned to become state attorney general. * Kansas House: Republicans picked up 16 seats in the Kansas House of Representatives, resulting in 92 Republican representatives, the highest number since 1953–54. Of the 92, 33 were freshman of whom 9 were elected by precinct leaders to fill post-election vacancies. The House re-elected

Michael O'Neal Michael O'Neal (born January 16, 1951) is an American lawyer and Republican politician from Hutchinson, Kansas. He served as the Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives from 2009 to 2013. Early life and education O'Neal was adopted as ...

as Speaker;

Jene Vickrey Jene Vickrey (born August 8, 1959) is a former Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing the 6th district. He served from 1993 until his resignation in July 2020 following his decision not to seek reelection in 2020, ...

as Speaker Pro Tem;

Arlen Siegfreid Arlen Herbert Siegfreid (August 23, 1946 - April 11, 2020) was a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing the 15th district from 2003 to 2013 and the 121st district briefly from 2013 until his resignation a few months ...

as Majority Leader; and

Peggy Mast Peggy Mast (born August 20, 1948) is a Republican politician who served as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives representing the 76th district. She served from 1997 to 2017, finishing her 20-year career as the Speaker of the House pro ...

as Assistant Majority Leader. *State Party: At the January 2009 meeting in Topeka, the State Committee elected Amanda Adkins as chair; Ron Estes as vice-chair; Susan Concannon as secretary; and Steve Fitzgerald as treasurer. Helen van Etten and Mike Pompeo were elected National Committeeman and woman. The executive director was CiCi Rojas in 2009 then Ashley McMillan in 2010.

=2012 election cycle

= 2012 began with the state party Convention including speakers Governor

Rick Perry James Richard Perry (born March 4, 1950) is an American politician who served as the 14th United States secretary of energy from 2017 to 2019 and as the 47th governor of Texas from 2000 to 2015. Perry also ran unsuccessfully for the Republica ...

of Texas, Governor

Bobby Jindal Piyush "Bobby" Jindal (born June 10, 1971) is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of Louisiana from 2008 to 2016. The only living former Louisiana governor, Jindal also served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives a ...

of Louisiana, Governor

Bob McDonnell Robert Francis McDonnell (born June 15, 1954) is an American attorney, businessman, politician, and former military officer who served as the 71st governor of Virginia from 2010 to 2014. His career ended after his corruption scandal and convic ...

of Virginia, and publisher Steve Forbes. On March 10, the state party held its presidential preference caucus at 96 locations in 90 different counties. Over 32,000 people showed up to vote. Rick Santorum won 33 delegates and

Mitt Romney Willard Mitt Romney (born March 12, 1947) is an American politician, businessman, and lawyer serving as the junior United States senator from Utah since January 2019, succeeding Orrin Hatch. He served as the 70th governor of Massachusetts f ...

won 7 delegates. The 2012 general election was the first time in Kansas history when three factors aligned on the same election (1) there was no U.S. Senator on the ballot, (2) there were no statewide offices on the ballot, and (3) both state Senate and House candidates ran in newly redistricted districts. * Primary Election: The primary, held on August 7, 2012, was a decisive battle between the moderate faction, particularly those in the state senate aligned with the Senate leadership, and the conservative faction, primarily challengers to Senate incumbents aligned with Governor Brownback. Of the 32 Republican senate seats, 29 had primaries. The primary election had several unique features. First, there was no U.S. Senate or statewide office race on the ballot, and, as it turned out, no Republican congressional primaries. This lack of marquee races resulted in an emphasis on legislative races. Second, when the legislature was unable to pass redistricting maps, the matter ended up before the federal court. The 3-judge panel issued new district lines for the congressional, state senate, state house, and state school board districts. The court was required to make the state legislative districts with a 1% population deviation from the perfect district and did not include incumbent locations as a criterion in its determination. The result were radically new maps, issued Friday, June 8, 2012. Candidates had to file by Monday, June 11 at noon. Consequentially, over that weekend there was a rush to recruit candidates to fill districts without an incumbent. Last, this election brought independent expenditures by Political Committees (PACs) to levels not before seen in Kansas. When the last county reported its results early on Wednesday, August 8, the conservative candidates had won a substantial majority of the Republican senate primary races. * Presidential: Mitt Romney easily won Kansas with 62% of the statewide vote. Obama only managed 37%. The National Convention was held in Tampa, Florida. The Kansas members of the Electoral College were Amanda Adkins, Todd Tiahrt, Helen Van Ettan, Randy Duncan, Kelly Arnold, and Lt Governor Jeff Colyer. * U.S. Senate: ''There were no U.S. Senate races.'' After the election, Jerry Moran was elected chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. * Congressional: For the first time in over 40 years, the Kansas Democrats failed to mount a serious challenge to any of the Republican candidates. As a result,

Tim Huelskamp Timothy Alan Huelskamp (; born November 11, 1968) is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for from 2011 to 2017. Huelskamp, a member of the Republican Party, was rated the least bipartisan member of the House during the 114th ...

won the 1st District with no opposition,

Lynn Jenkins Lynn Haag Jenkins (born June 10, 1963) is an American politician and lobbyist who served as the U.S. representative for , in office from 2009 to 2019. She previously served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2003 to 2008, in the Kansas House of Repre ...

won the 2nd District will minimal opposition,

Kevin Yoder Kevin Wayne Yoder (born January 8, 1976) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for from 2011 to 2019. A Republican, Yoder was the Kansas State Representative for the 20th distr ...

won the 3rd District with only a Libertarian as an opponent, and

Mike Pompeo Michael Richard Pompeo (; born December 30, 1963) is an American politician, diplomat, and businessman who served under President Donald Trump as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018 and as the 70th United State ...

won the 4th District.

Lynn Jenkins Lynn Haag Jenkins (born June 10, 1963) is an American politician and lobbyist who served as the U.S. representative for , in office from 2009 to 2019. She previously served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2003 to 2008, in the Kansas House of Repre ...

was elected vice chair of the Republican House Conference. * State Senate: The Republicans won a record 32 seats. Of the 11 open seats, Republicans won 10. The Republican Caucus elected

Susan Wagle Susan Wagle (born September 27, 1953) is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 30th district from 2001 to 2021. She was elected Kansas Senate President in 2013 and was reelected in 2017. ...

as Senate President, Jeff King as Senate Vice President, Terry Bruce as Majority Leader, Julia Lynn as Assistant Majority leader, and Garrett Love as Whip. This was a complete break with past leadership, none of the leaders for the 2013 Session had previously been in Senate leadership. * State House: In an unprecedented accomplishment, after gaining 16 seats in 2010 for a total of 92, the Republicans won 92 seats again in 2012, defying the general consensus that after large gains, some lost seats were normal. Of the 35 open seats, Republicans won 26. Republicans won 34 seats with no Democratic challenger. The House Republican Caucus elected

Ray Merrick Raymond F. Merrick (born October 18, 1939) is a Republican former member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing district 27 from 2013 to 2017. He was elected Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives in December 2012.Cooper, Br ...

as Speaker,

Peggy Mast Peggy Mast (born August 20, 1948) is a Republican politician who served as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives representing the 76th district. She served from 1997 to 2017, finishing her 20-year career as the Speaker of the House pro ...

as Speaker Pro Tem,

Jene Vickrey Jene Vickrey (born August 8, 1959) is a former Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing the 6th district. He served from 1993 until his resignation in July 2020 following his decision not to seek reelection in 2020, ...

as Majority Leader, David Crum as Assistant Majority Leader, and Brian Weber as Whip. * State School Board: Republicans won four of the five races. *State PartyOfficial KSGOP Records: At the January 2011 meeting in Topeka, the State Committee re-elected Amanda Adkins as party chair and elected

Kelly Arnold Kelly Arnold is an American politician serving as the Sedgwick County, Kansas, Sedgwick County Clerk. He is in his third term, having first been elected in 2008. From January 2013 to February 2019, Kelly served as the chairman of the Kansas Republ ...

as vice chair, Michelle Martin as secretary and T.C. Anderson as treasurer, and in a special election, Todd Tiahrt was elected National Committeeman, when

Mike Pompeo Michael Richard Pompeo (; born December 30, 1963) is an American politician, diplomat, and businessman who served under President Donald Trump as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018 and as the 70th United State ...

resigned after winning a seat in Congress. Ashley McMillan, after serving as executive director during the 2010 election cycle, resigned in March 2011 and was replaced by Clay Barker. In February 2012, the State Committee re-elected Todd Tiahrt as national committeeman and Helen van Etten as national committeewoman.

=2014 election cycle

= The 2014 election saw a concentrated, but ultimately unsuccessful, effort by Democrats to win the Governor's race. Many leaders of the older moderate faction, including those who lost positions in 2010 and 2012, formed groups to support liberals like democratic governor candidate Paul Davis or independent U.S. senate candidate Greg Orman. These groups were likewise unsuccessful in bringing the Kansas electorate along with them.

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

, aged 91, visited all 105 Kansas Counties in a 10-part thank you tour, campaigning for Governor Sam Brownback and U.S. Senator Pat Roberts. * Primary Election: The primary, held on August 5, 2014, featured several major contests. U.S. Senator Pat Roberts faced a strong challenge from "Tea Party" candidate Dr. Milton Wolf, and two other candidates. Roberts prevailed with 48% of the vote. Congressman

Mike Pompeo Michael Richard Pompeo (; born December 30, 1963) is an American politician, diplomat, and businessman who served under President Donald Trump as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018 and as the 70th United State ...

was unsuccessfully challenged by National Committeeman Todd Tiahrt. Congressman

Tim Huelskamp Timothy Alan Huelskamp (; born November 11, 1968) is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for from 2011 to 2017. Huelskamp, a member of the Republican Party, was rated the least bipartisan member of the House during the 114th ...

prevailed over Alan LaPolice. There were 30 primaries for Kansas House seats, of which 15 were strongly contested. After substantial funds were expended in these races there was little or no net change in the ideological - conservative / moderate - make-up of the Republican slate of general election candidates. * U.S. Senate: Senator Pat Roberts was initially challenged by Democrat Chad Taylor and Independent Greg Orman. In a bizarre twist, Chad Taylor dropped out after winning the Democratic primary, leaving the field to Orman. After Orman gained a substantial early lead in the polls, the Roberts team launched an effective persuasion and voter turnout effort that saw numerous national republican leaders coming to Kansas. Roberts won the election with 53% of the vote to Orman's 43%. * Congressional: The four Republican incumbents swept to victory with double digit wins. As a result,

Tim Huelskamp Timothy Alan Huelskamp (; born November 11, 1968) is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for from 2011 to 2017. Huelskamp, a member of the Republican Party, was rated the least bipartisan member of the House during the 114th ...

won the 1st District,

Lynn Jenkins Lynn Haag Jenkins (born June 10, 1963) is an American politician and lobbyist who served as the U.S. representative for , in office from 2009 to 2019. She previously served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2003 to 2008, in the Kansas House of Repre ...

won the 2nd District,

Kevin Yoder Kevin Wayne Yoder (born January 8, 1976) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for from 2011 to 2019. A Republican, Yoder was the Kansas State Representative for the 20th distr ...

won the 3rd District, and

Mike Pompeo Michael Richard Pompeo (; born December 30, 1963) is an American politician, diplomat, and businessman who served under President Donald Trump as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018 and as the 70th United State ...

won the 4th District. * Kansas Statewides: After a very tough and contentious race, Sam Brownback was re-elected as governor with

Jeff Colyer Jeffrey William Colyer (born June 3, 1960) is an American surgeon and politician who served as the 47th governor of Kansas from January 31, 2018, to January 14, 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 49th lieutenant governor of Kans ...

as his lieutenant governor with 50% of the vote to 46% for Democrat Paul Davis. The other four statewide races were less contested with

Kris Kobach Kris William Kobach ( ; born March 26, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician who is the Attorney General of Kansas. He previously served as the 31st Secretary of State of Kansas. A former Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, Kobach came ...

re-elected as Secretary of State, Derek Schmidt re-elected as attorney general,

Ron Estes Ronald Gene Estes ( ; born July 19, 1956) is an American politician, engineer, and farmer who has been the U.S. representative for since April 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2011 to 2017. A fif ...

re-elected as state treasurer, and Ken Selzer elected as the new insurance commissioner. * State House: Republicans took five democrat-held seats for a total of 97 of 125. No Republican incumbents lost and no open seats previously held by a Republican were won by Democrats. Ray Merrick was re-elected Speaker, and Gene Vickrey was re-elected House Majority Leader. * State School Board: Republicans won four of the five races. * State PartyOfficial KSGOP Records: At the January 2013 State Convention in Hutchinson, Kelly Arnold was elected chair, Michelle Martin vice-chair, Derek Kreifels secretary, and T.C. Anderson re-elected treasurer. Clay Barker remained as executive director.

=2016 election cycle

= The 2016 election on November 8, 2016, saw a concentrated and successful effort by the moderate faction to increase its strength in the Republican legislative offices and a successful effort by Democrats to gain seats in the legislature. * Presidential Caucus: The Caucus was held Saturday, March 5. Turnout of 79,000 voters exceeded all forecasts. Kansas' 40 delegates were allocated with Ted Cruz: 24, Donald Trump 9; Marco Rubio 6, John Kasich 1. Kansas then selected its national convention delegates at four district and one state conventions, held in April and May 2016. The 40 delegates and 37 alternate delegates attended the National Convention in Cleveland from 18–21 July at which Donald Trump was nominated as the Presidential Candidate. * Primary Election: The primary, held on August 8, 2016, saw intense competition between candidates of the conservative and moderate factions. In the Kansas Senate and House primary elections, the moderate faction gained candidates for each chamber. Congressman

Tim Huelskamp Timothy Alan Huelskamp (; born November 11, 1968) is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for from 2011 to 2017. Huelskamp, a member of the Republican Party, was rated the least bipartisan member of the House during the 114th ...

was defeated by primary challenger Roger Marshall in a stiffly fought and expensive primary election. *Presidential Election: Trump won Kansas' six electoral college votes by winning 56.6% of the vote in Kansas, 671,018 votes. The electoral college met on December 19 and voted for Donald Trump and Mike Pence. The electors were: Kelly Arnold, Helen van Etten, Mark Kahrs, Ashley McMillan Hutchinson; Ron Estes, and Clay Barker. * U.S. Senate: Senator Jerry Moran won easily with 62.1% of the vote. * Congressional: The four Republican candidates swept to victory each with double digit percentage wins. As a result, Roger Marshall won the 1st District,

Lynn Jenkins Lynn Haag Jenkins (born June 10, 1963) is an American politician and lobbyist who served as the U.S. representative for , in office from 2009 to 2019. She previously served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2003 to 2008, in the Kansas House of Repre ...

won the 2nd District,

Kevin Yoder Kevin Wayne Yoder (born January 8, 1976) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for from 2011 to 2019. A Republican, Yoder was the Kansas State Representative for the 20th distr ...

won the 3rd District, and

Mike Pompeo Michael Richard Pompeo (; born December 30, 1963) is an American politician, diplomat, and businessman who served under President Donald Trump as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018 and as the 70th United State ...

won the 4th District. * Special KS-04 Election: After being confirmed as CIA Director, Congressman Mike Pompeo resigned his seat. On February 9, 2017, a special nominating convention from the 4th District selected state treasurer

Ron Estes Ronald Gene Estes ( ; born July 19, 1956) is an American politician, engineer, and farmer who has been the U.S. representative for since April 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2011 to 2017. A fif ...

as the Republican candidate for the April 11, 2017, special election.

Ron Estes Ronald Gene Estes ( ; born July 19, 1956) is an American politician, engineer, and farmer who has been the U.S. representative for since April 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2011 to 2017. A fif ...

went on to win the Special Election with 53% of the vote. * Kansas Statewides: No Statewide offices were up for election in 2016. In July 2017, however, Governor Brownback was nominated to be U.S. Ambassador at large for Religious Freedom. He had to be re-nominated in early 2018 and was finally confirmed in January 2018. * State Senate: Republicans lost one seat for a total of 31 of 40. The Republican Caucus, on December 5, elected Susan Wagle as Senate President and Jim Denning as Majority Leader. * State House: Republicans lost a net of 12 House seats for a total of 85 of 125. This was still their fourth best performance since 1970. The Republican Caucus, on December 5, elected Ron Ryckman, Jr, as Speaker and Don Hineman as Majority Leader. * State School Board: Republicans won four of the five races. * State PartyOfficial KSGOP Records: At the February 2015 state committee meeting held in Wichita, the State Committee elected Kelly Arnold as chair; Ashley McMillan Hutchinson as vice-chair; Derek Kreifels as secretary, and T.C. Anderson as treasurer. Clay Barker remained as executive director. At the February 2016 state committee meeting in Overland Park, the State Committee elected Mark Kahrs and re-elected Helen van Etten as National Committeeman and Committeewoman.

=2018 election cycle

= The 2018 election saw the Republicans lose the Governor and Third District Congressional races, the first time the Democrats had won a statewide or federal office since 2008. Republicans won the other four statewide offices, the other three congressional offices and retained the majority in the state House with a somewhat more conservative caucus. * Primary Election: There were several open seat primaries in 2017. When Governor Brownback was confirmed as a U.S. Ambassador in January 2017, he resigned and Lt Gov

Jeff Colyer Jeffrey William Colyer (born June 3, 1960) is an American surgeon and politician who served as the 47th governor of Kansas from January 31, 2018, to January 14, 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 49th lieutenant governor of Kans ...

became Governor on January 31, 2017. He appointed Tracey Mann as Lt Governor. The Governor primary consisted of Governor

Jeff Colyer Jeffrey William Colyer (born June 3, 1960) is an American surgeon and politician who served as the 47th governor of Kansas from January 31, 2018, to January 14, 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 49th lieutenant governor of Kans ...

, Secretary of State

Kris Kobach Kris William Kobach ( ; born March 26, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician who is the Attorney General of Kansas. He previously served as the 31st Secretary of State of Kansas. A former Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, Kobach came ...

, Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer, former state senator Jim Barnett and a few others. Kobach won the primary by a margin of 343 votes over Colyer. The Secretary of State primary had several candidates and Scott Schwab, the Speaker Pro Tem, prevailed.

Vicki Schmidt Vicki Schmidt (born September 15, 1955) is an American politician who is currently the Kansas Insurance Commissioner. She was a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 20th district, from 2005 to 2019. She also served as the Sena ...

, a state senator won the Insurance Commissioner primary. In the 2nd Congressional District, after Congresswoman

Lynn Jenkins Lynn Haag Jenkins (born June 10, 1963) is an American politician and lobbyist who served as the U.S. representative for , in office from 2009 to 2019. She previously served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2003 to 2008, in the Kansas House of Repre ...

announced she would not run for re-election, a multi-candidate primary was won by

Steve Watkins (politician) Steven Charles Watkins Jr. (born September 18, 1976) is an American politician and former military officer. He served as the U.S. representative for Kansas's from 2019 to 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party, and was succeeded by Ja ...

. There were multiple House primaries in which eight incumbents were defeated and 12 open seats were contested. * U.S. Senate: No U.S. Senate seats were up for election. In January 2019, Pat Roberts announced he would not run for re-election in 2020. * Congressional: Republicans won three of the four districts. In the 1st District, incumbent Roger Marshall won with 68% of the vote. In the 2nd District,

Steve Watkins (politician) Steven Charles Watkins Jr. (born September 18, 1976) is an American politician and former military officer. He served as the U.S. representative for Kansas's from 2019 to 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party, and was succeeded by Ja ...

won with 48% of the vote over democrat Paul Davis. In the 4th district, incumbent

Ron Estes Ronald Gene Estes ( ; born July 19, 1956) is an American politician, engineer, and farmer who has been the U.S. representative for since April 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2011 to 2017. A fif ...

, won with 60% of the vote. In the 3rd district incumbent

Kevin Yoder Kevin Wayne Yoder (born January 8, 1976) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for from 2011 to 2019. A Republican, Yoder was the Kansas State Representative for the 20th distr ...

was defeated getting 43% of the vote. * Kansas Statewides: Republicans won four of the five statewide races, losing the Governor race. Democrat

Laura Kelly Laura Jeanne Kelly (born January 24, 1950)"Laura Kelly,"
''Kansapedia,''

defeated republican

Kris Kobach Kris William Kobach ( ; born March 26, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician who is the Attorney General of Kansas. He previously served as the 31st Secretary of State of Kansas. A former Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, Kobach came ...

for governor 48% to 43% of the vote. Independent

Greg Orman Gregory John Orman (born December 2, 1968) is an American politician, businessman, and entrepreneur. He ran as an independent to represent Kansas in the United States Senate in the 2014 election, earning 42.5 percent of the vote and losing to i ...

, who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2014, won 7% of the vote. Incumbent Derek Schmidt was re-elected Attorney General with 59% of the voter. Scott Schwab, the House Speaker Pro Tem, was elected Secretary of State with 53% of the vote.

Jake LaTurner Jacob Andrew Joseph LaTurner (born February 17, 1988) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, LaTurner was the 40th Kansas State Treasurer from 2017 ...

, who had been appointed State Treasurer in 2017 was elected with 58% of the vote.

Vicki Schmidt Vicki Schmidt (born September 15, 1955) is an American politician who is currently the Kansas Insurance Commissioner. She was a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 20th district, from 2005 to 2019. She also served as the Sena ...

, a state senator, was elected Insurance Commissioner with 63% of the vote. * State Senate: State Senate was not up for election. The Republicans won the one special election. After the election, two republican senators switched to the democratic party. * State House: Republican candidates won five new seats and lost five seats, leaving the House at 85 Republicans. The overall make-up of the Republican House Caucus was more conservative. After the election, two republican representatives (one had already lost in the primary) switched to the democratic party. * State School Board: Republicans won four of the five election. * State Party: At the February 2017 State Committee meeting in Manhattan, the state committee re-elected Kelly Arnold as chair, Ashley M. Hutchinson as vice-chair, elected Alana J. Roethle as secretary, and re-elected TC Anderson as treasurer. Clay Barker stayed on as executive director until October 2017. TC Anderson resigned as treasurer in January 2018 and Richard Todd was elected replacement treasurer in February 2018. Jim Joice was appointed as executive director in April 2018 and resigned the position in December 2019.

Republican populism (2020–)

Sweeping social-economic changes altered the composition of the Republican Party. Working class voters switched to republican, not for economic reasons but for cultural ones.We Should Have Seen It Coming: From Reagan to Trump--A Front-Row Seat to a Political Revolution; a book by Gerald F. Seib (2020) These new party members often opposed 1980s era conservative policies such as increased immigration, free trade, international involvement and reduced government social programs. Harbingers of this movement were

Pat Buchanan Patrick Joseph Buchanan (; born November 2, 1938) is an American paleoconservative political commentator, columnist, politician, and broadcaster. Buchanan was an assistant and special consultant to U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, an ...

's 1992 presidential campaign and

Mike Huckabee Michael Dale Huckabee (born August 24, 1955) is an American politician, Baptist minister, and political commentator who served as the 44th governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate for the Republican Party presidential nomina ...

's 1988 presidential campaign and culminated in the election of Donald Trump in 2016.

=2020 election cycleSecretary of State Records

= The November 3, 2020, general election saw record voter turnout, record spending, and broad success for Republican conservatives in both the primary and general elections. A democrat "blue wave" did not occur, although the democrat candidates made gains in Johnson County, while losing ground elsewhere in the state. The 2020 election cycle was disrupted by the ongoing Covid19 pandemic. * Presidential Caucus: Due to the lack of any opposition, the four district committees and the state committee voted to bind their national convention delegates to Donald Trump and then proceeded to elect the national convention delegates. The normal national convention was canceled due to Covid19 and a truncated convention with a few representatives from each state was substituted. * Primary Elections: In the US Senate primary, Roger Marshall prevailed over

Kris Kobach Kris William Kobach ( ; born March 26, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician who is the Attorney General of Kansas. He previously served as the 31st Secretary of State of Kansas. A former Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, Kobach came ...

and Bob Hamilton. In the KS-01 primary,

Tracey Mann Tracey Robert Mann (born December 17, 1976) is an American businessman and politician who has served as the U.S. representative from Kansas's 1st congressional district since 2021. The district, popularly known as "the Big First," includes par ...

prevailed over Bill Clifford. In the KS-02 primary, State Treasurer

Jacob LaTurner Jacob Andrew Joseph LaTurner (born February 17, 1988) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, LaTurner was the 40th Kansas State Treasurer from 2017 ...

prevailed or incumbent Congressman Steve Watkins. In the KS-03 primary, Amanda Adkins prevailed over Sara Hart Weir and Andrienne Vallejo Foster. In the state senate and state house primaries conservative candidates saw broad success against incumbents and in open seat races. * Presidential Election: Donald Trump won Kansas' six electoral college votes by winning 56.2% of the vote, 771,406 votes. The electoral college met on December 14 and voted for Donald Trump and Mike Pence. The electors were: Mike Kuckelman, Helen van Etten, Mark Kahrs, Shannon Golden, Emily Wellman, and Treatha Brown-Foster. * U.S. Senate: Roger Marshall won the election with 53.2% of the vote. * Congressional: Republican candidates won three elections:

Tracey Mann Tracey Robert Mann (born December 17, 1976) is an American businessman and politician who has served as the U.S. representative from Kansas's 1st congressional district since 2021. The district, popularly known as "the Big First," includes par ...

won the 1st District with 71% of the vote,

Jacob LaTurner Jacob Andrew Joseph LaTurner (born February 17, 1988) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, LaTurner was the 40th Kansas State Treasurer from 2017 ...

won the 2nd District with 55% of the vote, and

Ron Estes Ronald Gene Estes ( ; born July 19, 1956) is an American politician, engineer, and farmer who has been the U.S. representative for since April 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2011 to 2017. A fif ...

was reelected in the 4th District with 64% of the vote. Amanda Adkins lost in the 3rd District. * Kansas Statewides: No Statewide offices were up for election in 2020, although

Jacob LaTurner Jacob Andrew Joseph LaTurner (born February 17, 1988) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, LaTurner was the 40th Kansas State Treasurer from 2017 ...

resigned as State Treasurer after winning a Congressional seat. * State Senate: Republicans retained 29 seats of 40 in the state senate, losing two seats and gaining two seats. The Republican Caucus, on December 7, 2020, elected Ty Masterson as Senate President and Gene Suellentrop as Majority Leader. * State House: Republicans won four new seats and lost two seats for a net gain of two seats for a total of 86 of 125. The Republican Caucus, on December 7, 2020, re-elected Ron Ryckman, Jr, as Speaker and Dan Hawkins as Majority Leader. * State School Board: Republicans won three of the five races. * State PartyOfficial KSGOP Records: At the February 2019 State Committee meeting in Topeka, the state committee elected Mike Kuckelman as chair, Virginia Crossland-Macha as vice-chair, Emily Wellman as secretary, and Bob Dool as treasurer. Shannon Golden was appointed executive director in August 2019. Virginia Crossland-Macha later resigned her position leaving a vacancy.

=2022 election cycle

= *Redistricting After the Kansas Supreme Court upheld the new legislative district lines all Congressional, and state senate, house and state school board races were run in new districts. *Primary Elections: In the US Senate primary, incumbent Jerry Moran prevailed with 81% of the vote. In the only Congressional district primary, Amanda Adkins prevailed in the third district with 77% of the vote. Derek Schmidt, the current attorney general, and Katie Sawyer, won the Governor - Lt Governor primary with 81% of the vote. Incumbent Scott Schwab won the Secretary of State primary with 55% of the vote.

Kris Kobach Kris William Kobach ( ; born March 26, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician who is the Attorney General of Kansas. He previously served as the 31st Secretary of State of Kansas. A former Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, Kobach came ...

won a three-way primary for Attorney General with 42% of the vote. Representative Steve Johnson won the State Treasurer primary in a very close race. Incumbent Insurance Commissioner

Vicki Schmidt Vicki Schmidt (born September 15, 1955) is an American politician who is currently the Kansas Insurance Commissioner. She was a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 20th district, from 2005 to 2019. She also served as the Sena ...

had an uncontested primary. Twenty-five house seats had primary elections. * U.S. Senate: Indcumbent Jerry Moran was re-elected with 60% of the vote. * Congressional: Incumbent Tracy Mann was relected in the 1st District with 68% of the vote. Incumbent

Jake LaTurner Jacob Andrew Joseph LaTurner (born February 17, 1988) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, LaTurner was the 40th Kansas State Treasurer from 2017 ...

was re-elected in the 2nd district with 58% of the vote. Incumbent

Ron Estes Ronald Gene Estes ( ; born July 19, 1956) is an American politician, engineer, and farmer who has been the U.S. representative for since April 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2011 to 2017. A fif ...

was relected in the 4th District with 64% of the vote. In the 3rd District, Amanda Adkins lost to with 43% of the vote. * Kansas Statewides: Incumbent Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Katie Sawyer lost to incumbent Governor Laura Kelly and David Toland 48% to 49%. Incumbent Secretary of State Scott Schwab was re-elected with 59% of the vote.

Kris Kobach Kris William Kobach ( ; born March 26, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician who is the Attorney General of Kansas. He previously served as the 31st Secretary of State of Kansas. A former Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, Kobach came ...

was elected Attorney General with 51% of the vote. Representative Steve Johnson won the State Treasurer race with 54% of the vote. Incumbent Insurance Commissioner

Vicki Schmidt Vicki Schmidt (born September 15, 1955) is an American politician who is currently the Kansas Insurance Commissioner. She was a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 20th district, from 2005 to 2019. She also served as the Sena ...

was relected with 63% of the vote. * State Senate: State Senate were not up for election, but a special election for Senate District 38 was held for the remainder of the term of Senator Bud Estes who passed away in February 2021. * State House:The Republicans lost one net net and held 85 of the 125 seats. * State School Board:Republican candidates won two contested races and three uncontested races. * State PartyOfficial KSGOP Records: At the April 2021 State Committee meeting in Manhattan, the state committee re-elected Mike Kuckelman as chair, elected Sue Schlapp as vice-chair, re-elected Emily Wellman as secretary, and elected Cheryl Reynolds as treasurer. Shannon Golden remained executive director until November 11, 2022.

Prominent Kansas Republicans

* Sam Brownback (U.S. House (1995-1996); U.S. Senate (III) (1997-2010); Governor (2011–2018)) *

Arthur Capper Arthur Capper (July 14, 1865 – December 19, 1951) was an American politician from Kansas. He was the 20th governor of Kansas (the first born in the state) from 1915 to 1919 and a United States senator from 1919 to 1949. He also owned a radio ...

(Governor (1915–1918); U.S. Senate (II) (1919–1948)) * Frank Carlson (U.S. House (1935–1946); Governor (1947–1950); U.S. Senate (III) (1950–1968)) * Charles Curtis (U.S. House (1893–1906); U.S. Senate (II) (1907–1912); U.S. Senate (III) (1915–1929); 31st Vice President (1929–1933)) *

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

(U.S. House (1961–1968); U.S. Senate (III) (1969–1996); Chairman of the Republican National Committee (1972-1974); Vice presidential nominee (1976); Presidential nominee (1996)) *

Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; ; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, ...

(President of the United States (1953–1961)) *

Bill Graves William Preston Graves (born January 9, 1953) is an American former politician who was the 43rd governor of Kansas from 1995 until 2003. Career Graves was born in Salina, Kansas to parents who owned a trucking firm. After graduating from Kans ...

(Secretary of State (1987–1994); Governor (1995–2002)) * John D. M. Hamilton (Speaker of the Kansas House (1927–1928); Governor primary candidate (1928); State Party Chairman (1930-1932); National Committeeman (1932–1940); Chair Republican National Committee (1936–1940)) *

Clifford R. Hope Clifford Ragsdale Hope (June 9, 1893 – May 16, 1970) was a U.S. Representative from Kansas, and a member of the Republican Party. Born in Birmingham, Iowa, Hope attended public schools and Nebraska Wesleyan University, in Lincoln, Nebraska. ...

(Speaker of the Kansas House (1925-1926); U.S House (1927-1957)) *

John James Ingalls John James Ingalls (December 29, 1833August 16, 1900) was an American Republican politician who served as a United States senator from Kansas. Ingalls is credited with suggesting the state motto and designing the state seal. Life and career John ...

(U.S. Senate (III) (1873-1891); Senate President Pro Tempore (1887-1891)) * Nancy Kassebaum (U.S. Senate (II) (1978–1997)) * Alf Landon (Governor (1933–1936); Presidential nominee (1936)) *

Victor Murdock Victor Murdock (March 18, 1871 – July 8, 1945) was an American politician and newspaper editor who served as a U.S. Representative from Kansas. Life Victor Murdock was born March 18, 1871, in Burlingame, Kansas to Marshall Murdock, editor of ...

(U.S. House (1903-1914); Editor of the Wichita Eagle) * James B. Pearson (U.S. Senate (II) (1962–1978)) * Keith George Sebelius (U.S. House (1969–1980)) * Andrew Frank Schoeppel (Governor (1943–1946), U.S. Senate (II) (1949–1962)) *

Walter Stubbs Walter Roscoe Stubbs (November 7, 1858 March 25, 1929) was an American businessman who served as the 18th Governor of Kansas. Stubbs, a progressive Republican, was known for his prohibitionist beliefs, as well as for having signed the nation's ...

(Governor (1909-1912), Speaker of the Kansas House (1907-1908), State Party Chair (1904-1906))

Kansas Republican Party Chairmen

The following people where Chairmen for the Kansas Republican Party: *

Mike Kuckelman Mike Kuckelman is an American lawyer and politician from Kansas. He served as the chairman of the Kansas Republican Party from February 2019 to February 2023. Early life A Catholic, Kuckelman attended the private Maur Hill Prep School. Kuckelm ...

(since February 2019) from

Olathe Olathe ( ) is the county seat of Johnson County, Kansas, United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in both the Kansas City metropolitan area and the state of Kansas, with a 2020 population of 141,290. History 19th century Olathe was ...

*

Kelly Arnold Kelly Arnold is an American politician serving as the Sedgwick County, Kansas, Sedgwick County Clerk. He is in his third term, having first been elected in 2008. From January 2013 to February 2019, Kelly served as the chairman of the Kansas Republ ...

(January 2013 – February 2019) from Wichita, also Sedgwick County Clerk (2008–present) * Amanda Adkins (January 2009 – January 2013) from Overland Park *

Kris Kobach Kris William Kobach ( ; born March 26, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician who is the Attorney General of Kansas. He previously served as the 31st Secretary of State of Kansas. A former Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, Kobach came ...

(January 2007 – January 2009) from Piper, also Kansas Secretary of State (2011–2019) *

Tim Shallenburger Tim Shallenburger (born March 14, 1954) was Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas State Treasurer. Biography Shallenburger was raised in Baxter Springs, Kansas. He attended Pittsburg State University and Coffeyville Commu ...

(January 2005 – January 2007) from

Baxter Springs Baxter Springs is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States, and located along Spring River. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 3,888. History For thousands of years, indigenous peoples had lived along the waterwa ...

, also Kansas State Treasurer (1998–2002) and Governor's Legislative Liaison (2011–2019) * Dennis Jones (January 2003 – January 2005) from Lakin * Mark Parkinson (January 1999 – January 2003) from Wichita, switched party affiliation to Democratic in 2006 to run for Kansas Lieutenant Governor with Democrat

Kathleen Sebelius Kathleen Sebelius (; née Gilligan, born May 15, 1948) is an American businesswoman and politician who served as the 21st United States secretary of Health and Human Services from 2009 until 2014. As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sebeli ...

; became Kansas Governor upon her resignation (2009–2010) *

Steve Abrams Steve Abrams (born September 4, 1949) is an American politician who served as the Kansas State Senator from the 32nd district from 2009 until 2017. He previously chaired the Kansas Republican Party from 1998 to 1999. A former member of the Boa ...

(May 1998 – January 1999) from Arkansas City, State Board of Education Chair (2005–2007), took over when David Miller resigned * David Miller (January 1995 – May 1998) from Eudora, resigned to run for Kansas Governor in the 1998 primary election *

Kim Wells Kimberley Arthur Wells (born 6 August 1958) is an Australian politician. He has been a Liberal member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 1992, representing first Wantirna and then Scoresby and Rowville. Wells was the Treasurer of Vic ...

(January 1991 – January 1995) from

Lawrence Lawrence may refer to: Education Colleges and universities * Lawrence Technological University, a university in Southfield, Michigan, United States * Lawrence University, a liberal arts university in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States Preparator ...

* Rochelle Chronister (January 1989 – January 1991) from Topeka * Fred Logan (January 1987 – January 1989) from Prairie Village * Vern Chesbro (January 1985 – January 1987) from

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

* David C. Owen (January 1983 – January 1985) from

Stanley Stanley may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Stanley'' (1972 film), an American horror film * ''Stanley'' (1984 film), an Australian comedy * ''Stanley'' (1999 film), an animated short * ''Stanley'' (1956 TV series) ...

, also Kansas Lieutenant Governor (1973–1974), Senator

Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...

's successful 1974 campaign manager *

Robert F. Bennett Robert Foster Bennett (September 18, 1933 – May 4, 2016) was an American politician and businessman. He was a United States Senator from Utah as a member of the Republican Party from 1993 to 2011. Bennett held chairmanships and senior positions ...

(August 1982 – January 1983) from Prairie Village, also Kansas Governor (1975–1979), Senate President (1975) * Mary Alice Lair (June 1982 – August 1982) from Piqua, also National Committeewoman (1989–1999) *

Morris Kay Morris Kay (born July 31, 1932) was an American politician in the state of Kansas. A Republican, he served in the Kansas House of Representatives. Kay was born in St. John, Kansas and attended primary schooling there while helping his father on t ...

(January 1979 – June 1982) from

Lawrence Lawrence may refer to: Education Colleges and universities * Lawrence Technological University, a university in Southfield, Michigan, United States * Lawrence University, a liberal arts university in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States Preparator ...

, also House Majority Leader (1971–1972) *

Jack Ranson John George Ranson (1 April 1909 – 1992) was an English footballer who played as a centre forward. Ranson started his career with Norwich City during the 1928–1929 season, but never made an appearance. Between 1930–1936, Ranson played l ...

(January 1973 – January 1979) from Wichita, also National Committeeman (1987–1996) * William Falstad (August 1970 – January 1973) from Fredonia *

Don O. Concannon Donald Owen Concannon (October 28, 1927 – March 9, 2013) was an American attorney and unsuccessful political candidate for the United States Republican Party in Kansas. Early life Concannon was born on a farm 20 miles outside Garden City, K ...

(August 1968 – August 1970) from

Hugoton Hugoton is a city in and the county seat of Stevens County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 3,747. History Settlers from McPherson, Kansas established a settlement in what was then west-central S ...

* George Nettles (August 1966 – August 1968) from Pittsburg * Oliver H. Hughes (August 1964 – August 1966) from Emporia * Richard D. Rogers (August 1962 – August 1964) from

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

, also Senator James B. Pearson's successful 1962 campaign manager, Senate President (1975), Federal District Court Judge (1975–2015) * Donald P. Schnacke (January 1961 – August 1962) from Topeka, took over when James B. Pearson resigned * James B. Pearson (August 1960 – January 1961) from Overland Park, also

John Anderson John Anderson may refer to: Business *John Anderson (Scottish businessman) (1747–1820), Scottish merchant and founder of Fermoy, Ireland * John Byers Anderson (1817–1897), American educator, military officer and railroad executive, mentor of ...

's successful 1960 campaign manager, resigned when appointed as a U.S. Senator (1961–1979) by Governor Anderson * Sam Mellinger (August 1958 – August 1960) from Emporia, also National Committeeman (1964–1968) * James Pratt (August 1956 – August 1958) from Topeka * Lloyd Ruppenthal (August 1954 – August 1956) from McPherson, also Fred Hall's successful 1954 campaign for the governorship manager * Roy W. Cox (November 1953 – August 1954) from Iola, took over when C. I. Moyer resigned * C. I. Moyer (August 1950 – November 1953) from Severance, also

Edward F. Arn Edward Ferdinand Arn (May 19, 1906 – January 22, 1998) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 32nd governor of Kansas from 1951 to 1955. A member of the Republican Party, he previously was the 31st attorney general of Kansas ...

's successful 1950 primary campaign for the governorship manager, resigned to become director of the Small Business Administration in

Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more ...

* C. Wesley Roberts (November 1946 – August 1950) from Oskaloosa, father of U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Governor Frank Carlson's successful 1948 campaign manager, took over when F. Quentin Brown died in office * F. Quentin Brown (August 1946 – November 1946) from Greensburg, Frank Carlson's successful 1946 campaign for the governorship manager, died in office, aged 36 * A. Harry Crane (August 1942 – August 1946) from Topeka * Walter Fees (August 1938 – August 1942) from Iola,

Payne Ratner Payne Harry Ratner (October 3, 1896 – December 27, 1974) was an American lawyer serving as the 28th governor of Kansas from 1939 to 1943. Biography Born in Casey, Illinois, Ratner graduated from Blackwell High School in Oklahoma. During Wo ...

's successful 1938 and 1940 campaigns for the governorship manager * Frank G. Todd (August 1936 – August 1938) from

Atchison Atchison may refer to: Places In the United States: *Atchison, California, a former settlement *Atchison, Kansas, a city *Atchison County, Kansas *Atchison County, Missouri People with the surname * Bob Atchison (born 1941), Canadian drag race ...

* Will T. Beck (August 1934 – August 1936) from Holton, took over when Frank Carlson resigned * Frank Carlson (August 1932 – August 1934) from Concordia, resigned to run for Congress, also Alf Landon's successful 1932 campaign for the governorship manager, U.S. Representative (1935–1946), Kansas Governor (1947–1950), U.S. Senator (1951–1968) * John D. M. Hamilton (August 1930 – August 1932) from Topeka, also House Speaker (1927–1928), candidate in the 1928 primary election for the governorship, Frank Haucke's unsuccessful 1930 campaign for the governorship manager, National Committeeman (1932–1940), chair of the Republican National Committee (1936–1940) * Alf Landon (August 1928 – August 1930) from Topeka, Clyde Reed's successful 1928 campaign for the governorship manager, Kansas Governor (1933–1937), presidential candidate (1936) * Seth G. Wells (August 1926 – August 1928) from Erie, Kansas State Auditor (1902–1906) * J.L. Stryker (August 1924 – August 1926) from Topeka * Wilbur Hawk (August 1922 – August 1924) from

Atchison Atchison may refer to: Places In the United States: *Atchison, California, a former settlement *Atchison, Kansas, a city *Atchison County, Kansas *Atchison County, Missouri People with the surname * Bob Atchison (born 1941), Canadian drag race ...

, also

William Yoast Morgan William Yoast Morgan (April 6, 1866 – February 17, 1932) was an American newspaperman, author and politician who served as the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Kansas from 1915 to 1919 under Governor Arthur Capper. He was a member of the Republican ...

's unsuccessful 1922 campaign for the governorship manager * Harvey H. Motter (August 1918 – August 1922) from Wichita, also Henry Justin Allen's successful 1918 and 1920 campaigns for the governorship manager * Charles Sessions (August 1916 – August 1918) *

Joseph C. Gafford Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...

(May 1913 – August 1916) from

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

, also Kansas State Accountant (1905–1913) * Joseph N. Dolley (August 1908 – May 1913) from Maple Hill, also House Speaker (1909–1910), resigned to join the new Progressive Party * Schuyler C. Crummer (August 1906 – August 1908) from Belleville *

Walter Stubbs Walter Roscoe Stubbs (November 7, 1858 March 25, 1929) was an American businessman who served as the 18th Governor of Kansas. Stubbs, a progressive Republican, was known for his prohibitionist beliefs, as well as for having signed the nation's ...

(August 1904 – August 1906) from

Lawrence Lawrence may refer to: Education Colleges and universities * Lawrence Technological University, a university in Southfield, Michigan, United States * Lawrence University, a liberal arts university in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States Preparator ...

, also House Speaker (1907–1908) and Kansas Governor (1909–1913) * Morton Albaugh (August 1898 – August 1904) from Kingman, credited with defeating the Populist Party in the 1898 election, William Eugene Stanley's successful 1898 and 1900 campaigns for the governorship manager,

Willis J. Bailey Willis Joshua Bailey (October 12, 1854 – May 19, 1932) was an American politician and Republican United States House of Representatives, United States Representative from Kansas and the List of Governors of Kansas, 16th Governor of Kansas. Bor ...

's successful 1902 campaign for the governorship manager,

Chester Long Chester Isaiah Long (October 12, 1860July 1, 1934) was a United States representative and Senator from Kansas. Born in Greenwood Township, Pennsylvania, he moved with his parents to Daviess County, Missouri, in 1865 and to Paola, Kansas, in 187 ...

's campaign manager for the 1903 U.S. Senate legislative election, clerk of the U.S. District Court * J.M. Simpson (August 1896 – August 1898) * Cyrus Leland, Jr. (August 1894 – August 1896) from

Troy Troy ( el, Τροία and Latin: Troia, Hittite language, Hittite: 𒋫𒊒𒄿𒊭 ''Truwiša'') or Ilion ( el, Ίλιον and Latin: Ilium, Hittite language, Hittite: 𒃾𒇻𒊭 ''Wiluša'') was an ancient city located at Hisarlik in prese ...

(second time), Civil War veteran, also Doniphan County Commissioner (1870–1890), Kansas Collector of Internal Revenue (1888–1892),

William McKinley William McKinley (January 29, 1843September 14, 1901) was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. As a politician he led a realignment that made his Republican Party largely dominant in ...

's western presidential campaign manager (1896), Kansas Pension Agent (1897–1900), National Committeeman (1884–1900), credited with Republican successes in the 1892 and 1894 elections, National Conventions (1876, 1884, 1888, 1892, 1896) * J. M. Simpson (July 1892 – June 1894) * William J. Buchan (September 1890 – July 1892) from

Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more ...

*

Henry Booth Henry Booth (4 April 1788 – 28 March 1869) was a British corn merchant, businessman and engineer particularly known as one of the key people behind the construction and management of the pioneering Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&M), the ...

(May 1888 – September 1890) from Larned * P.I. Bonebrake (July 1884 – July 1886) * A.L. Redden (August 1882 – July 1884) * J.P. Johnson (September 1880 – August 1882) * Joseph Wilson (August 1876 – September 1878) from Topeka * John Guthrie (September 1872 – August 1876) from Topeka, also Topeka Postmaster, 1872 presidential elector, candidate for Kansas Governor in 1876 *

Daniel R. Anthony Daniel Read Anthony (August 22, 1824 – November 12, 1904) was an American publisher, women's suffragist, and abolitionist. He moved to Kansas, where he published the ''Leavenworth Times'' in Leavenworth, Kansas, as well as other newspapers ...

(September 1870 – September 1872) from Leavenworth, brother of Susan B. Anthony *

Peter Percival Elder Peter Percival Elder (born New Portland, Maine, September 20, 1823; died Ottawa, Kansas, November 19, 1914) was an American politician, businessman, and newspaperman. Born to a farming family in northern Maine, Elder was educated at schools in ...

(September 1868 – September 1870) from

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

, also Kansas Lieutenant Governor (1871–1872), House Speaker as a Republican (1877) and as a Populist (1891) * Frank H. Drenning (September 1866 – September 1868) from Wathena * Jacob Stotler (April 1864 – September 1866) from Emporia, also House Speaker (1865) *

Sidney Clarke Sidney Clarke (October 16, 1831 – June 18, 1909) was a U.S. Representative from Kansas, a Kansas state speaker of the house, and an Oklahoma territorial legislator. He was a part of the Oklahoma statehood movement. Early life Born in Southbr ...

(October 1863 – April 1864) from

Lawrence Lawrence may refer to: Education Colleges and universities * Lawrence Technological University, a university in Southfield, Michigan, United States * Lawrence University, a liberal arts university in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States Preparator ...

, also U.S. Representative (1865–1871) * Chester Thomas (October 1862 – October 1863) from

Shawnee County Shawnee County (county code SN) is located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 178,909, making it the third-most populous county in Kansas. Its most populous city, Topeka, is the state ...

* Abel C. Wilder (October 1859 – October 1862) from Leavenworth, also U.S. Representative (1863–1865) *

Samuel C. Pomeroy Samuel Clarke Pomeroy (January 3, 1816 – August 27, 1891) was a United States senator from Kansas in the mid-19th century. He served in the United States Senate during the American Civil War. Pomeroy also served in the Massachusetts House of ...

(May 1859 – October 1859) from

Atchison Atchison may refer to: Places In the United States: *Atchison, California, a former settlement *Atchison, Kansas, a city *Atchison County, Kansas *Atchison County, Missouri People with the surname * Bob Atchison (born 1941), Canadian drag race ...

, also U.S. Senator (1861–1873)

Republican National Committee members

National Committeemen: * Mark Kahrs (since July 2016), two terms * Todd Tiahrt (January 2011 – July 2016), one term and a quarter, also U.S. Representative (1995–2011) *

Mike Pompeo Michael Richard Pompeo (; born December 30, 1963) is an American politician, diplomat, and businessman who served under President Donald Trump as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018 and as the 70th United State ...

(July 2008 – January 2011), three quarters of a term, resigned upon taking office in Congress, U.S. Representative (2011–2017), also director of the

Central Intelligence Agency The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ), known informally as the Agency and historically as the Company, is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States, officially tasked with gathering, processing, ...

(2017–2018) and U.S.

United States Secretary of State The United States secretary of state is a member of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States and the head of the U.S. Department of State. The office holder is one of the highest ranking members of the president's Ca ...

(2018–2020) * Steve Cloud (July 2003 – July 2008), one term and a quarter * Calvin James (July 2000 – July 2003), three quarters of a term (died in office) * Dwight Sutherland (September 1997 – July 2000), three quarters of a term * Mike Harris (July 1996 – September 1997), a quarter of a term (resigned) * Jack Ranson (January 1987 – July 1996), two terms and a quarter * Huck Boyd (August 1966 – January 1987), four terms and a half, plus three quarters (died in office) also candidate for the governorship in 1960 and 1964 * Sam Mellinger (April 1964 – August 1966), half a term, also state party chair (1958–1960), became National Committeeman after Harry Darby resigned * Harry Darby (June 1940 – April 1964), five terms and three quarters, resigned, also U.S. Senator (1949–1950) * John D. M. Hamilton (June 1932 – June 1940), two terms, also House Speaker (1927–1928), state party chair (1930–1932), chair of the Republican National Committee (1936–1940) * David W. Mulvane (June 1920 – June 1932; second time), three terms, conservative political operative, ally of Charles Curtis * Fred Stanley (June 1912 – June 1920), two terms, progressive * David W. Mulvane (June 1900 – June 1912; first time), three terms, conservative political operative, ally of Charles Curtis * Cyrus Leland, Jr. (1884–1900), four terms, also state party chair (1878–1880; 1894–1896), conservative political operative, ally of

William McKinley William McKinley (January 29, 1843September 14, 1901) was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. As a politician he led a realignment that made his Republican Party largely dominant in ...

* John A. Martin (1872–1884; second time), three terms, also Kansas Governor (1883–1886) *

Samuel C. Pomeroy Samuel Clarke Pomeroy (January 3, 1816 – August 27, 1891) was a United States senator from Kansas in the mid-19th century. He served in the United States Senate during the American Civil War. Pomeroy also served in the Massachusetts House of ...

(1870–1872), half a term, also U.S. Senator (1860–1872) * John A. Martin (1868–1870; first time), half a term, also Kansas Governor (1883–1886) * Samuel J. Crawford (1866–1868), half a term * James H. Lane (1864–1866), half a term (died in office), also U.S. Senator (1861–1866) * William A. Phillips (1860–1864), one term * Martin Conway (1856–1860), one term, also U.S. Representative (1861–1862) National Committeewomen: * Kim Borchers (Since Jul 2020 - ), one term * Helen Van Etten (August 2008 - Jul 2020), three terms * Alicia Salisbury (August 2004 – August 2008), one term * June Cooper (August 2000 – August 2004), one term * Mary Alice Lair (August 1988 – August 2000), three terms, also state party chair (1982) * Marynell Reece (August 1975 – August 1988), three terms and a quarter * Beth Rodgers (April 1968 – August 1975), two terms and three quarters, resigned when her husband became a federal judge * Jerrene Mellinger (August 1966 – April 1968), half a term, widow of National Committeeman Sam Mellinger * Donna Addington (July 1964 – August 1966), half a term, resigned for personal reasons * Florence Emma Semple (July 1952 – July 1964), three terms * Eleanor S. Harris (June 1936 – July 1952), four terms * Elizabeth Bittman (June 1924 – June 1936), three terms

Film

In their documentary '' How Democracy Works Now: Twelve Stories'', filmmakers

Shari Robertson Shari Robertson is an American film director and Film producer, producer. Her filmmaking credits include ''How Democracy Works Now, Twelve Stories: How Democracy Works Now'', ''Well-Founded Fear'', ''These Girls Are Missing'', ''Inside the Khmer ...

and

Michael Camerini Michael Camerini is a British-born American film director, producer and cinematographer. His filmmaking credits include ''FRONTLINE: Immigration BattleNiger:Tales of Resilience'' '' Twelve Stories: How Democracy Works Now'', ''Well-Founded Fear' ...

provide a behind-the-scenes look at Kansas Republican Party politics and the party's response to the issue of immigration in the early 2000s. * "Story Three: You Never Know" uses the 2002 Kansas Republican primaries as a case-study for the ongoing debates within the Republican party. It focuses on the 2002 trip of David Kensinger, Sam Brownback's Chief of Staff, from

Capitol Hill Capitol Hill, in addition to being a metonym for the United States Congress, is the largest historic residential neighborhood in Washington, D.C., stretching easterly in front of the United States Capitol along wide avenues. It is one of the ...

to guide to three conservative Kansas candidates who challenge mainstream party nominees. * "Story Four: Sam in the Snow" focuses largely on (then Senator) Sam Brownback's commitment to push forward comprehensive immigration reform in 2002, and the obstacles posed by the creation of the

Department of Homeland Security The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries. Its stated missions involve anti-terr ...

. The film also chronicles his choice between the Senate Judiciary Committee with a likely position as chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee and a coveted seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. The film's title refers to Brownback.How Democracy Works Now, http://www.howdemocracyworksnow.com/shop/, retrieved 13 December 2011

References

External links

* {{State Republican Parties in the US 1859 establishments in Kansas Territory Political parties established in 1859 Republican Party (United States) by state

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...