Print edition: 
Surprising only a few Democrats in denial, Kansas Republicans took all the statewide and congressional races Tuesday, adding their voice to the noisy national chorus calling for less government, more fiscal discipline and no more unchecked Democratic control of Washington, D.C. As political satirist P.J. O’Rourke had predicted, it was less of an election than “a restraining order.”
In Kansas, the election was bigger for the GOP than November 1994, when Democrats at least retained the state treasurer seat and claimed the insurance commissioner’s job (the latter for Kathleen Sebelius, who’d go on to fortify her party and win two terms as governor).
This time, victory was exclusive to the Republicans — even in the cases of Democratic Attorney General Steve Six, Secretary of State Chris Biggs and Treasurer Dennis McKinney, who had done nothing to deserve being tossed from office. Fortunately for Kansas, Attorney General-elect Derek Schmidt and Treasurer-elect Ron Estes are fully prepared for their new jobs. Let’s hope Kansans don’t regret choosing as their secretary of state Kris Kobach, most notable for his fearmongering on voter fraud, national crusading against illegal immigration and mismanagement of the Kansas Republican Party.
For Gov.-elect Sam Brownback and the GOP lawmakers who lead and dominate the Legislature, the afterglow will give way to the demands of governing according to their tight-fisted principles. With Sebelius and Gov. Mark Parkinson out of office and a more conservative GOP majority in the Kansas House, Republicans will have much to do and no one to blame.
And with about $500 million in federal stimulus money going away, Brownback’s pledge to freeze state general-fund spending is actually a threat to cut K-12 public education, Medicaid and other essential state services. As familiar as Kansans are with Brownback after his 14 years in the U.S. Senate, he still must prove himself as the state’s chief executive, and its first conservative Republican governor in half a century.
The Kansas delegation in Congress became more conservative as well as 100 percent Republican, sending Jerry Moran to the U.S. Senate and Tim Huelskamp (1st District), incumbent Lynn Jenkins (2nd), Kevin Yoder (3rd) and Mike Pompeo (4th) to the U.S. House. Huelskamp’s sharp ideology and sharp-elbowed style will be a change over the mellow Moran. Republican National Committeeman Pompeo, who defeated state Rep. Raj Goyle to succeed longtime Rep. Todd Tiahrt, became a skilled politician during his first run for office and will make a savvy, business-focused congressman — though one whose fidelity to conservative ideology will be tested against earmarking and other ways of Washington.
Republicans also won all three races for the Sedgwick County Commission. Incumbent Commissioner Dave Unruh and Wichita City Council member Jim Skelton already have proved to be thoughtful leaders; the same cannot be said of Richard Ranzau, whose tea party tendencies could put important county priorities at risk.
After several elections in which Republicans were hampered by their ideological split, they should feel confident in their clear mandate from Kansas voters. Now, the power is theirs, along with the challenge.
