State senator candidate Michael O'Donnell, center, reacts to seeing the winning results with his campaign manager John Whitmer, left, during his campaign party at Hanger One Steakhouse Tuesday. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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State senator candidate Michael O'Donnell celebrates his birthday, which was the day before, with supporters during his campaign party at Hanger One Steakhouse Tuesday. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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State senator candidate Michael O'Donnell blows out the candles to his birthday cake during his campaign party at Hanger One Steakhouse Tuesday. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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State senator candidate Michael O'Donnell addresses his supporters after defeating Jean Schodorf in the state senate race during his campaign party at Hanger One Steakhouse Tuesday. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Jeff Easter watches the first results from his race for sheriff with his wife, Kimberlee, left, and his campaign manager Sheila Tigert at the Executive Center. Easter was off to a commanding lead. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Johnson County Republicans held an election watch party on Tuesday evening, Aug. 7, 2012, at the Doubletree by Hilton hotel, 10100 College Boulevard in Overland Park. Kansas State Senate candidate Greg Smith celebrated with his grandchildren, Sarah Evans, 2, and Andrew Evans, 11-months. His daughter, Codie Smith (left), holds her niece, Sarah. 08072012 KEITH MYERS/The Kansas City Star
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Johnson County Republicans held an election watch party on Tuesday evening, Aug. 7, 2012, at the Doubletree by Hilton hotel, 10100 College Boulevard in Overland Park. Kansas State Senate candidate Jim Denning got a hug from Yvonne Starks of Olathe as her friend, Jennifer Heaton (left) of Overland Park looked on. "We're conservatives and we are thrilled to death about the election," Starks said. "Bye, bye Tim Owens," she added. 08072012 KEITH MYERS/The Kansas City Star
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Sen. Vicki Schmidt walks in the front door of her home in southwest Topeka, Kan. Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2011, after beating Rep. Joe Patton to win the Republican primary in the 20th district. (AP Photo, Topeka Capital-Journal, Thad Allton)
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State Senate candidate Michael O'Donnell gets congratulated after he starts to pull ahead in the polls during his campaign party at Hangar One Steakhouse Tuesday. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Michael O'Donnell and his campaign manager John Whitmer check campaign results at Hangar One Steakhouse.
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Jeff longwell, his mother Pat longwell and Bill Warren at longwell's party at an empty new market square storefront.
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Tobias Schlingensiepen, Democratic candidate for Representative, 2nd District, at his election watch party at Serendipty in north Topeka, Kan. Tuesday night Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Topeka Capital-Journal, Thad Allton)
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State Rep. Kay Wolf, R-Prairie Village, right, representing the 21st district, celebrates her win during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, at the Marriott Hotel in Overland Park, Kan. Celebrating with her is Susan Bruce of Prairie Village, who worked on Wolf's campaign. (AP Photo/The Kansas City Star, Todd Feeback)
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U.S. House candidate Robert Tillman greets his opponent, Esau Freeman, while waiting for vote totals to come in Tuesday night at the Pump House. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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United States congress candidate Robert Tillman speaks to a member of the Democratic Party as vote totals come in Tuesday night at the Pump House. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Democrat Robert Tillman is congratulated by a supporter at the Wichita Boathouse after early returns showed him with a large lead in the race for the 4th Congressional District. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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State Senate candidate Michael O'Donnell gets congratulated after he starts to pull ahead in the polls during his campaign party at Hangar One Steakhouse Tuesday. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Dick and Doris Kelsey watch early results come in on their computer at a watch party for Kelsey's state Senate campaign at the Learning Center in Haysville, Kan. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Kelly Glasscock / Correspondent
Dick Kelsey addresses supporters at a watch party for Kelsey's state Senate campaign at the Learning Center in Haysville, Kan. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Kelly Glasscock / Correspondent
Dick Kelsey watches as the results are reported Tuesday night at the Learning Center in Haysville, Kan. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Kelly Glasscock / Correspondent
Les Osterman and Debbie Baker, secretary of the Kansas Republican Assembly, watch the TV as results start to come in during a watch party Tuesday night at the Learning Center in Haysville, Kan. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Kelly Glasscock / Correspondent
Bo Graves prays for Dick and Doris Kelsey at the end of a watch party for Kelsey's state Senate campaign at the Learning Center in Haysville, Kan. The results were too slow coming in and the party was ended before the final result was known. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Kansas Sen. Carolyn McGinn, right, gets a hug from her mother, Charlotte Peters. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Kansas House candidate Judith Loganbill, right, awaits voting results from the TV with other members of the Democratic Party. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Kansas Sen. Carolyn McGinn says goodbye to a supporter who left the Meridian Center around 9:30. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Candidate Judith Loganbill sees indications that she may lose her race for the Kansas House. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Sedgwick County Sheriff Robert Hinshaw talks with his supporters at his campaign party at Oeno. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Perry Shuckman waits for the results of his race with other members of the Democratic Party at the Pump House. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Candidate Judith Loganbill sees indications that she may lose her race for the Kansas House. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Dan and Norene Kerschen, grandaughter Abigail Kerschen and the rest of the family were on hand at Avivo Pizza to watch election results in his state Senate race. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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U.S. House candidate Esau Freeman, left, watches the TV with members of the Democratic Party as voting polls began to close. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Sedgwick County Sheriff Robert Hinshaw talks with supporter Dave Unruh at his campaign party at Oeno. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Sedgwick County sheriff candidate Jeff Easter gets a hug from his wife, Kimberlee, after seeing the first results from his race, at the Executive Center. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Tim Owens, left, Republican, Kansas Senate, District 8, his wife, Donna, and Ron Worley, Republican, Kansas House of Representatives, representing the 30th district, watch as results start rolling in during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, at the Marriott Hotel in Overland Park, Kan. (AP Photo/The Kansas City Star, Todd Feeback)
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Tim Owens, right, Republican, Kansas Senate, District 8, watches as results start rolling in during a watch party Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, at the Marriott Hotel in Overland Park, Kan. At left is Moti Rieber of Overland Park. (AP Photo/The Kansas City Star, Todd Feeback)
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Sedgwick County sheriff candidate Jeff Easter gets a hug from friend and supporter Kenny Doonan at his campaign party at the Executive Center. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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State Senate candidate Michael O'Donnell, second from left, checks results with media consultant Julie Underwood, left, and his brother Tyler O'Donnell and his sister Stephanie Albritton at his campaign party at the Hangar One Steakhouse. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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State Senate candidate Michael O'Donnell, left, checks results with his brother Tyler O'Donnell and his sister Stephanie Albritton at his campaign party at the Hangar One Steakhouse Tuesday. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Fernando Salazar / The Wichita Eagle
State Sen. Jean Schodorf watches election results during her election party at the Wichita Boathouse. Schodorf was running against Michael O'Donnell. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Travis Heying / The Wichita Eagle
State Sen. Jean Schodorf is hugged by a supporter during her election party at the Wichita Boathouse. Schodorf was running against Michael O'Donnell. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Jeff Longwell checks early returns on an iPad as early returns come in in his race for Sedgwick County Commission.
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Marc Bennett is hugged by his daughter Tess at Loft 150 as he and his supporters await election results. Bennett was running for Sedgwick County district attorney against Kevin O'Connor. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Karl Peterjohn, surrounded by supporters, watches at West Acres Bowl as early returns come in in his race for Sedgwick County Commission. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Dave Williams / The Wichita Eagle
Dick Kelsey and Les Osterman watch the TV as results start come in during a watch party at the Learning Center in Haysville. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Kelly Glasscock / Correspondent
Kevin O'Connor and his son Hunter, 12, wait for election results at Crestview Country Club. O'Connor was running against Marc Bennett for Sedgwick County district attorney. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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State Sen. Dick Kelsey mingles with supporters at a watch party at the Learning Center in Haysville. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Kelly Glasscock / Correspondent
Kansas Republican Senate candidate Gary Mason, right, shakes hands with Kelly Arnold, vice chairman of the Kansas Republican Party. Mason's election night party was at the Sleep Inn. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Kelley DeCesaro gets ready to post results at Marc Bennett's gathering at Loft 150 as he and his supporters await election results. Bennett was running for Sedgwick County district attorney against Kevin O'Connor. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Kevin O'Connor and his wife, Jennifer, wait for election results at Crestview Country Club. O'Connor was running against Marc Bennett for Sedgwick County district attorney. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Marc Bennett is interviewed at Loft 150 as he and his supporters await election results on Tuesday evening. Bennett was running for Sedgwick County district attorney against Kevin O'Connor. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Travis Heying / The Wichita Eagle
Marc Bennett mingles with supporters at Loft 150 as he and his supporters await election results. Bennett was running for Sedgwick County district attorney against Kevin O'Connor. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Travis Heying / The Wichita Eagle
Marc Bennett is hugged by his daughter Tess at Loft 150 as he and his supporters await election results. Bennett was running for Sedgwick County district attorney against Kevin O'Connor. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Travis Heying / The Wichita Eagle
Marc Bennett is interviewed at Loft 150 as he and his supporters await election results. Bennett was running for Sedgwick County district attorney against Kevin O'Connor. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Travis Heying / The Wichita Eagle
Marc Bennett is hugged by his daughter Tess at Loft 150 as he and his supporters await election results. Bennett was running for Sedgwick County district attorney against Kevin O'Connor. (Aug. 7, 2012)
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Travis Heying / The Wichita Eagle