"The extremists are running this state. The extremists are running the national (government) and I have been a centrist my entire life," said former Sen. Tim Owens, of Overland Park
Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) will be running for re-election this year
without the support of a large group of moderate Republicans calling themselves Traditional Republicans for Common Sense.
The group is composed of about 70 (!) centrist Republican former lawmakers, and has instead endorsed the candidacy of independent (and former Democrat) Greg Orman. The Democratic candidate in the race is had been Chad Taylor.
HUGE UPDATE: TAYLOR DROPS OUT!
In response, Democrat Chad Taylor, the endorsed candidate, has dropped out of the race! Today was the last date to withdraw. This puts Orman in the driver's seat for sure, and likely moves Kansas out of the "safe Republican" category at least.
No reaction so far from Taylor, but this certainly puts things more up-in-the-air. The dissident group has been active for the past two years or so, mostly opposing the disastrous economic policies of governor Sam Brownback.