2014 United States Senate Election In Kansas
The 2014 United States Senate election in Kansas was held on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Kansas, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
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 County results Roberts: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Orman: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Republican Senator Pat Roberts was re-elected to a fourth term against Independent Greg Orman and Libertarian nominee Randall Batson. The Democratic nominee, Chad Taylor, withdrew from the race.
Republican primary
Roberts gained negative press attention after criticism that he did not own a home in Kansas, with some comparing the situation to that of former Indiana Senator Richard Lugar, who lost a 2012 Senate primary after a similar residency controversy. Roberts owns a home in Alexandria, Virginia. The primary was held August 5, 2014.
Primary opponent Milton R. Wolf, a radiologist, was under investigation by a state medical ethics board for posting X-ray images of dead patients with macabre commentary to Facebook.
Candidates
Declared
- Pat Roberts, incumbent senator
- D.J. Smith, former Osawatomie City Councilwoman
- Milton R. Wolf, radiologist, conservative commentator and Barack Obama's Second Cousin
- Alvin Zahnter, truck driver and Vietnam War veteran
Declined
- Tim Huelskamp, U.S. Representative (re-elected to House)
- Kris Kobach, Secretary of State of Kansas (re-elected as secretary of state)
- Dennis Pyle, state senator
- Todd Tiahrt, former U.S. Representative (ran for KS-04)
Endorsements
- Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida
- Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska, 2008 Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States
- Sam Brownback, Governor of Kansas
- Jeff Colyer, Lieutenant Governor of Kansas
- Bob Dole, former U.S. Senator (KS-R) and nominee for President of the United States in 1996
- Ron Estes, Kansas State Treasurer
- Tim Huelskamp, U.S. Representative
- Lynn Jenkins, U.S. Representative
- Kris Kobach, Secretary of State of Kansas
- Jerry Moran, U.S. Senator (KS-R)
- Mike Pompeo, U.S. Representative
- Derek Schmidt, Attorney General of Kansas
- Kevin Yoder, U.S. Representative
Individuals
- Jana Goodman, former state representative
- Ron Highland, state representative
- Michael Houser, state representative
- Charlotte O'Hara, former state representative
- Josh Powell, state representative
- Marty Read, state representative
- Jim Ryun, former U.S. Representative
- Mark Levin, The Mark Levin Show
Organizations
- Flint Hills Tea Party
- Kansans for Constitutional Government
- Kansans for Constitutional Integrity
- Madison Project
- National Association for Gun Rights
- Republican Liberty Caucus
- Senate Conservatives Fund
- Southeast Kansas Conservative Group
- Tea Party Express
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Pat Roberts | D.J. Smith | Milton Wolf | Alvin Zahnter | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Tarrance Group^ | January 13–15, 2014 | 501 | ± 4.5% | 69% | — | 15% | — | — | 16% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 18–20, 2014 | 375 | ± 5.1% | 49% | — | 23% | — | — | 28% |
| SurveyUSA | June 19–23, 2014 | 508 | ± 4.4% | 56% | — | 23% | — | 8% | 12% |
| GEB International | July 9, 2014 | 500 | ± 4.28% | 42% | — | 30% | — | — | 28% |
| SurveyUSA | July 17–22, 2014 | 691 | ± 3.8% | 50% | 6% | 30% | 3% | — | 12% |
| Daily Kos/Google Consumer Surveys | August 4, 2014 | 1,002 | ± 3.1% | 53.4% | — | 39.1% | — | — | 7.5% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Pat Roberts | Someone more conservative | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | February 18–20, 2014 | 375 | ± 5.1% | 43% | 39% | 18% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 21–24, 2013 | 760 | ± 3.6% | 42% | 34% | 24% |
- ^ Internal poll for the Pat Roberts campaign
Results
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Pat Roberts (incumbent) | 127,089 | 48.08% | |
| Republican | Milton Wolf | 107,799 | 40.78% | |
| Republican | D.J. Smith | 15,288 | 5.78% | |
| Republican | Alvin E. Zahnter | 13,935 | 5.26% | |
| Total votes | 264,340 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Chad Taylor, Shawnee County District Attorney
- Patrick Wiesner, attorney and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010
Declined
- Kathleen Sebelius, former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services and former Governor of Kansas
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Chad Taylor | Patrick Wiesner | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KSN News/SurveyUSA | July 17–22, 2014 | 322 | ± 5.6% | 48% | 17% | 35% |
| KSN News/SurveyUSA | June 19–23, 2014 | 252 | ± 6.3% | 41% | 16% | 43% |
Results
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Chad Taylor | 35,067 | 53.3% | |
| Democratic | Patrick Wiesner | 30,752 | 46.7% | |
| Total votes | 65,819 | 100.0% | ||
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Declared
- Randall Batson, nominee for the State House in 2012
Independents
Candidates
Declared
- Greg Orman, businessman, who briefly ran in the Democratic primary in 2008 before dropping out.
General election
Campaign
On September 3, Democratic nominee Chad Taylor withdrew from the race. On September 4, Kris Kobach, the Republican Kansas Secretary of State, announced that Taylor would remain on the ballot because state law demands he declare himself "incapable of fulfilling the duties of office if elected" in order to be removed, which he did not do. Taylor challenged the decision, and on September 18 the Kansas Supreme Court decided that his name would be taken off the ballot.
On the same day, Kobach demanded the chairman of the Democratic Party name a replacement in eight days, saying he will consider litigation to force the party if they refuse.
A registered Democrat with family ties to Republican Governor Sam Brownback's campaign also filed a petition with the Kansas Supreme Court on September 18 to force the Democratic Party to name a new candidate. Kobach ordered ballots to be mailed to overseas voters on September 20 without a Democratic candidate, but included a disclaimer that another ballot will be sent if the Democratic Party names a replacement candidate.
The state district court in Shawnee County threw out the petition, meaning no replacement for Taylor needed to be named.
In the 2002 Senate election, Roberts also had no Democratic opponent.
Roberts defeated Orman in the general election, winning reelection to a fourth term in office.
If Orman had been elected, the U.S. Senate would have had three independent Senators for the first time in the chamber's history. This—and the question of whom Orman would choose to caucus with if elected—were very large questions in the electoral contest, and because the Kansas race was showing tight in the polls, a subject of considerable national political discourse as well.
Fundraising
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on Hand | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greg Orman (I) | $2,461,766 | $3,298,186 | $183,599 | $1,124,982 |
| Pat Roberts (R) | $5,383,491 | $5,534,415 | $927,449 | 0 |
Debates
- Complete video of debate, October 8, 2014
- Complete video of debate, October 15, 2014
Endorsements
- Individuals
- Tim Owens, Republican former state Senator
- Jim Sherow, former Mayor of Manhattan and Democratic nominee for KS-01
- Organizations
- AFL-CIO
- The Centrist Project
- Human Rights Campaign
- Traditional Republicans for Common Sense
- Women for Kansas
- National politicians
- Bob Dole, former U.S. Senator (R-KS)
- Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and candidate for President in 2012
- Callista Gingrich, wife of Newt Gingrich
- David Keene, former chairman of the American Conservative Union and former president of the National Rifle Association of America
- Tim Huelskamp, U.S. Representative (R-KS)
- Lynn Jenkins, U.S. Representative (R-KS)
- Kevin Yoder, U.S. Representative (R-KS)
- Mike Pompeo, U.S. Representative (R-KS)
- Jerry Moran, U.S. Senator (R-KS)
- Kansas statewide politicians
- Sam Brownback, Governor of Kansas
- Jeff Colyer, Lieutenant Governor of Kansas
- Kris Kobach, Secretary of State of Kansas
- Derek Schmidt, Attorney General of Kansas
- Ron Estes, State Treasurer of Kansas
- Milton R. Wolf, radiologist, conservative commentator and Republican candidate for the seat
- State Senators
- Susan Wagle, State Senate President
- Jeff King, State Senate Vice President
- Terry Bruce, State Senate Majority Leader
- Jim Denning, state senator
- Julia Lynn, state senator
- Ralph Ostmeyer, state senator
- Garrett Love, state senator
- Larry Powell, state senator
- Ty Masterson, state senator
- Michael O'Donnell, state senator
- Jay Emler, former state senator
- Jacob LaTurner, state senator
- Clark Shultz, state senator
- Jeff Longbine, state senator
- Vicki Schmidt, state senator
- Mike Petersen, state senator
- Elaine Bowers, state senator
- Tom Arpke, state senator
- Steve Fitzgerald, state senator
- Mitch Holmes, state senator
- Forrest Knox, state senator
- Pat Apple, state senator
- Jeff Melcher, state senator
- Robert Olson, state senator
- Mary Pilcher-Cook, state senator
- Greg Smith, state senator
- Kay Wolf, state senator
- Carolyn McGinn, state senator
- Steve Abrams, state senator
- Leslie Donovan, state senator
- Dan Kerschen, state senator
- State representatives
- Ray Merrick, State House Speaker
- Jene Vickrey, State House Majority Leader
- Lance Kinzer, state representative
- John Rubin, state representative
- Ron Ryckman Jr., state representative
- Connie O'Brien, state representative
- Reid Petty, state representative
- Dennis Hedke, state representative
- Troy Waymaster, state representative
- Rob Bruchman, state representative
- Larry Campbell, state representative
- Stephanie Clayton, state representative
- Willie Dove, state representative
- Keith Esau, state representative
- Mike Kiegerl, state representative
- Marvin Kleeb, state representative
- Jerry Lunn, state representative
- Charles Macheers, state representative
- Craig McPherson, state representative
- Kelly Meigs, state representative
- Robert Montgomery, former state representative
- Erin Davis, state representative
- Scott Schwab, state representative
- Bill Sutton, state representative
- James Todd, state representative
- Stephen Alford, state representative
- John Barker, state representative
- Sue Boldra, state representative
- John Bradford, state representative
- Steven Brunk, state representative
- Richard Carlson, state representative
- Will Carpenter, state representative
- Ward Cassidy, state representative
- Marshall Christmann, state representative
- J. R. Claeys, state representative
- Susan Concannon, state representative
- Ken Corbet, state representative
- Travis Couture-Lovelady, state representative
- J. David Crum, state representative
- Peter DeGraaf, state representative
- Diana Dierks, state representative
- John Doll, state representative
- John Edmonds, state representative
- Joe Edwards, state representative
- Bud Estes, state representative
- John Ewy, state representative
- Blaine Finch, state representative
- Shanti Gandhi, state representative
- Mario Goico, state representative
- Daniel Hawkins, state representative
- Phil Hermanson, former state representative
- Steve Anthimides, state representative
- Larry Hibbard, state representative
- Don Hill, state representative
- Don Hineman, state representative
- Kyle Hoffman, state representative
- Jim Howell, state representative
- Steve Huebert, state representative
- Russ Jennings, state representative
- Steven Johnson, state representative
- Kevin Jones, state representative
- Mark Kahrs, state representative
- Jim Kelly, state representative
- Leslie Osterman, state representative
- Tom Phillips, state representative
- Richard Proehl, state representative
- Marc Rhoades, state representative
- Allan Rothlisberg, state representative
- Ron Ryckman Sr., state representative
- Don Schroeder, state representative
- Sharon Schwartz, state representative
- Joe Seiwert, state representative
- Tom Sloan, state representative
- Gene Suellentrop, state representative
- Vern Swanson, state representative
- Jack Thimesch, state representative
- Kent Thompson, state representative
- Marshall Christmann, state representative
- Organizations
- American Conservative Union
- Kansans For Life
- Kansas Black Republican Council (KBRC)
- Kansas State Rifle Association
- Kansas Farm Bureau
- National Federation of Independent Business
- NRA Political Victory Fund
- National Right to Life Committee
- Tea Party Express
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report | Tossup | November 3, 2014 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean R | November 3, 2014 |
| Rothenberg Political Report | Tossup | November 3, 2014 |
| Real Clear Politics | Tossup | November 3, 2014 |
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Pat Roberts (R) | Chad Taylor (D) | Greg Orman (I) | Randall Batson (L) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | February 18–20, 2014 | 693 | ± 3.7% | 48% | 32% | — | — | — | 20% |
| Rasmussen Reports | April 16–17, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 50% | 32% | — | — | 5% | 13% |
| SurveyUSA | June 19–23, 2014 | 1068 | ± 3.1% | 43% | 33% | 7% | 5% | — | 12% |
| SurveyUSA | July 17–22, 2014 | 1,208 | ± 2.9% | 38% | 33% | 14% | 4% | — | 10% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | July 5–24, 2014 | 1,281 | ± 6.1% | 53% | 37% | — | — | 7% | 4% |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 6–7, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 44% | 40% | — | — | 7% | 8% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 14–17, 2014 | 903 | ± 3.3% | 32% | 25% | 23% | 3% | — | 17% |
| 43% | 39% | — | — | — | 17% | ||||
| 33% | — | 43% | — | — | 24% | ||||
| KSN News/SurveyUSA | August 20–23, 2014 | 560 | ± 4.2% | 37% | 32% | 20% | 4% | — | 6% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | August 18 – September 2, 2014 | 839 | ± 5% | 47% | 35% | — | — | 2% | 15% |
| KSN News/SurveyUSA | September 4–7, 2014 | 555 | ± 4.2% | 36% | 10% | 37% | 6% | — | 11% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 11–14, 2014 | 1,328 | ± 2.7% | 34% | 6% | 41% | 4% | — | 15% |
| 36% | — | 46% | — | — | 17% | ||||
| Fox News | September 14–16, 2014 | 604 | ± 4% | 40% | 11% | 38% | 4% | — | 8% |
| 42% | — | 48% | — | — | 8% | ||||
| Rasmussen Reports | September 16–17, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 40% | 3% | 45% | — | 2% | 10% |
| 39% | 9% | 38% | — | 2% | 12% | ||||
| Remington Research | September 23, 2014 | 625 | ± 3.91% | 42% | — | 50% | 3% | — | 5% |
| Suffolk University | September 27–30, 2014 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 41.2% | — | 46.4% | 0.8% | — | 11.6% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | September 20 – October 1, 2014 | 2,013 | ± 3% | 40% | — | 40% | 2% | 0% | 17% |
| NBC News/Marist | September 27 – October 1, 2014 | 511 LV | ± 4.3% | 38% | — | 48% | 5% | 1% | 9% |
| 848 RV | ± 3.4% | 36% | — | 46% | 5% | 1% | 12% | ||
| Gravis Marketing | September 30 – October 1, 2014 | 850 | ± 3% | 40% | — | 47% | — | — | 13% |
| SurveyUSA | October 2–5, 2014 | 549 | ± 4.3% | 42% | — | 47% | 4% | — | 7% |
| CNN/ORC | October 2–6, 2014 | 687 | ± 3.5% | 49% | — | 48% | — | — | 3% |
| Fox News | October 4–7, 2014 | 702 | ± 3.5% | 44% | — | 39% | 3% | 4% | 12% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 7–8, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 40% | — | 52% | — | 4% | 4% |
| Public Policy Polling | October 9–12, 2014 | 1,081 | ± 3% | 41% | — | 44% | 5% | — | 10% |
| 43% | — | 46% | — | — | 11% | ||||
| Remington Research | October 9–12, 2014 | 1,091 | ± 2.97% | 48% | — | 46% | 2% | — | 4% |
| Monmouth University | October 16–19, 2014 | 429 | ± 4.7% | 46% | — | 46% | — | 3% | 5% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 20–21, 2014 | 960 | ± 3% | 44% | — | 49% | — | 3% | 5% |
| Gravis Marketing | October 20–21, 2014 | 1,124 | ± 3% | 45% | — | 47% | — | — | 8% |
| NBC News/Marist | October 18–22, 2014 | 757 LV | ± 3.6% | 44% | — | 45% | 4% | <1% | 7% |
| 1,055 RV | ± 3% | 42% | — | 45% | 4% | 1% | 9% | ||
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | October 16–23, 2014 | 1,973 | ± 4% | 42% | — | 38% | 1% | 0% | 18% |
| Survey USA | October 22–26, 2014 | 623 | ± 4% | 42% | — | 44% | 4% | — | 10% |
| Fox News | October 28–30, 2014 | 907 | ± 3% | 43% | — | 44% | 3% | 1% | 8% |
| YouGov | October 25–31, 2014 | 1,137 | ± 4.8% | 38% | — | 37% | 2% | 2% | 22% |
| Public Policy Polling | October 30–31, 2014 | 752 | ± ? | 47% | — | 46% | 3% | — | 4% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–3, 2014 | 963 | ± 3.2% | 46% | — | 47% | 3% | — | 4% |
| 47% | — | 49% | — | — | 3% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Pat Roberts (incumbent) | 460,350 | 53.15% | -6.91% | |
| Independent | Greg Orman | 368,372 | 42.53% | N/A | |
| Libertarian | Randall Batson | 37,469 | 4.32% | +2.20% | |
| Total votes | 866,191 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Independent
- Douglas (Largest city: Lawrence)
- Wyandotte (Largest city: Kansas City)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Independent
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
See also
Notes
References
External links
- Official campaign websites
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