Moderate Republicans have come under attack in primaries across the country this year, but the split in the GOP is perhaps older and sharper in Kansas — and it comes to a head Tuesday.
“I think the lines have been drawn in the sand. Bridges have been burned. Everybody is all-in this election,” says Jim Denning, one of the conservative candidates for the state’s senate.
The Republican statehouse primary is a savage fight fueled by money from the Koch brothers and labor unions, with big consequences for the citizens of Kansas. …NPR
The same or similar is happening in Texas, according to post run-off reports. The candidacy of tea party candidate, Ted Cruz, may wind up splitting Texas Republicans even as Texas Democrats — the strong force in the 1980’s — seem to be on their way back. Most analyst here predict a turnover to the Dems in 2020. It’s beginning to look as though Democrats — right across the country — may end up being grateful for the tea partyers’ extremism.
In Kansas, it’s more dramatic. Get this: “Moderate Republicans have made common cause with of some of the state’s biggest labor unions.”
Meantime, Wichita-based Koch Industries, owned by the famously activist Koch Brothers, has been fueling conservative campaigns. Burdett Loomis, a political science professor at the University of Kansas, says it’s strange to see Gov. Sam Brownback working to dismantle powerful incumbents within his own party.
“To have this kind of absolutely brutal internecine warfare is certainly unprecedented,” he says.
Though, it’s not completely unexpected. Conservatives like Melcher want to change the way schools are funded, deepen budget cuts, and eliminate state income taxes. He says he’s sick of moderate Republicans standing in the way.
“The moderates have had their chance, and it was a failure,” he says. …NPR
The primary is on Tuesday and turnout is expected to be light even though, as the report points out, this is expected to be one of the most important elections in Kansas history.