And so it begins

(Syndicated to Kansas newspapers Sept. 14, 2015)

Martin HawverIt’s early, but already there are growing indications that the State Senate will be the real battleground for political races next year, and so far, a few moderates are gearing up for that land war.

On a ballot next year where there won’t be any statewide offices, the focus may be the four-year termed Senate where in 2012 moderate Republicans were scoured from the floor, and conservatives—some more conservative than Gov. Sam Brownback—took over.

Of course, there’s both a House, up for election every two years, and a Senate, but it is the Senate with its smaller 40-member contingent that has historically become the power center of the Legislature.