During most of the 20th century, Kansas was a reliably Republican state. Then the Great Depression struck. Franklin D. Roosevelt won the state's electoral votes in his landslide victories of 1932 and 1936.
From 1940 to 1972, Republicans won the state in Presidential elections with the exception of 1964 when President Lyndon Johnson trounced Barry Goldwater.
But Watergate would be the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. In 1974, Democrats made historic gains in Congressional and gubernatorial races. One such beneficiary was Bill Roy. With his upset victory over incumbent Bob Dole, Roy became the first Democrat in 36 years to represent Kansas in the US Senate. Two years later, Jimmy Carter carried Kansas in his successful election as President. But Carter's disastrous Presidency resulted in Kansas returning to the Republican fold.
In 1992, Bill Clinton carried Kansas as he won the White House back for the Democrats. Senator Roy retired that same year and the Democrats held the seat with the election of Jim Slattery. Martha Keys won election to Slattery's Congressional seat in her second stint in the House.
When Senator Nancy Kassebaum retired in 1996, Keys ran for the Senate seat and defeated Republican Congressman Sam Brownback. President Clinton won Kansas with 58 percent of the vote, the best showing by a Democrat since LBJ in 1964.
In 2008, Hillary Clinton became the first Democrat since her husband to win Kansas' electoral votes. She was elected President while Governor Kathleen Sebelius was elected to succeed Keys in the Senate.
At present, Kansas is represented in the Senate by two Democrats: Sebelius and Slattery. And the state 4 person House delegation is evenly split with 2 Democrats and 2 Republicans. And 40 percent of Kansas' registered voters are Independent.
Is there any way that Republicans could dominate politically in Kansas and win the state in every Presidential election from 1968 to the present day?
From 1940 to 1972, Republicans won the state in Presidential elections with the exception of 1964 when President Lyndon Johnson trounced Barry Goldwater.
But Watergate would be the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. In 1974, Democrats made historic gains in Congressional and gubernatorial races. One such beneficiary was Bill Roy. With his upset victory over incumbent Bob Dole, Roy became the first Democrat in 36 years to represent Kansas in the US Senate. Two years later, Jimmy Carter carried Kansas in his successful election as President. But Carter's disastrous Presidency resulted in Kansas returning to the Republican fold.
In 1992, Bill Clinton carried Kansas as he won the White House back for the Democrats. Senator Roy retired that same year and the Democrats held the seat with the election of Jim Slattery. Martha Keys won election to Slattery's Congressional seat in her second stint in the House.
When Senator Nancy Kassebaum retired in 1996, Keys ran for the Senate seat and defeated Republican Congressman Sam Brownback. President Clinton won Kansas with 58 percent of the vote, the best showing by a Democrat since LBJ in 1964.
In 2008, Hillary Clinton became the first Democrat since her husband to win Kansas' electoral votes. She was elected President while Governor Kathleen Sebelius was elected to succeed Keys in the Senate.
At present, Kansas is represented in the Senate by two Democrats: Sebelius and Slattery. And the state 4 person House delegation is evenly split with 2 Democrats and 2 Republicans. And 40 percent of Kansas' registered voters are Independent.
Is there any way that Republicans could dominate politically in Kansas and win the state in every Presidential election from 1968 to the present day?