John Hanna, The Associated Press

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Democrat Cindy Holscher is elected Kansas' next governor, extending her party's wave of victories

Democrat Cindy Holscher is elected Kansas' next governor, extending her party's wave of victories

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Democrat Cindy Holscher has been elected Kansas' next governor, fending off Republican Ty Masterson to keep the office in her party's hands and extend a massive wave of Democratic victories across the country.

Pastor Adam Hamilton ousts GOP Sen. Roger Marshall, Democrats' 1st Senate win in Kansas in 94 years

Pastor Adam Hamilton ousts GOP Sen. Roger Marshall, Democrats' 1st Senate win in Kansas in 94 years

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Adam Hamilton, a Democrat and Methodist megachurch pastor, won a startling upset in Kansas over Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, flipping a seat once believed to be safely red in another example of how far unhappiness with President Donald Trump has spread throughout the nation.

Kansas Democrats hope Adam Hamilton can harness Trump fatigue to oust Republican Sen. Roger Marshall

Kansas Democrats hope Adam Hamilton can harness Trump fatigue to oust Republican Sen. Roger Marshall

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Democrats in Kansas went into Tuesday's election hoping that dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump, combined with the appeal of megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton's well-funded campaign to middle-of-the-road voters, would oust Republican Sen. Roger Marshall and end a 94-year streak of losing Senate races.

Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall says the Ukraine war, not the Iran war, has caused high diesel prices

Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall says the Ukraine war, not the Iran war, has caused high diesel prices

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas Republican Sen. Roger Marshall said Wednesday that Ukraine's war with Russia -- and not the U.S. war with Iran -- was to blame for high diesel prices that have imperiled his party's control of Congress in the midterm elections.

No Democrat has won a Kansas Senate seat in a century. Can a megachurch pastor change that?

No Democrat has won a Kansas Senate seat in a century. Can a megachurch pastor change that?

EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) -- Adam Hamilton has spent decades trying to bring people to Jesus as founder of the nation's largest United Methodist church. Now he wants to bring Kansas voters to the polls as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.

Businessman Mike Mazzei wins the GOP nomination for Oklahoma governor with Trump's endorsement

Businessman Mike Mazzei wins the GOP nomination for Oklahoma governor with Trump's endorsement

Tulsa businessman Mike Mazzei won the Republican nomination for Oklahoma governor on Tuesday after getting a boost from President Donald Trump's social media attacks on Mazzei's rival, state Attorney General Gentner Drummond.

Trump-backed businessman Mike Mazzei looks to secure GOP nomination for Oklahoma governor

Trump-backed businessman Mike Mazzei looks to secure GOP nomination for Oklahoma governor

Tulsa businessman Mike Mazzei hopes to win Tuesday's hotly contested Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma governor after President Donald Trump endorsed him and sharply attacked Mazzei's rival, state Attorney General Gentner Drummond.

Nancy Kassebaum Baker, former US senator from Kansas, dies at 94

Nancy Kassebaum Baker, former US senator from Kansas, dies at 94

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Nancy Kassebaum Baker, a Kansas governor's daughter who became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate without following a spouse into office, has died. She was 94.

A Kansas town will pay $850K to end a reporter's lawsuit over a 2023 raid on her paper's offices

A Kansas town will pay $850K to end a reporter's lawsuit over a 2023 raid on her paper's offices

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- A small Kansas town has agreed to pay $850,000 to a former reporter at its weekly newspaper to end her federal lawsuit over a police raid of the paper's offices in 2023 that ignited a national furor over press freedom.

Republicans want voters to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices and move court to the right

Republicans want voters to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices and move court to the right

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas voters will decide Tuesday whether to elect state Supreme Court justices rather than have the governor appoint them, a push from conservatives who have chafed for years over court decisions they disagreed with on issues such as abortion, school funding and the death penalty.

Trump's attacks on mail balloting and concerns over delays turn midterms spotlight on Postal Service

Trump's attacks on mail balloting and concerns over delays turn midterms spotlight on Postal Service

Roughly six weeks before the first midterm ballots are mailed out, the U.S. Postal Service is emerging as a pivotal player in an election season that will determine control of Congress.

Rep. Kevin Hern wins Oklahoma GOP nomination for US Senate, governor's race heads to runoff

Rep. Kevin Hern wins Oklahoma GOP nomination for US Senate, governor's race heads to runoff

U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern easily won Oklahoma's GOP nomination for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, and the race for a new governor in the deeply conservative state began with Republicans Gentner Drummond and Mark Mazzei advancing to a runoff.

Gentner Drummond, Mike Mazzei advance to Oklahoma GOP runoff for governor

Gentner Drummond, Mike Mazzei advance to Oklahoma GOP runoff for governor

U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern easily won Oklahoma's GOP nomination for U.S. Senate on Tuesday in a show of President Donald Trump's status as Republican Party kingmaker.

Mike Mazzei advances to Oklahoma GOP runoff for governor behind Trump's endorsement

Mike Mazzei advances to Oklahoma GOP runoff for governor behind Trump's endorsement

Mike Mazzei has advanced to a runoff in Oklahoma's GOP gubernatorial primary while carrying President Donald Trump's endorsement in a crowded field.

Rep. Kevin Hern is Oklahoma's GOP Senate nominee in the latest show of Trump's clout in the party

Rep. Kevin Hern is Oklahoma's GOP Senate nominee in the latest show of Trump's clout in the party

U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern on Tuesday won Oklahoma's Republican nomination for the Senate seat once held by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

Oklahoma begins choosing a new US senator and governor in crowded primary

Oklahoma begins choosing a new US senator and governor in crowded primary

Oklahoma's primary elections on Tuesday put open races for U.S. Senate and governor on the ballot in the deeply conservative state where President Donald Trump's status as party kingmaker faces another test ahead of November's midterms.

Trump administration promotes program to check voter eligibility. Critics fear a midterm purge

Trump administration promotes program to check voter eligibility. Critics fear a midterm purge

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Even as Democratic officials fight the effort in court, the Trump administration has run millions of voter registrations through government databases to determine their eligibility in a process that critics worry could end up purging valid voters from the rolls before the November elections.

Trump administration promote program to check voter eligibility. Critics fear a midterm purge

Trump administration promote program to check voter eligibility. Critics fear a midterm purge

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Even as Democratic officials fight the effort in court, the Trump administration has run millions of voter registrations through government databases to determine their eligibility in a process that critics worry could end up purging valid voters from the rolls before the November elections.

Montana voters will be able to register to vote on Election Day, judge rules

Montana voters will be able to register to vote on Election Day, judge rules

A Montana judge has blocked the state from limiting voter registration on Election Day, concluding the move would disproportionately harm Native American and young voters.

The hotly contested Texas Senate race is setting spending records ahead of Tuesday's primary

The hotly contested Texas Senate race is setting spending records ahead of Tuesday's primary

Candidates and political groups are pouring money into Texas' hotly contested U.S. Senate race at a record pace, partly fueled by Democrat James Talarico's fundraising and allies of Republican Sen. John Cornyn trying to save his long career.

Her jabs go viral. He's known to quote the Bible. How social media is shaping a Texas Senate race

Her jabs go viral. He's known to quote the Bible. How social media is shaping a Texas Senate race

Jasmine Crockett's most-watched TikTok clip is a five-second interview outside the U.S. Capitol. Someone asks the Democratic congresswoman what she would tell billionaire Elon Musk, and Crockett replies with a vulgar, two-word phrase. It's been viewed 20.7 million times.

Democrat Christian Menefee wins election for US House, narrowing GOP's slim majority

Democrat Christian Menefee wins election for US House, narrowing GOP's slim majority

Democrat Christian Menefee won a Texas U.S. House seat in a Saturday special election that will narrow Republicans' already-slim majority.

Democrats Menefee and Edwards compete for a House seat that will narrow GOP's slim majority

Democrats Menefee and Edwards compete for a House seat that will narrow GOP's slim majority

Democrats Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards are competing Saturday for a vacant U.S. House seat from Houston, a special election that will narrow the GOP's already slim House majority.

Federal judges block Texas from using its new US House map in the 2026 midterms

Federal judges block Texas from using its new US House map in the 2026 midterms

Texas cannot use a new congressional map drawn by Republicans in hopes of securing the party additional U.S. House seats, a panel of three federal judges ruled Tuesday.

Kansas legislators won't have a special session to join the US redistricting battle

Kansas legislators won't have a special session to join the US redistricting battle

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- The Kansas House's top Republican on Tuesday dropped efforts to force a redraw of U.S. House districts that would have thrust the state into a widening national battle for partisan advantage in the 2026 elections.

Kansas Republicans drop push to enter nation's widening redistricting battle

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas' Republican House leader on Tuesday dropped efforts to force a redraw of U.S. House districts that would have thrust the state into a widening national battle for partisan advantage in the 2026 elections.

The CEO of the Alamo's historic site has resigned after a top Texas Republican criticized her

The CEO of the Alamo's historic site has resigned after a top Texas Republican criticized her

The CEO of the nonprofit managing the Alamo resigned after a powerful Republican state official criticized her publicly, suggesting that her views aren't compatible with the history of the Texas shrine.

A key court test begins for Texas' redrawn US House map that boosts the GOP

A key court test begins for Texas' redrawn US House map that boosts the GOP

A panel of federal judges began considering Wednesday whether Texas can use a redrawn congressional map that boosts Republicans and launched an expanding redistricting battle ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Texas' redrawn US House map that boosts GOP begins a key court test

Texas' redrawn US House map that boosts GOP begins a key court test

A panel of federal judges will begin Wednesday to consider whether Texas can use a redrawn congressional map that boosts Republicans and has launched a widening redistricting battle ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

What to know as a Texas lawmaker protests police escorts and California takes up redistricting

What to know as a Texas lawmaker protests police escorts and California takes up redistricting

A Democratic lawmaker is staying in the Texas Capitol rather than accept an around-the-clock police escort that Republicans imposed to keep she and her colleagues from leaving the state again and further delaying the GOP's redrawing of congressional districts as President Donald Trump wants.

What to know as Texas Democrats return to state and California starts work on redistricting fight

What to know as Texas Democrats return to state and California starts work on redistricting fight

Republicans can move ahead with redrawing Texas' congressional districts now that Democratic lawmakers have returned to the state. Efforts to thwart President Donald Trump's push to tilt the political map for next year's midterm elections in his favor shifted to California.

A look at Texas' redistricting walkout and California's response, by the numbers

A look at Texas' redistricting walkout and California's response, by the numbers

A walkout by Democratic legislators in Texas has ended and Republicans arranged to push a plan for redrawing the state's congressional districts through the GOP-controlled Legislature and give President Donald Trump a better political landscape.

What to know about redistricting fights as Texas Democrats return and California starts work

What to know about redistricting fights as Texas Democrats return and California starts work

Republicans can move ahead with redrawing Texas' congressional districts now that Democratic lawmakers have returned to the state. Efforts to thwart President Donald Trump's push to tilt the political map for next year's midterm elections in his favor shifted to California.

Clarification: Planned Parenthood-Midwest story

Clarification: Planned Parenthood-Midwest story

In a story published May. 23, 2025, The Associated Press reported about Planned Parenthood closing clinics in Iowa and Minnesota. The story should have made clear that despite the closures, the organization will still offer medication abortions in Des Moines and medication and medical abortion services in Iowa City.

A Planned Parenthood affiliate plans to close 4 clinics in Iowa and another 4 in Minnesota

A Planned Parenthood affiliate plans to close 4 clinics in Iowa and another 4 in Minnesota

Four of the six Planned Parenthood clinics in Iowa and four in Minnesota will shut down in a year, the Midwestern affiliate operating them said Friday, blaming a freeze in federal funds, budget cuts proposed in Congress and state restrictions on abortion.

Kansas group fights campaign donor law it sees as a response to its success defending abortion

Kansas group fights campaign donor law it sees as a response to its success defending abortion

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- A group that successfully defeated an anti-abortion ballot measure in Kansas has filed a federal lawsuit against a new state law aimed at curbing foreign influence in elections, saying it violates free speech rights and would keep the group from waging future campaigns.

Missouri governor says he'll bring lawmakers back to get a plan for keeping the Chiefs and Royals

Missouri governor says he'll bring lawmakers back to get a plan for keeping the Chiefs and Royals

Missouri's governor said Friday that he will call the Legislature into a special session to consider incentives aimed at keeping the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals from moving to Kansas after lawmakers failed to pass a plan during their regular, annual session.

Campgrounds and visitor centers at federal lakes are closing amid Trump's budget cuts

Campgrounds and visitor centers at federal lakes are closing amid Trump's budget cuts

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Campgrounds, boat ramps and other facilities in at least 30 locations at federal lakes and reservoirs in six states will be closed or have their hours curtailed as of mid-May as the Trump administration tries to rapidly shrink the U.S. government.

Satanist leader's attempt to hold Black Mass in Kansas Statehouse sparks chaos and 4 arrests

Satanist leader's attempt to hold Black Mass in Kansas Statehouse sparks chaos and 4 arrests

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- The leader of a small group of self-described satanists and three other people were arrested Friday following a scuffle inside the Kansas Statehouse arising from an effort by the group's leader to start a Black Mass in the rotunda.

Satanist leader's attempt to hold 'Black Mass' inside Kansas Statehouse sparks chaos and arrests

Satanist leader's attempt to hold 'Black Mass' inside Kansas Statehouse sparks chaos and arrests

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- The leader of a small group of self-described satanists and at least one other person were arrested Friday following a scuffle inside the Kansas Statehouse arising from an effort by the group's leader to start a "Black Mass" in the rotunda.

Kansas has among the shortest windows for voting by mail in the US. It will get shorter next year

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Republican legislators in Kansas on Tuesday shrunk what already was among the nation's shortest windows for voting by mail, arguing that problems with the U.S. Postal Service's handling of ballots required the move. Critics called it voter suppression.

The release of a 1961 plan to break up the CIA revives an old conspiracy theory about who killed JFK

The release of a 1961 plan to break up the CIA revives an old conspiracy theory about who killed JFK

A key adviser warned President John F. Kennedy after the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961 that the agency behind it, the CIA, had grown too powerful. He proposed giving the State Department control of "all clandestine activities" and breaking up the CIA.

Backlash leads Republican attorneys general to declare support for a landmark disability rights law

Backlash leads Republican attorneys general to declare support for a landmark disability rights law

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Republican state attorneys general are declaring their continued support for a landmark federal law protecting disabled people's rights, after parents expressed fears of losing services for their disabled children because of a GOP lawsuit opposing transgender rights.

Kansas bans gender-affirming care for minors after GOP lawmakers reverse the governor's veto

Kansas bans gender-affirming care for minors after GOP lawmakers reverse the governor's veto

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas became the latest state to ban gender-affirming care for minors Tuesday after the Republican-controlled Legislature overrode the Democratic governor's veto of the measure.

George has his day, and so does Abe. But states honor US presidents in lots of ways

George has his day, and so does Abe. But states honor US presidents in lots of ways

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Is Presidents Day the most confusing holiday in the U.S.?

Kansas' top elections official is running for governor after pushing back on conspiracy theories

Kansas' top elections official is running for governor after pushing back on conspiracy theories

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas' top elections official launched a campaign for governor Wednesday after building his public profile by pushing back against unfounded election conspiracy theories and breaking with fellow Republicans on voting rights issues.

Kansas once required voters to prove citizenship. That didn't work out so well

Kansas once required voters to prove citizenship. That didn't work out so well

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Republicans made claims about illegal voting by noncitizens a centerpiece of their 2024 campaign messaging and plan to push legislation in the new Congress requiring voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Yet there's one place with a GOP supermajority where linking voting to citizenship appears to be a nonstarter: Kansas.

A key Trump ally on immigration explains how mass deportations could work

A key Trump ally on immigration explains how mass deportations could work

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- A Kansas official who is an informal adviser to President-elect Donald Trump's transition team on immigration issues doesn't expect mass deportations to prompt arrests of migrants at sensitive locations such as schools and churches.

South Dakota has rejected an abortion rights measure and voted down recreational marijuana

South Dakota has rejected an abortion rights measure and voted down recreational marijuana

Voters in South Dakota have rejected a proposal to add protections for abortion rights to the state constitution, preserving a near-total ban there.

South Dakota has rejected an abortion rights measure but a vote on marijuana is too early to call

South Dakota has rejected an abortion rights measure but a vote on marijuana is too early to call

Voters in South Dakota have rejected a proposal to add protections for abortion rights to the state constitution, preserving a near-total ban there.

South Dakota decides on abortion rights and marijuana, rejects election, tax proposals

South Dakota decides on abortion rights and marijuana, rejects election, tax proposals

South Dakota will decide Tuesday whether to add protections for abortion rights to the state constitution and potentially overturn the state's abortion ban.

Ex-Kansas AG Schmidt wins an open House seat for the GOP. Democratic Rep. Davids is reelected

Ex-Kansas AG Schmidt wins an open House seat for the GOP. Democratic Rep. Davids is reelected

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- A former Kansas attorney general's successful political comeback in Tuesday's election kept an open U.S. House seat in Republican hands while the only Democrat in the state's congressional delegation won reelection.

Ex-Kansas AG Schmidt captures an open House seat for the GOP

Ex-Kansas AG Schmidt captures an open House seat for the GOP

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- A former Kansas attorney general's successful political comeback in Tuesday's election kept an open U.S. House seat in Republican hands while the only Democrat in the state's congressional delegation was trying to fend off a GOP challenger.

South Dakota is deciding whether to protect abortion rights and legalize recreational marijuana

South Dakota is deciding whether to protect abortion rights and legalize recreational marijuana

South Dakota will decide Tuesday whether to add protections for abortion rights to the state constitution and potentially overturn the state's abortion ban.

The GOP expects to keep Kansas' open House seat. Democratic Rep. Davids looks tough to beat

The GOP expects to keep Kansas' open House seat. Democratic Rep. Davids looks tough to beat

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Republicans expected a former Kansas attorney general's political comeback in Tuesday's election to keep an open U.S. House seat in GOP hands while the party faced a tougher challenge in trying to oust the only Democrat in the state's congressional delegation.

A Minnesota woman is accused of turning in a ballot for her dead mother. A routine check caught it

A Minnesota woman is accused of turning in a ballot for her dead mother. A routine check caught it

A northern Minnesota woman accused of trying to submit a mail ballot for her recently deceased mother has been charged with three felonies, showing how routine election safeguards thwart rare instances of attempted voter fraud.

Conservatives could win control of Kansas and Nebraska state school boards

Conservatives could win control of Kansas and Nebraska state school boards

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Conservatives could capture majorities on the Kansas and Nebraska state school boards in this year's elections, making it easier for them to shape what's taught in classrooms.

Postal Service reassures on mail ballots, says all centers operating in regions hit by hurricanes

Postal Service reassures on mail ballots, says all centers operating in regions hit by hurricanes

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- The U.S. Postal Service has reopened all of its mail processing centers in areas of Florida and North Carolina hit by recent hurricanes, a top official said Wednesday in a briefing meant to reassure voters and election officials that the agency is ready to handle mail ballots.

US lawmakers' concerns about mail ballots are fueled by other issues with mail service

US lawmakers' concerns about mail ballots are fueled by other issues with mail service

Lawmakers said during a contentious congressional hearing Thursday they are uneasy about the U.S. Postal Service's readiness for a crush of mail ballots for the November election because some of them feel burned by other Postal Service actions.

GOP governor halts push to prevent Trump from losing one of Nebraska's electoral votes

GOP governor halts push to prevent Trump from losing one of Nebraska's electoral votes

An effort to prevent Donald Trump from losing a potentially crucial electoral vote from Nebraska appeared dead Tuesday after the state's Republican governor said he's not planning to push for the necessary change in state law ahead of the November presidential election.