National Republicans funneled thousands of dollars into a political action committee that targeted Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley in the closing days of the general election.
The Republican State Leadership Committee pumped $145,000 into the Kansans for Jobs and Opportunity PAC, which is led by supporters of Senate President Susan Wagle.
The PAC, led by Wichita real estate executives Herb Krumsick and Steve Barrett, used that money to help Republican Rick Kloos in his upset of Hensley on Tuesday night.
There were still 50,257 mail ballots statewide that have not yet been returned and could still influence any close race as they filter in before this week’s deadline to be counted.
The RSLC put $125,000 into the PAC in October and August. It gave another $20,000 to the PAC last July.
The PAC dropped about $100,000 into the race against Hensley, not counting another $36,00 on polling, the report shows.
Early on, the RSLC had targeted Hensley along with four other Democrats who represented Senate districts carried by President Donald Trump in 2020.
Trump carried Hensley’s district – covering parts of Osage, Shawnee, Douglas and Jefferson counties – with 50.7% of the vote in 2016.
“We were very pleased to take out the minority leader,” said Austin Chambers, president of the RSLC.
“I think he might have been the longest serving legislator in the country and we’re very pleased to take him out in Kansas,” Chambers said in a conference call with reporters.
Chambers also noted that Republicans won the Senate District 18 seat once represented by Gov. Laura Kelly when Kristen O’Shea defeated Democrat Tobias Schlingensiepen.
The RSLC had targeted the District 18 seat since Trump won that district with 53.3% of the vote in 2016. O’Shea won with 60% of the vote on Tuesday.
“A great night in Kansas protecting the super majority,” Chambers said.
Hensley has been a top ally for the governor in the Legislature. A couple of his former top aides now serve as her chief of staff and legislative liaison.
“I know what a valuable asset he has been to this Legislature,” Kelly told reporters.
Hensley wasn’t the only top legislator to lose nationally on Tuesday.
The Democratic minority leader in the Georgia House lost to a Republican in a southwest Atlanta district on Tuesday.
Also, the Democratic speaker of the Rhode Island House lost to a Republican challenger on Tuesday.
And in Vermont, the Democratic speaker of the House also lost to a Republican rival.
“It was an absolutely great night for state Republicans and an absolutely miserable night for Democrats,” Chambers said.
Kelly expressed disappointment in seeing her old Senate district flip on Tuesday.
“I’m not surprised,” she said. “That’s a heavily Republican district that I was very fortunate to be able to win four times.”
The Jobs and Opportunity PAC, meanwhile, sent out a mailer criticizing Hensley for the 44 years he spent in office.
First elected to the Legislature in 1976, Hensley was the longest serving member of the Kansas Legislature.
“I had a big target on my back,” Hensley said. “I can understand that because I’ve been a thorn in their side for a long time.”
Wagle said that she asked the RSLC to target Hensley’s Senate district after seeing the results of the 2016 election. She said she didn’t coordinate with the candidate.
“I am grateful for the friends who trusted my assessment that Anthony Hensley’s seat was at risk and that he was out of step with Kansas voters and his district,” Wagle said in a statement.
The RSLC’s contribution more than offset the fundraising disparity between Hensley and Kloos.
Hensley had raised about $124,000 during the last two years compared to Kloos, who had raised about $18,000.
Hensley said he lost the race in Osage County, where Democrats lost in big numbers.
The senator only received 31% of the vote in Osage County compared to 69% for Kloos. Trump won the county with 71% of the vote.
Hensley won Shawnee County with 56% of the vote compared to 44% for Kloos.
