The 2014 United States Senate election in Kansas was held on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Kansas, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.

Incumbent Republican Senator Pat Roberts was re-elected to a fourth term against Independent Greg Orman and Libertarian nominee Randall Batson. The Democratic nominee, Chad Taylor, withdrew from the race.

Republican primary Roberts gained negative press attention after criticism that he did not own a home in Kansas, with some comparing the situation to that of former Indiana Senator Richard Lugar, who lost a 2012 Senate primary after a similar residency controversy. Roberts owns a home in Alexandria, Virginia. The primary was held on August 5, 2014.

Primary opponent Milton R. Wolf, a radiologist, was under investigation by a state medical ethics board for posting X-ray images of dead patients with macabre commentary to Facebook.

Candidates Declared Pat Roberts, incumbent senator D.J. Smith, former Osawatomie city councilwoman Milton R. Wolf, radiologist, conservative commentator and Barack Obama's second cousin Alvin Zahnter, truck driver and Vietnam War veteran

Declined Tim Huelskamp, U.S. representative (re-elected to House) Kris Kobach, secretary of state of Kansas (re-elected as secretary of state) Dennis Pyle, state senator Todd Tiahrt, former U.S. representative (ran for KS-04)

Endorsements

Polling Poll source PatRoberts D.J.Smith MiltonWolf AlvinZahnter Other UndecidedThe Tarrance Group^The Tarrance Group^ January 13–15, 2014 501 ± 4.5% 69% — 15% — — 16%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 18–20, 2014 375 ± 5.1% 49% — 23% — — 28%SurveyUSASurveyUSA June 19–23, 2014 508 ± 4.4% 56% — 23% — 8% 12%GEB InternationalGEB International July 9, 2014 500 ± 4.28% 42% — 30% — — 28%SurveyUSASurveyUSA July 17–22, 2014 691 ± 3.8% 50% 6% 30% 3% — 12%Daily Kos/Google Consumer SurveysDaily Kos/Google Consumer Surveys August 4, 2014 1,002 ± 3.1% 53.4% — 39.1% — — 7.5%

Poll source PatRoberts conservative UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 18–20, 2014 375 ± 5.1% 43% 39% 18%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 760 ± 3.6% 42% 34% 24%

^ Internal poll for the Pat Roberts campaign

Poll source PatRoberts TimHuelskamp UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 760 ± 3.6% 53% 22% 26%

Poll source PatRoberts KrisKobach UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 760 ± 3.6% 55% 19% 26%

Poll source PatRoberts ToddTiahrt UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 760 ± 3.6% 47% 26% 27%

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Declared Chad Taylor, Shawnee County district attorney Patrick Wiesner, attorney and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010

Declined Kathleen Sebelius, former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services and former governor of Kansas

Polling Poll source ChadTaylor PatrickWiesner UndecidedKSN News/SurveyUSAKSN News/SurveyUSA July 17–22, 2014 322 ± 5.6% 48% 17% 35%KSN News/SurveyUSAKSN News/SurveyUSA June 19–23, 2014 252 ± 6.3% 41% 16% 43%

Results

Libertarian primary Candidates Declared Randall Batson, nominee for the State House in 2012

Independents Candidates Declared Greg Orman, businessman, briefly ran in the Democratic primary in 2008 before dropping out

General election Campaign Republicans were worried about Roberts' campaign in August 2014, perceiving it as lethargic and inactive, that Roberts had a low favorability rating, and that internal polling suggested the race was rather close. At the behest of Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell as well as former Senator Bob Dole, Roberts fired his longtime campaign manager Leroy Towns in early September 2014. Chris LaCivita was brought in to revamp the race, and LaCivita protege Corry Bliss replaced Towns as campaign manager. Bliss urged Roberts focus on a strategy of tying Orman to President Obama at every turn, as Obama had low favorability ratings in Kansas. Roberts also began spending more time in Kansas, living in a hotel in Topeka rather than his home in Alexandria, Virginia.

On September 3, Democratic nominee Chad Taylor withdrew from the race. On September 4, Kris Kobach, the Republican Kansas Secretary of State, announced that Taylor would remain on the ballot because state law demands he declare himself "incapable of fulfilling the duties of office if elected" in order to be removed, which he did not do. Taylor challenged the decision, and on September 18 the Kansas Supreme Court decided that his name would be taken off the ballot.

On the same day, Kobach demanded the chairman of the Democratic Party name a replacement in eight days, saying he would consider litigation to force the party if they refused.

A registered Democrat with family ties to Republican Governor Sam Brownback's campaign also filed a petition with the Kansas Supreme Court on September 18 to force the Democratic Party to name a new candidate. Kobach ordered ballots to be mailed to overseas voters on September 20 without a Democratic candidate, but included a disclaimer that another ballot will be sent if the Democratic Party names a replacement candidate.

The state district court in Shawnee County threw out the petition, meaning no replacement for Taylor needed to be named.

The efforts by Bliss and other Republican strategists would ultimately prove successful. Roberts' polling improved in October. Roberts defeated Orman in the general election, winning reelection to a fourth term in office.

If Orman had been elected, the U.S. Senate would have had three independent senators for the first time in the chamber's history. This—and the question of whom Orman would choose to caucus with if elected—were large questions in the electoral contest, and because the Kansas race was showing tight in the polls, a subject of considerable national political discourse as well.

Fundraising Candidate Raised Spent Cash on Hand Debt Greg Orman (I) $2,461,766 $3,298,186 $183,599 $1,124,982 Pat Roberts (R) $5,383,491 $5,534,415 $927,449 0

Debates Complete video of debate, October 8, 2014 Complete video of debate, October 15, 2014

Endorsements

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014

Polling

Poll source PatRoberts (R) ChadTaylor (D) GregOrman (I) RandallBatson (L) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 18–20, 2014 693 ± 3.7% 48% 32% — — — 20%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports April 16–17, 2014 750 ± 4% 50% 32% — — 5% 13%SurveyUSASurveyUSA June 19–23, 2014 1068 ± 3.1% 43% 33% 7% 5% — 12%SurveyUSASurveyUSA July 17–22, 2014 1,208 ± 2.9% 38% 33% 14% 4% — 10%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov July 5–24, 2014 1,281 ± 6.1% 53% 37% — — 7% 4%Rasmussen Reports August 6–7, 2014 750 ± 4% 44% 40% — — 7% 8%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 14–17, 2014 903 ± 3.3% 32% 25% 23% 3% — 17% 43% 39% — — — 17% 33% — 43% — — 24%KSN News/SurveyUSAKSN News/SurveyUSA August 20–23, 2014 560 ± 4.2% 37% 32% 20% 4% — 6%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov August 18 – September 2, 2014 839 ± 5% 47% 35% — — 2% 15%KSN News/SurveyUSAKSN News/SurveyUSA September 4–7, 2014 555 ± 4.2% 36% 10% 37% 6% — 11%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling September 11–14, 2014 1,328 ± 2.7% 34% 6% 41% 4% — 15% 36% — 46% — — 17%Fox NewsFox News September 14–16, 2014 604 ± 4% 40% 11% 38% 4% — 8% 42% — 48% — — 8%Rasmussen Reports September 16–17, 2014 750 ± 4% 40% 3% 45% — 2% 10% 39% 9% 38% — 2% 12%Remington ResearchRemington Research September 23, 2014 625 ± 3.91% 42% — 50% 3% — 5%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk University September 27–30, 2014 500 ± 4.4% 41.2% — 46.4% 0.8% — 11.6%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov September 20 – October 1, 2014 2,013 ± 3% 40% — 40% 2% 0% 17%NBC News/MaristNBC News/Marist September 27 – October 1, 2014 511 LV ± 4.3% 38% — 48% 5% 1% 9% 848 RV ± 3.4% 36% — 46% 5% 1% 12%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing September 30 – October 1, 2014 850 ± 3% 40% — 47% — — 13%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 2–5, 2014 549 ± 4.3% 42% — 47% 4% — 7%CNN/ORCCNN/ORC October 2–6, 2014 687 ± 3.5% 49% — 48% — — 3%Fox NewsFox News October 4–7, 2014 702 ± 3.5% 44% — 39% 3% 4% 12%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 7–8, 2014 750 ± 4% 40% — 52% — 4% 4%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 9–12, 2014 1,081 ± 3% 41% — 44% 5% — 10% 43% — 46% — — 11%Remington ResearchRemington Research October 9–12, 2014 1,091 ± 2.97% 48% — 46% 2% — 4%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University October 16–19, 2014 429 ± 4.7% 46% — 46% — 3% 5%Rasmussen Reports October 20–21, 2014 960 ± 3% 44% — 49% — 3% 5%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing October 20–21, 2014 1,124 ± 3% 45% — 47% — — 8%NBC News/MaristNBC News/Marist October 18–22, 2014 757 LV ± 3.6% 44% — 45% 4% <1% 7% 1,055 RV ± 3% 42% — 45% 4% 1% 9%CBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 1,973 ± 4% 42% — 38% 1% 0% 18%Survey USASurvey USA October 22–26, 2014 623 ± 4% 42% — 44% 4% — 10%Fox NewsFox News October 28–30, 2014 907 ± 3% 43% — 44% 3% 1% 8%YouGovYouGov October 25–31, 2014 1,137 ± 4.8% 38% — 37% 2% 2% 22%Public Policy Polling October 30–31, 2014 752 ± ? 47% — 46% 3% — 4%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 1–3, 2014 963 ± 3.2% 46% — 47% 3% — 4% 47% — 49% — — 3%

With Huelskamp Poll source TimHuelskamp (R) CarlBrewer (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,229 ± 2.8% 40% 36% — 24%

Poll source TimHuelskamp (R) MarkParkinson (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,229 ± 2.8% 41% 35% — 24%

Poll source TimHuelskamp (R) KathleenSebelius (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,229 ± 2.8% 46% 41% — 13%

With Roberts Poll source PatRoberts (R) CarlBrewer (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,229 ± 2.8% 50% 34% — 16%

Poll source PatRoberts (R) MarkParkinson (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,229 ± 2.8% 49% 34% — 17%

Poll source PatRoberts (R) KathleenSebelius (D) Other UndecidedRasmussen Reports April 16–17, 2014 750 ± 4% 54% 37% 5% 4%Public Policy Polling February 18–20, 2014 693 ± 3.7% 52% 38% — 10%Public Policy Polling February 21–24, 2013 1,229 ± 2.8% 51% 40% — 9%

Poll source PatRoberts (R) PatrickWiesner (D) RandallBatson (L) GregOrman (I) Other UndecidedSurveyUSA June 19–23, 2014 1068 ± 3.1% 45% 29% 6% 8% — 12%SurveyUSA July 17–22, 2014 1,208 ± 2.9% 40% 27% 5% 17% — 11%

With Wolf Poll source MiltonWolf (R) KathleenSebelius (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 18–20, 2014 693 ± 3.7% 46% 39% — 15%

Poll source MiltonWolf (R) ChadTaylor (D) RandallBatson (L) GregOrman (I) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 18–20, 2014 693 ± 3.7% 33% 32% — — — 35%SurveyUSA June 19–23, 2014 1068 ± 3.1% 33% 36% 6% 7% — 18%SurveyUSA July 17–22, 2014 1,208 ± 2.9% 33% 34% 5% 14% — 14%

Poll source MiltonWolf (R) PatrickWiesner (D) RandallBatson (L) GregOrman (I) Other UndecidedSurveyUSA June 19–23, 2014 1068 ± 3.1% 36% 30% 6% 8% — 20%SurveyUSA July 17–22, 2014 1,208 ± 2.9% 35% 28% 5% 16% — 16%

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Independent Douglas (largest city: Lawrence) Wyandotte (largest city: Kansas City)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Independent Shawnee (largest city: Topeka)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Atchison (largest city: Atchison)

By congressional district Roberts won three of four congressional districts, with Orman winning the remaining one, which elected a Republican.

District Roberts Orman Representative 63% 32%Tim Huelskamp49% 46%Lynn Jenkins 47% 50%Kevin Yoder 54% 41%Mike Pompeo

See also 2014 United States Senate elections