Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Republicans have won a Kansas Senate contest that featured two incumbents who were forced to run against each other in northwest Kansas because of political redistricting.

Republican Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer of Grinnell captured 66 percent of the vote in final, unofficial results from Tuesday's election. He defeated Democratic Sen. Allen Schmidt of Hays in the 40th District.

The two senators were put in the same district when three federal judges adjusted the state's political boundaries in June to ensure equal representation. Ostmeyer had been expected to win because the district leans Republican.

Ostmeyer was elected to the Senate in 2004 after serving four years in the House. Schmidt was appointed to the Senate in February 2011 to fill a vacancy.