Kansas

The names of the officeholders will change, but it appears Kansas will remain a deep red state in this midterm election. Republican Sam Brownback is giving up the Senate seat he's held for 15 years to run for governor. His Democratic opponent is state Sen. Tom Holland. Democrat Mark Parkinson, appointed last year to replace Kathleen Sebelius when she became President Obama's secretary of Health and Human Services, is not running for a full term.Rep. Jerry Moran is the GOP nominee to succeed Brownback in the Senate. He defeated fellow Republican Congressman Todd Tiahrt, who was backed by Sarah Palin and the tea party, in the Aug. 3 primary. Moran's general election opponent is Lisa Johnston. Kansas hasn't sent a Democrat to the Senate since 1932.Democratic Rep. Dennis Moore is retiring after six terms in Congress and his wife, Stephene Moore, is in an uphill battle to inherit his seat and keep it in the blue column. The state's three other House seats are expected to stay Republican this year. McCain won Kansas in 2008.