The Kansas Legislature showed its tendency to be both more conservative and more liberal on Monday.
The selection of House leaders took the Republican and Democratic factions a bit more to the right and left, respectively, while creating a more polarized Legislature facing Democratic Gov.-elect Laura Kelly.
Republicans, on an 80-4 vote, again picked Rep. Ron Ryckman of Olathe as House speaker. It will be the second two-year term for the conservative in the job.
But the GOP caucus voted to change up its second-ranking spot, elevating Dan Hawkins of Wichita to majority leader over the more moderate Don Hineman on a 48-35 vote.
Democrats turned over their top leadership job of minority leader. Longtime lawmaker Tom Sawyer took over the job from Jim Ward. Both come from Wichita.
Sawyer held the spot in the mid- to late 1990s and was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1998. He lost that race by a wide margin to Republican Bill Graves.
Ward has a more confrontational legislative style than Sawyer and came under fire in his own party for an abandoned run for governor. That run for higher office left his House colleagues feeling neglected in a year that many believe should have produced more legislative wins for Democrats.
Changes in the ranks of both parties mark a slight increase in the polarization of the House. The shifts reflected the choices voters made last month.
Im disappointed in how my race turned out, but it wasnt totally unexpected, said Hineman, a Dighton Republican.
Both caucuses moved away from the center, he said. As someone who believes that a bipartisan, centrist approach is the best approach to governance I hate to see that. But it is what it is and well work to make it work.
Democrats maintained control of 40 seats to the Republicans 85. But Democrats lost a few seats in rural districts, while picking up some in suburban areas. A number of moderate Republicans are gone from the chamber, losing either to conservatives in the primary or to Democrats in the general election.
Every House seat was up for election this year. Seats in the Kansas Senate, elected every four years, come up for election in 2020. A handful of departures from the senate following this years elections will mean a leadership shuffle in that chamber too. Republican Sen. Vicki Schmidt, elected state Insurance Commissioner, has been serving as assistant majority leader; the governor-elect was assistant minority leader.
Changes both in rank-and-file and leadership could test Kellys powers of legislative persuasion. As a state senator, she had a reputation for compromise. Shes pledged to work with legislative Republicans. She has little choice. Republicans dominate both the House and Senate.
Well look for ways we can work with (Kelly), Ryckman said, while making it clear that Republicans would have their own agenda.
A majority of the state still believes in core Republican principles and well continue to push those forward, he said.
