Topeka — Four senators and three House members lost their seats, though the overall partisan balance of power changed relatively little in the Legislature.
Republicans maintained a 30-10 majority in the Senate after Tuesday's elections. The GOP picked up three seats in the House, boosting its majority to 83-42.
It wasn't clear early Wednesday how receptive the new Legislature will be to raising taxes for education once it convenes Jan. 10. The issue dominated the 2004 session and could play an equally big role next year, after legislators receive an expected ruling from the Kansas Supreme Court on a lawsuit challenging the state's school finance system.
In the 2nd Senate District, Democrat Marci Francisco, a former Lawrence city commissioner, defeated GOP Sen. Mark Buhler. In the 18th, Topeka lobbyist and Democrat Laura Kelly defeated Sen. Dave Jackson, R-Topeka, by 39 votes in final, unofficial results, with provisional ballots to be reviewed.
Sen. Janis Lee, D-Kensington, defeated Sen. Larry Salmans, R-Hanston, in the 36th District to win her fifth term. Redistricting of Senate seats following the 2000 Census pitted the two incumbents in a district that has a strong Republican majority.
However, Republicans picked up a seat in Wichita, where challenger Mike Peterson defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Henry Helgerson.
Republicans also picked up one seat in a newly created district in Johnson County.
Unofficial election results
Photo Gallery: Election Day 2004
6News video: Dennis Moore wins in a 'landslide'
Barbara Ballard talks about younger voters and their importance in this election.
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