There’s nothing remotely surprising about this. KS was never going to be "Likely/Safe R" with a candidate like Bollier in an election in which Republicans are struggling to defend IA, SC, AK, etc., and Laura Kelly's 2018 map is nowhere near as difficult to replicate (with a smaller D margin) as people think.
Pure Toss-up, as it’s been since Roberts' retirement (if not earlier). One of the few good calls I made this cycle.
This race should serve as a reminder of how possible it is for Democrats to overperform in traditionally Republican states when a well-funded candidate who is credible as a messenger and leader runs a competent and disciplined campaign, even against a fairly mainstream Republican opponent.
You’d think the 2010s would have taught people not to underestimate red state Democrats rather than just dismiss their chances with hollow buzzwords like ‘polarization’, but apparently (still) not the case.
