Democrats capture several governors' mansions from Republicans
WASHINGTON - Democrats captured governors' offices in states across the country that Republicans have controlled since at least the early years of the Obama presidency, eroding the GOP's dominance in state capitals.
In Kansas, one the most conservative states in the nation, Democratic state Sen. Laura Kelly defeated Kris Kobach, the polarizing secretary of state who helped lead President Donald Trump's failed commission on voter fraud. That panel disbanded after being unable to produce evidence supporting both men's claims of rampant fraud.
Kobach fell short after running hard to the right. He found himself up against electoral head winds created by fallout from deeply unpopular tax cuts championed by former Gov. Sam Brownback, another Republican, which starved state government and forced deep cuts in core services.
Although the blue wave that Democrats had hoped
