Michigan, Kansas and Missouri all held primaries August 3. The closest race was in Kansas, where conservative Kris Kobach (R.) may have narrowly defeated the more liberal Adam Taff in the Republican primary to face Rep. Dennis Moore (D.-Kan.), who represents the Kansas City area.
At press time, Kobach held an 87-vote lead with "provisional" ballots (cast by voters who claimed to be registered but did not appear on the printed rolls of registered voters) still uncounted. The result is a pleasant surprise for many Washington, D.C., conservatives, who preferred Kobach but expected him to lose the primary. Just by entering the race, the former Justice Department lawyer and current law school professor drew Taff slightly to the right, forcing him to adopt a stance against same-sex marriage. Moore is perceived as one of the most vulnerable House Democrats this year.
