Editing Sam Brownback (section)

===Elections===
====2010 gubernatorial election====
{{Main|2010 Kansas gubernatorial election}}
In 2008, Brownback acknowledged he was considering [[2010 Kansas gubernatorial election|running for governor in 2010]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/sep/04/brownback_considering_gubernatorial_run_2010/|title=Brownback considering gubernatorial run in 2010|publisher=Lawrence Journal World and News|access-date=December 7, 2008|archive-date=December 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211053217/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/sep/04/brownback_considering_gubernatorial_run_2010/|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2009, Brownback officially filed the paperwork to run for governor.<ref name=kc>{{cite web |url=http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/16188 |title=Prime Buzz |publisher=Primebuzz.kcstar.com |access-date=August 23, 2010 |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822072604/https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/?q=node/22169 |url-status=live }}</ref>

His principal Senate-career campaign donors, the [[Koch family|Koch brothers]] (and their [[Koch Industries]]), again backed Brownback's campaign.<ref name="koch_influence_2014_12_14_wichita_eagle" />

Polling agency [[Rasmussen Reports]] found that Brownback led his then-likely Democratic opponent, [[Tom Holland (politician)|Tom Holland]], by 31 points in May 2010.<ref name="rasmussenreports1"/><ref>[http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/kansas/election_2010_kansas_senate Election 2010: Kansas Senate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306132134/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/kansas/election_2010_kansas_senate |date=March 6, 2010 }}, Rasmussen Reports, March 3, 2010.</ref>

On June 1, 2010, Brownback named Kansas state senator [[Jeff Colyer]] as his running mate.<ref>[http://www.kansas.com/2010/06/02/1340122/brownback-ticket-gains-surgeon.html "Brownback ticket gains surgeon as lieutenant"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605031546/http://www.kansas.com/2010/06/02/1340122/brownback-ticket-gains-surgeon.html |date=June 5, 2010 }}, ''Wichita Eagle'', June 2, 2010.</ref>

On November 2, 2010, Brownback defeated Holland, by 260,594 votes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kansas|work=[[The New York Times]]|year=2010|url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/kansas|access-date=October 19, 2014|archive-date=September 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907161024/http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/kansas|url-status=live}}</ref> He succeeded Governor [[Mark Parkinson (Kansas politician)|Mark Parkinson]], who was sworn in after former governor [[Kathleen Sebelius]] resigned from her position and became U.S. Secretary of [[Health and Human Services]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldstein|first=David|author2=Klepper, David|title=Sebelius sworn in to Cabinet, Parkinson becomes Kansas governor|publisher=The Kansas City Star|date=April 28, 2009 |url=http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1168432.html|access-date=October 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430183737/http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1168432.html |archive-date=April 30, 2009}}</ref>

====2014 gubernatorial election====
{{main|2014 Kansas gubernatorial election}}

In October 2013, Kansas state representative [[Paul Davis (Kansas politician)|Paul Davis]], the Democratic minority leader of the [[Kansas House of Representatives]], announced he would challenge Brownback in the [[2014 Kansas gubernatorial election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/2013/09/17/4487708/democrat-davis-enters-kan-governor.html|title=Democrat Paul Davis enters Kansas governor race|access-date=January 24, 2018|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222142322/http://www.kansascity.com/2013/09/17/4487708/democrat-davis-enters-kan-governor.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2014, more than 100 current and former Kansas Republican officials (including former state party chairmen, Kansas Senate presidents, Kansas House speakers, and majority leaders) endorsed Democrat Davis over Republican Brownback,<ref name="davis_secures_2014_07_15_wichita_eagle" /><ref name="some_in_kansas_2017_06_06_wsj_com" /> citing concern over Brownback's deep cuts in education and other government services, as well as the tax cuts that had left the state with a major deficit.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pianin|first1=Eric|title=Brownback Feeling Big Political Backlash to Tax Cuts in Kansas|url=http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2014/07/16/Brownback-Feeling-Big-Political-Backlash-Tax-Cuts-Kansas|work=The Fiscal Times|access-date=July 17, 2014|date=July 16, 2014|quote=In a startling rebuke to the governor, more than 100 Kansas Republican officials endorsed Davis on Tuesday, a rarity in statewide races and a wakeup call for Brownback, an arch-conservative on economic and social issues, and a former U.S. senator. The defectors said they are as concerned about cuts in education and other government services as well as the tax cuts that have left the state with a major hole in its budget.|archive-date=July 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718104639/http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2014/07/16/Brownback-Feeling-Big-Political-Backlash-Tax-Cuts-Kansas|url-status=live}}</ref>

Tim Keck, chief of staff of Brownback's running mate, Lt. Governor [[Jeff Colyer]], unearthed and publicized a 1998 police report showing that Davis, 26 and unmarried at the time, had been briefly detained during the raid of a strip club. Davis was found to have no involvement in the cause for the raid, and was quickly allowed to leave.<ref>[http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article2250432.html Strip-club smear campaign orchestrated by Sam Brownback official, says Paul Davis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316025123/http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article2250432.html |date=March 16, 2017 }}, ''[[Wichita Eagle]]'', Dion Lefler, September 20, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref> Responding to criticism of Keck's involvement in the campaign, Brownback spokesman John Milburn commented that it was legal to use taxpayer-paid staff to campaign. Media law experts expressed amazement when they learned that the Montgomery County's sheriff released non-public investigative files from 1998 in response to a mere request. Brownback's campaign capitalized on the 16-year-old incident.<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2014/09/26/brownbacks_strip_club_obsession_gop_governor_basing_his_campaign_on_a_lap_dance/ Sam Brownback's strip-club obsession: GOP governor basing his campaign on a lap dance: Sam Brownback's right-wing agenda hobbled Kansas, so his campaign is now focused on a meaningless 16-year-old story] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316113115/http://www.salon.com/2014/09/26/brownbacks_strip_club_obsession_gop_governor_basing_his_campaign_on_a_lap_dance/ |date=March 16, 2017 }}, Simon Maloy, September 26, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/oct/04/closed-law-enforcement-records-become-public-sling/ In strip-club case, typically closed records were released, GOP tipped off] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728041607/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/oct/04/closed-law-enforcement-records-become-public-sling/ |date=July 28, 2018 }}, ''[[Lawrence Journal-World]]'', October 4, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref>

Brownback was reelected with a plurality, defeating Davis by 32,096 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2014/governor/ks/kansas_governor_brownback_vs_davis-4146.html |title=Election 2014 – Kansas Governor – Brownback vs. Davis |publisher=RealClearPolitics |access-date=April 9, 2015 |archive-date=March 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324010805/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2014/governor/ks/kansas_governor_brownback_vs_davis-4146.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name= closerace/><ref>{{cite web|title=Kansas Secretary of State 2014 General Election Official Vote Totals|url=http://www.kssos.org/elections/14elec/2014%20General%20Election%20Official%20Results.pdf|access-date=March 13, 2017|archive-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230082200/http://kssos.org/elections/14elec/2014%20General%20Election%20Official%20Results.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>