Six outgoing Kansas Republican state senators have endorsed the chamber's Democratic leader in his bid for re-election.
All six of those announcing their support Friday for Minority Leader Anthony Hensley are considered GOP moderates.
They include Senate Vice President John Vratil, who decided against running for re-election this year, and five who lost their primary races to Republican conservatives. Those five are Dwayne Umbarger, Jean Schodorf, Pete Brungardt, Roger Reitz and Ruth Teichman.
Hensley is from Topeka. His GOP opponent next month is Casey Moore, a self-employed commodities trader who also works for churches.