Kansas Court Orders Removal of Democratic Nominee for Senate From Ballot

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the name of the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate be removed from the ballot, and the state's top elections official says Democrats must name a new candidate, adding more uncertainty to a race that could affect Republican hopes to win a Senate majority.

Speaking minutes after the state high court decision, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said he is giving Democrats until noon next Friday to pick a new candidate. The U.S. Justice Department has agreed to allow Kansas a week's delay in mailing ballots to military overseas.

Some Democrats had nudged party nominee Chad Taylor to withdraw from the race in the hope that independent Greg Orman would have a better chance to defeat three-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts.

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