Republican Mike Pompeo beat out both Democrat Robert Tillman and Libertarian candidate Thomas Jefferson. Tillman who served the state for 24 years says he desired to continue serving Kansas as a United States Congressman, but now will look to other things.
"The whole world is open to me," says Tillman. "I still have a chance to decide what I'm going to do. I'm a retired Kansas Supreme Court Services officer, I retired in 2008 so I'll go back right into retirement and then I'll regroup."
Democratic State Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau defeated both Republican Kenya Cox and Libertarian Carl Kramer. Faust-Goudeau says the win gives her an opportunity to work even harder in Topeka.
"I'll work on economic development, job creation, helping grow and sustain small and minority owned businesses," says Faust-Goudeau. "And, of course, always on the forefront of the legislature is education."
First-time candidate Rodrick Houston won over Republican Emmanuel Banks and was endorsed by current State Representative Melody McCray- Miller.
Houston says he wants to do something about the disproportionate number of kids locked up at an early age.
"And a lot of times they get out of the system as juveniles and go right back into it as adults just for whatever reason," says Houston. "So I really want to do something for our young people, really want to be able get some training for them and make sure we get that get that education funding back."
Democrat Patrick Cantwell who lost to incumbent state Senator Susan Wagle says he thinks emphasis should be put on rebuilding the middle class in Kansas. He says he gained a lot of experience during the election.
"And I've gained some name recognition," says Cantwell. "I may decide to run again for some office, possibly something here in the county."
Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer weighed in on President Obama's next term in office.
"I think things will be a little bit different these next four years," says Brewer. "And everyone is going to figure out the best interest of the country. We better get together and we better start try to find someway to work because if we don't then there'll be a lot of changes the next four years."
