Alva Review-Courier -

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement is giving the Kansas governor's race an odd twist by complicating the bid of a major Democratic candidate who's trying to rebuild his party's brand with rural voters but is hindered by his anti-abortion past.

Former state Agriculture Secretary Joshua Svaty argues that Democrats can't break an eight-year losing streak in all statewide races without pulling more votes from strongly Republican rural areas. But he could have trouble winning the Aug. 7 primary because abortion-rights advocates are energized and Svaty voted...