Alva Review-Courier -

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Paul Davis kicked off a promising Democratic campaign to flip a GOP-leaning Kansas congressional district with a pledge to oppose Nancy Pelosi's return as House speaker. It didn't change the GOP's strategy for keeping the seat: Republicans have branded him a "Pelosi liberal."

Davis is among dozens of Democratic candidates across the U.S. who have backed away from Pelosi, including in Democratic strongholds such as California and New York. And Republicans are lobbing similar attacks against them, using the veteran California liberal's name as code for what's supposed to make...