TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Even though U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has declared a Senate run to be "off the table" next year, many fellow Republicans in Washington and his home state of Kansas aren't buying it.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is among the GOP senators encouraging the former congressman to rethink a run for Kansas' open Senate seat. A top Senate Republican strategist who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the person isn't authorized to discuss the situation said McConnell has called Pompeo several times, promoting the Senate as a place where he cou...