Alva Review-Courier -

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state senator many Republicans see as the spoiler in the Kansas governor's race has a long history of irritating GOP leaders, once even daring colleagues to smell a jar of catfish stink bait he'd brought to a tax debate.

More recently during a redistricting fight, Dennis Pyle compared the Senate president to Gollum, the troll-like character obsessed with a ring of power in "The Lord of the Rings" saga.

Now top Republicans are blaming Pyle for Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's narrow reelection victory after he left the GOP, ran for governor as an independent and siphoned vote...