The failure of Democratic candidates to make gains in the Kansas Senate has prompted Sen. Chris Steineger to mount a challenge against Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley.

Steineger, of Kansas City, told Kansas Liberty today that he was in the beginning stages of attempting to unseat Hensley, who has been Minority Leader for 12 years.

“Whether it’s baseball or business, when you fail to perform you get replaced,” Steineger said.

Steineger said under Hensley’s leadership, the Democrat caucus in the 40-member Senate had gone from 12 to 10 and, depending on the outcome of a race that’s still too close to call, possibly to 9.

“This is more about performance than philosophy,” said Steineger.

Steineger said he was particularly disappointed at the Democrat’s inability during the just-concluded election season to lessen the majority that Republicans have traditionally enjoyed in the Senate.

“We raised a record amount of money in what was a Democratic year and we still failed to pick up any seats,” he said. “Too much money was wasted on high-priced consultants and pollsters, and too little emphasis was placed on old-fashioned door-to-door campaigning.”

Sen. David Haley, also a Wyandotte County Democrat, said he was keeping an open mind on the leadership race.

“I would say at this point I’m comfortable with the status quo, but I’m always anxious to see whether a change in leadership might swiftly and significantly benefit my constituents.”

Haley said the contest between Hensley and Steineger could be decided by three Democratic newcomers to the Democrat’s Senate caucus.

“I have not worked on a day-to-day basis with the new Senators but if they stood together, they could have an impact,” he said.

Steineger said he was disappointed that Hensley, in league with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, had actively worked to unseat a Wyandotte County Senate colleague, Sen. Mark Gilstrap,  three-term pro-life incumbent who was defeated in the Democratic primary by Kelly Kultala. Both Sebelius and Hensley endorsed and raised money for Kultala, and she went on to defeat her general election opponent to take Gilstrap’s seat.

Following his defeat, Gilstrap lashed out at Hensley and urged Democratic Senators to depose him.

“If I’m elected leader, we will not get involved in Democratic primaries,” Steineger said.

Democrats will choose their Senate leader Dec. 1. Steineger, the current Minority Whip, said he would not seek that position again.

However, Haley told Kansas Liberty he intended to seek the post if Steineger did not.

“I wouldn’t oppose Chris – I think he’s been a good Whip – but if he isn’t running, I will be a candidate,” Haley said.

Hensley, who could not be reached Monday, has indicated publicly that he intends to seek the Minority Leader position again.

- Phil LaCerte

The week in Review