The Latest: Voters begin casting ballots in Kansas primary

The retired welder said a key issue is Huelskamp's being booted from the House Agriculture Committee in late in 2012 amid disputes with GOP leaders over farm and fiscal legislation.

[...] moderate Republicans are making the election a referendum on the state's budget problems and education funding as they try to oust conservative incumbents from the Legislature.

A central issue is Huelskamp's being booted from the House Agriculture Committee late in 2012 amid disputes with GOP leaders over farm and fiscal legislation.

Moderate Republicans are making Kansas' primary election a referendum on the state's budget problems and education funding as they try to oust conservative incumbents.

Most are allies of Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and continue to support his experiment in cutting state income taxes to stimulate the economy.

The voting occurs against the backdrop not only of the state's fiscal woes but ongoing legal and political disputes over funding for public schools.