Republican Sam Brownback hangs on as Kansas governor

CBS News projects that embattled Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, has been elected to a second term.

Brownback was one of two Republicans in Kansas who faced tough re-elections: Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, was the only seriously endangered Republican senator this cycle. He is also projected to win his race against independent challenger Greg Orman, helping the Republicans to secure the Senate majority.

Aided by a Republican legislature, Brownback oversaw the aggressive implementation of conservative policies ranging from deep income tax cuts to restrictions on abortion and a slashing of state welfare programs. But the side affects of those policies, including a drop in revenue and the threat of a budget deficit in 2015, created an opening for Paul Davis, the House minority leader.

Davis had opened up a slim lead in recent weeks, in part by attracting moderate Republicans who have been alienated by Brownback. But Brownback managed a win on Election Day, though his margin of victory is projected to be smaller than Roberts'.