Roberts’ retirement likely to spark crowded GOP primary

Kansas GOP Sen. Pat Roberts announced Friday that he would not run for re-election in 2020, launching what is expected to be a competitive Republican primary for his seat. 

“I have had the honor and privilege of representing Kansas for 16 years in the House, 22 years so far in the Senate,” Roberts said at an event in Manhattan, Kansas, on Friday. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would become the longest serving member of Congress in Kansas history.”

Roberts, who was first elected to the Senate in 1996 after serving in the House, said he would serve out the rest of his term. He is currently the chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.

Roberts, 82, faced the closest race of his career in 2014, when he fended off primary challenger Milton Wolf, who called the longtime lawmaker out of touch with Kansas.

Roberts won the primary by 8 points, but with 48 percent of the vote. He went on to win re-election by 9 points, defeating independent Greg Orman.