TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Heated challenges to conservative Republic incumbents in Kansas during November’s election that left the status quo in place finished as the top two Kansas stories of 2014.

Longtime U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts narrowly fended off the challenge of independent Greg Orman after a bitter campaign, while Gov. Sam Brownback slipped past Democrat Paul Davis to retain his seat for another four years.

Steep budget shortfalls blamed on Brownback’s tax cuts finished as the third most-significant Kansas story of the year, while court rulings that opened the door to same-sex marriages in spite of the state’s constitutional ban was fourth.

The fatal shootings of three people at two Jewish centers by an avowed white supremacist from Missouri rounded out the top five.