JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas sent a delegation dominated by Bernie Sanders supporters to a Democratic National Convention controlled by Hillary Clinton.

Local party leaders are hoping past divisions heal enough that the presidential race in their Republican-leaning state isn’t a blowout.

Sanders delegates go into this week’s convention in Philadelphia with differing opinions about whether a proposed party platform is progressive enough.

Republican nominee Donald Trump made a direct appeal in his acceptance speech to Sanders supporters on trade and campaign finance reform.

But the issue for Kansas Democrats appears more to be whether the Vermont senator’s backers embrace Clinton or stay home, rather than whether Trump can win them over.

Kansas has long been considered a safe GOP state. The last Democrat to carry it was President Lyndon Johnson in 1964.