JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has narrowly won re-election in Kansas against a Democratic opponent who attempted to make their race a referendum on the incumbent’s conservative fiscal experiment.

Brownback’s contest with Democrat Paul Davis remained closed as ballots from Tuesday’s election were counted. The challenger made some headway with disaffected GOP moderates and unaffiliated voters.

But with most of the unofficial returns counted, Brownback had just shy of 50 percent of the vote. Davis had 46 percent and Libertarian Keen Umbehr had 4 percent.

Brownback argued that personal income tax cuts enacted by legislators at his urging are creating jobs and boosting the economy. Davis said the cuts wrecked the state’s finances and endangered school funding.

The governor portrayed Davis a liberal supporter of Democratic President Barack Obama.