by TChris

Voters in Kansas dealt another defeat to extremists who believe that public education about the origins of life should be faith-based rather than science-based.

Conservative Republicans lost control of the State Board of Education on Tuesday only nine months after they had enacted science standards expressing doubt about evolutionary theory. Critics saw the standards as an attack on evolution, and Kansas received international ridicule as a result.

The conservative board majority was 6-4 going into this year's election, and moderate Republicans unseated one conservative incumbent and captured a seat held by a retiring conservative in Tuesday's primary elections. That left the balance of power at 6-4 in favor of moderates who believe the standards should reflect mainstream scientific views - and treat evolution as a well-established theory.

Two conservative Republicans who held off moderate challengers in the primary may still lose to science-friendly Democrats in the general election.