Pat Roberts Out!

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) done. The old man is retiring setting up a potential showdown in the Sunflower State. 

Fox News will try to recruit Kevin Yoder to run for the seat. Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and outgoing governor Jeff Colyer might consider running for the seat. Mike Pompeo could run for the seat.

What seat you may ask?

The seat being vacated by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS).

Another Republican is retiring in 2020. That means Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and now Roberts.

The old farts are no longer seeking reelection. It will set up a race that could be challenge for Republicans. Even in ruby red Kansas, Democrats hope to line up a candidate who could inspire people out to the polls.

CNN reports that the 82-year-old Roberts announced his decision at the Kansas Department of Agriculture in Manhattan, Kansas -- a symbolic location after he shepherded the farm bill to passage weeks ago.

Roberts is forgoing what could have been a difficult re-election bid. He survived a GOP primary in 2014, winning fewer than 50% of the vote. And Democrat Laura Kelly won the Kansas governor's office last year, giving Democrats hope they can compete statewide there.

His retirement is likely to create a crowded field of Republicans vying for the seat.

The national GOP is eying Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Kansas congressman, as a possible recruit, one Republican source said.

"Pompeo is in a league of his own. Republicans in the Senate writ large would love to see him run," the source said. "The list is him, and then there'll probably be a second list depending on where his head is at."

A source with knowledge of Pompeo's thinking said, "He's happy to be mentioned. Focused on doing his job as (secretary of state)."

"I think we have so many good people that could take over," Roberts said. He said the party has good candidates "inside the congressional delegation and outside the congressional delegation."