Once considered one of the most conservative parts of the state, Johnson County now reflects the momentum and excitement Kansas Democrats have heading into this year's election.

With Democratic candidates running in every race (but one) the county may well be on the way to sending more commonsense leadership to the statehouse than ever before.

Johnson County Election Office figures show the number of voters registering as Democrats has been steadily increasing, with more than 2,500 registering in the month of February alone, a bump directly related to the Democratic caucuses that month.

In fact, Johnson County has the most registered Democratic voters of any county in the state and to date has seen a net gain of more than 6,000 voters.

Kansas and Johnson County are traditionally Republican-dominated. In 2002 and 2004, 75,000 Republicans participated in the primary elections. In 2006, that number had fallen to 36,500. In the 2006 general election, Johnson County voters supported Democrats Dennis Moore with 61 percent of the vote, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson with 62 percent, and Paul Morrison for attorney general with 65 percent.

And it looks like someone else is noticing the changing tide...

“The 2006 election reminds me of a college party when I was a freshman,” [Johnson County GOP Chair Scott Schwab] said. “I had a great time, but then you have to work and make things happen. I think that’s what (the Democrats) are up to now.”

Hmm...Putting aside the confusing "college party" analogy - I think he just admitted that, after winning big in 2006, Democrats have been working hard to win big again in 2008.

And that hard work is paying off with Johnson County's successful Democratic candidate recruitment, the record participation at the Democratic caucuses, and the rapidly increasing Democratic registration.

Thanks for noticing, Scott! Oh, but wait - this sounds more familiar:

“Republicans are getting along like they haven’t done for a long time,” he said. “The party is less split today than the Democratic Party is and that isn’t rhetoric..."

(Wait, who do you guys have running for Johnson Count DA again?)