( CNN ) -- A surprise in Kansas Wednesday night is setting the stage for an even more interesting U.S. Senate race this fall . Democratic candidate Chad Taylor decided to drop out of the race , which means more support may go to an independent candidate against Republican incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts . In a statement to the Wichita Eagle , Taylor said , `` After much consideration and prolonged discussion with my supporters , my staff , and party leadership at every level , I have decided to end my campaign for the United States Senate . '' The move came hours after independent candidate Greg Orman announced support from a group of moderate Republicans . Orman 's campaign may have a better shot now that the contest has narrowed to a two-person race . After word spread of Taylor 's withdrawal , Orman in a statement said , `` This is certainly an unexpected turn of events . Chad Taylor is a committed public servant . He ran an honorable campaign and worked hard , and I wish him and his family well . '' As CNN Chief National Correspondent John King reported Sunday on growing GOP concern about Roberts ' campaign , the GOP needs a gain of six seats to win the Senate majority . If the party lost a Republican-held seat , such as the one in Kansas , it would have to win another Democratic seat toward the goal of netting six . `` A number of top Republican strategists who have seen the latest research say ( Roberts ' re-election ) is now hardly a sure thing , '' King said Sunday , while Democrat Taylor was still in the race . `` These strategists are furious with Roberts personally , and even more so with a campaign team they say has not risen to the challenge . So there is mounting pressure on the other Kansas senator , Jerry Moran , who just happens to lead the National Republican Senatorial Committee . '' King added that `` leading GOP voices '' are pushing the NRSC to get more aggressive , including pushing for a shakeup in the Roberts campaign team . `` And in the GOP super-PAC community , there are conversations that it might become necessary to spend money in a state that no one thought would be -- or should be -- on a 2014 list of potential Democratic pickups , '' King said . If the GOP super PACs have to suddenly shift money to Kansas , `` a few GOP challengers in other states could see their outside help shrink , '' King said .
The Democratic candidate withdraws from the U.S. Senate race in Kansas . That means more support could go to the independent candidate . Republican incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts was once thought to be a shoe-in . GOP strategists are pushing Roberts to step it up .