Adam Hamilton becomes the first Democratic senator from Kansas in nearly a century

A historic Kansas result

Adam Hamilton, a Democrat and pastor of the country’s largest United Methodist church, won a seat in the U.S. Senate. Kansas had not elected a Democrat to the chamber since 1932.

The result came in a state where Donald Trump has won by double-digit margins in every presidential election since 2016. Kansas has also elected and reelected a moderate Democratic governor during that period, showing voters have supported candidates from different parties in different races.

A campaign built around Kansas

Hamilton presented himself as a moderate who would listen to people on both sides. He considered an independent run before choosing to campaign as an “independent-minded Democrat.” Supporters feared an independent bid could divide Democratic votes and help Marshall win.

Hamilton called for term limits, criticized national Democrats and won endorsements from prominent Kansas Republicans. He emphasized a Kansas-first approach and avoided close association with national Democrats, although his campaign received $5 million from a political action committee associated with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Hamilton said he would not support Schumer for another leadership position.

Attack ads and campaign disputes

Court records show the church’s initial investigation into the boys’ report was inconclusive. Hamilton said in a debate that he was not involved in allowing the volunteer to return, and later said church leaders should have contacted police after the first report. They called authorities after the second report.

Hamilton’s campaign also used the account of a former patient in an attack ad against Marshall. The New York Times reported that Marshall, an OB-GYN before entering the U.S. House in 2016, sued 700 former patients over medical debt. Five days before Election Day, one of those patients sued Marshall, alleging he charged a predatory interest rate.

Voters and national attention

Andi Welch, a Johnson County voter who does not always choose the Democratic candidate, voted for Hamilton. “I think he’s going to be fair,” Welch said, adding that she believed he would look out for Kansas citizens.

National Republicans also directed attention to Kansas. An Emerson College poll put undecided voters at about 8% in September, and Republicans bet they were Trump voters who needed encouragement to turn out. Trump and the vice president each visited Kansas twice during the campaign season; Emerson’s polls later moved further in Hamilton’s favor.

The race was the most expensive in Kansas history, and Hamilton set multiple fundraising records. In the final debate, Marshall tried 15 times to link Hamilton to Schumer.