TOPEKA, Kan. — Democrat Adam Hamilton has unseated first-term Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, giving Kansas its first Democratic U.S. senator elected since 1932 and adding to the seats that handed Democrats control of the Senate.
Hamilton is the founder and longtime head pastor of the biggest United Methodist congregation in the state, a base that gave him name recognition across the state before he ever ran for office. He won over many independent and rural voters as Marshall’s campaign faded late in the race. The win ends a 94-year Democratic drought in Kansas Senate races.
The race was not on the national radar for most of the year. In the final weeks, Marshall acknowledged he was in a fight and argued that a loss in Kansas would cost Republicans the Senate. President Donald Trump held two rallies in the state for him before the election, and millions of dollars poured into the contest.
Marshall, a physician, faced attacks over his former medical practice, which sued about 700 of its own patients over unpaid bills. Hamilton faced attack ads over his church, which he disputed. Hamilton said during the campaign that he would not back Chuck Schumer as the Democratic leader.
Kansas joins Texas, Iowa, Ohio and Maine among the Republican-held seats Democrats won Tuesday night.
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