In tight Kansas Senate race, struggling farmers are split

Farmers in Kansas are divided over the Senate contest between Republican incumbent Roger Marshall and Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, a pastor seeking to become the state's first Democratic senator since the 1930s. CBS News reports that financial strain is pushing some longtime Republican voters to reconsider, while others remain loyal.

The Preisser family of Sylvia says running their 6,500-acre farm cost $737,375 more in 2026 than a year earlier, driven mainly by fertilizer and diesel, with some of the increase tied to steel tariffs on parts. Drought cut yields by 20%, and revenue fell by $325,000. Jeff Preisser doubts the operation will last another year. His father, Larry Preisser, who founded it, plans to vote for a Democrat for the first time, citing the lapsed Farm Bill and unfulfilled promises. Jeff Preisser may skip voting, and his sister Mandi Sieren distrusts both parties. They view President Trump's $8 billion fuel relief program as a stopgap.

Soybean farmer Mick Roush faces similar pressure but backs Marshall, calling Hamilton too liberal. Many farmers see the Iran war's costs as temporary or justified, or fear a Democratic Congress. An April Farm Journal survey found 73% think elected officials understand their realities poorly.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CBS News’s reporting. Read the full story at CBS News →