Kansas Senate race on a knife edge as Democrats aim to end 94 years of Republican dominance

Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1932, yet the race for one of its two seats is too close to call, and some recent polls favor Democratic nominee Adam Hamilton. That is notable in a state Donald Trump carried by 16 points two years ago, and Republicans are now working to hold their ground, according to The Guardian.

Hamilton, a pastor who leads the largest United Methodist congregation in the country, says he entered politics because the Trump administration's conduct struck him as lacking kindness and humility. He faults Republican incumbent Roger Marshall for acting as a White House spokesperson instead of fighting for Kansans. Marshall also carries a liability: he sued hundreds of his own patients over unpaid bills, and dozens were arrested as a result. Hamilton presents himself as an independent-minded Democrat courting independents and Republicans, and he notes that Kansas could be served by him alongside Republican Jerry Moran.

Voters at a Topeka forum praised his accessibility, though some wanted more specifics. Student Brennen Ross, an unaffiliated voter leaning toward Hamilton, valued his effort to lower the political temperature. Democrat Jacinta Bergkamp described the party's momentum as encouraging.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Guardian’s reporting. Read the full story at The Guardian →