Kansas Senate rivals distance themselves from party leaders in fiery debate

Kansas Republican Sen. Roger Marshall and his Democratic challenger, Adam Hamilton, spent a heated Wednesday-night debate trying to put daylight between themselves and the least popular wings of their parties. The contest is among those that could decide which party controls the Senate, and the two men clashed over President Donald Trump, immigration and the war in Iran, according to Fox News.

Before turning to policy, moderators pressed each man on a controversy that has fed negative advertising. A New York Times investigation found that patients were taken to court more than 700 times by the practice Marshall used to run, over unpaid bills. Marshall responded that the practice was a real business with 300 employees, a mortgage and utility costs, while also giving away $3 to $4 million in charity each year. Hamilton, a United Methodist pastor, faced questions about a summer camp volunteer at his church who was alleged to be a sexual predator. He conceded he should have made sure the man did not return after an initial investigation, calling that a mistake on his part.

For the remainder of the evening, each candidate tried to tie the other to national party leadership.

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