Roger Marshall’s cookie-bill controversy could jeopardize Kansas for the GOP

Kansas Republican Senator Roger Marshall, a former obstetrician-gynecologist seeking re-election, is facing a run of damaging stories, and MS NOW's election desk has now shifted his race from "likely Republican" to "lean Republican." His Democratic challenger is Adam Hamilton, who pastors the largest United Methodist congregation in the country and has won endorsements from two former Republican governors of Kansas. No Democrat has won a Senate seat in the state since 1932.

The trouble began when New York Times reporter Sarah Kliff found that Marshall's practice sued about 700 patients over debts, and 81 were arrested. Interest was set at 18% a year, and one arrest involved a balance of just $114. Marshall called such practices routine and said through a spokesperson that he took no part in arrest or wage-garnishment decisions. The Kansas City Star, however, found no other practice among roughly 150 it examined charged as much, and Marshall's former lawyer said the office itself chose the rate.

Marshall then announced he had doubly repaid an unpaid 2020 bill to the bakery Holly's Sweet Treats. The invoice shows $1,300 against an original $678. 75, leaving him $57. 50 short of true double.

Summarized by PolitiKool from MS NOW’s reporting. Read the full story at MS NOW →