# Kansas Senate race heats up

> Kansas's historic Republican Senate seat faces a surprise Democratic challenge from a pastor who switched parties this spring.
- Title: Kansas Senate race heats up · Seattletimes | Shortify
- Summary: Kansas's historic Republican Senate seat faces a surprise Democratic challenge from a pastor who switched parties this spring. Adam Hamilton, a pastor who…
- Keywords: kansas, senate, roger marshall, adam hamilton, democrat, republican, senate race, kansas senate, midterm elections, senate majority pac, kansas republican party, kansas livestock association
- Source: Seattletimes — https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/the-midterm-senate-fight-spreads-to-a-surprising-new-battleground
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: kansas, senate, roger marshall, adam hamilton, democrat, republican, senate race, kansas senate, midterm elections, senate majority pac, kansas republican party, kansas livestock association
## Kansas Senate seat
Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932.
## Adam Hamilton enters race
Adam Hamilton, a pastor who switched from Republican to unaffiliated in February, now runs as a Democrat for Kansas Senate.
## Tight Senate race
Polls show the race between Hamilton and incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall is neck and neck with the Cook Political Report calling it a toss-up.
## Republican response
Republicans promise $14 million to save the seat and believe their base will turn out to win the race.
## Hamilton's economic critique
Hamilton blames Sen. Marshall and Trump for Kansas's economic problems including high diesel prices and beef tariffs.
## Hamilton's church background
Hamilton founded the 24,000-member Church of the Resurrection, the largest United Methodist congregation in the country.
## Hamilton's Senate speech
Hamilton criticized the U.S. Senate as missing a brain, a heart and courage in a speech at Hutchinson's grain elevator.
## Hamilton's policy challenges
Hamilton struggles to articulate positions on AI and healthcare but has gained support from moderate Democrats and Republicans.
## Republican endorsements
Two Republican former governors, Bill Graves and Mike Hayden, have endorsed Hamilton.
## Kansas economic issues
Kansas faces high diesel prices at $6.52 per gallon and beef tariff disputes with ranchers.
## Senate race outcome
The race remains tight with both parties investing heavily as midterms approach.
## Key takeaway

Adam Hamilton, a pastor who became a Democrat in February, is now a serious Senate contender in Kansas after switching from Republican to unaffiliated, challenging incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall.