United Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton wins crowded Kansas Democratic Senate primary

Adam Hamilton, the senior pastor of the nation’s largest United Methodist congregation, won the Kansas Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday, defeating ten other candidates. He will face incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who is seeking a second term.

Marshall criticized Hamilton, describing him as “too woke for Kansas” and suggesting that sharing the pastor’s sermons would reveal his perceived extremism. Hamilton’s campaign responded by highlighting Marshall’s voting record and fundraising figures, noting that the incumbent has raised about $6.2 million compared with Hamilton’s $4.1 million since February.

Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since the 1930s, and the race is expected to be competitive despite the state’s Republican lean. Both campaigns noted the broader national context, with Republican donors focusing resources on other Senate contests deemed more pivotal for the party’s control of the chamber.