Adam Hamilton pulled off a political earthquake in the Kansas' Senate race, defeating Republican incumbent Roger Marshall to give Democrats their first Senate victory in the state for 94 years. With 93 percent of votes counted, Hamilton had garnered 53 percent of the vote, while Bottoms had 44.8 percent. The race for the Kansas Senate seat became competitive after Hamilton won the Democratic nomination in August.
While incumbents often have an advantage during an election because of name recognition, fundraising opportunities and party support, Marshall has faced a tough race against Hamilton. According to recent polls leading up to Election Day: In the YouGov poll, 53 percent of survey respondents said they disapproved of President Donald Trump's job performance, compared to 46 percent who approved. The numbers suggest some Kansas voters may be more receptive to Democratic candidates than they have been in previous election cycles.
The competitiveness of the race was also reflected in campaign fundraising. Despite Kansas' long-standing Republican lean, Hamilton significantly outraised Marshall, a sign that Democratic donors saw an opening in a state that has rarely been considered a Senate battleground. The fundraising advantage helped fuel an expensive contest and underscored national Democrats' belief that Kansas could be one of the party's opportunities to flip a seat.
Democrats are hoping to flip control of both the House and the Senate in this year's midterm elections. Republicans are trying to fight off a potential blue wave as Trump's approval ratings continue to slide and voters express concerns tied to the economy, inflation, rising fuel costs and the Iran war. Kansas backed Trump in all three of his White House runs, including by 16 points in 2024.
But as Democrats have gained momentum, the state became a prime target as one of the four GOP seats they needed to flip—while defending their own—to take control of the chamber. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Dave Siminoff.
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