Pastor Adam Hamilton wins Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Kansas
Adam Hamilton, the founding pastor of the nation’s largest United Methodist Church, won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Kansas on Tuesday, courting voters with a promise to restore “decency” in national politics.
Hamilton has for more than three decades built a large following and personal brand as the senior pastor at the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood. The pastor will now attempt to convert that popularity into votes when he challenges Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall in November.
The Associated Press called the race for Hamilton at 8:01 p.m. He received 45% of the vote, with 87 of 4,150 of precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office. The 10 other candidates had a total of 55% combined, according to those unofficial results.
Hamilton’s challenge to Marshall could draw national attention as Republicans gear up for a potentially tortuous midterm election cycle amid a bitter fight for seats in Congress. But Kansas Democrats have long struggled to gain ground in U.S. Senate races and the state has not elected a Democratic senator since 1932.
Hamilton’s campaign could mark an extraordinary reckoning for Kansas’ political system and pose a major test of whether the pastor can attract voters in a state dominated by Republicans.
In the lead-up to Tuesday, Hamilton centered his campaign around voters wedged in the middle of the polarized U.S. two-party system. He emphasized lowering the cost of everyday necessities and fought to appeal to voters disillusioned with their representation in Washington.
The pastor has also repeatedly pointed to Marshall’s close ties with President Donald Trump, which include the president’s early endorsement of the incumbent senator and his close alignment with Trump’s political agenda.
“We don’t need more yes men in Washington. We need a senator who will speak up for their people, one who listens, tells the truth, who has one guiding principle, and that is what is best for the people of Kansas.” Hamilton said in his victory speech. “Not who does what the president wants or my party wants, but what is best for the people of Kansas.”
But Hamilton’s political nuance also faced criticism from some skeptics, who argued that his agenda would be too passive for the nation’s politically-charged environment. He also faced attacks from Republicans, including a federal election complaint alleging he illegally used church resources to promote his campaign.
The most noteworthy attack against Hamilton came from one of his Democratic opponents who promoted salacious allegations that Hamilton’s church covered up a sex abuse scandal more than a decade ago. Hamilton’s campaign vehemently denied the allegations and pointed to a series of court records that undercut the core of the claims, which came from state Sen. Patrick Schmidt, a Democrat from Topeka.
Ahead of the primary, Hamilton held a significant fundraising advantage over his opponents, raising nearly $3.7 million between April and June — a record figure. He also shored up support from top regional Democrats, including former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.
Hamilton’s campaign has boosted confidence among Kansas Democrats that they can grab a Senate seat for the first time since the 1930s. However, the pastor will still face an uphill battle in November.
Ahead of Tuesday, Marshall and other Republican allies had already started casting the pastor as too liberal. In statements to and interviews with The Star, they seized on Hamilton’s recent overtures to Democrats and his decision to tie Marshall as close to Trump.
“Kansas has not sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in nearly a century for good reason. Our state values of limited government, individual liberty, strong support for agriculture and energy producers, secure borders, the protection of women, and policies that put Kansans first—not the latest progressive talking points from the national Democratic Party,” said Danedri Herbert, chair of the Kansas Republican Party.
This story was originally published August 4, 2026 at 8:24 PM with the headline "Pastor Adam Hamilton wins Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Kansas."
