Pastor Adam Hamilton wins in Kansas, first Democrat elected senator there since 1932

Adam Hamilton, who leads the largest United Methodist congregation in the U.S., defeated Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, becoming the first Democrat Kansas has elected to the Senate since 1932, while Democrat Josh Turek flipped an open Republican seat in Iowa.

Democrat Adam Hamilton defeated Republican Sen. Roger Marshall in Kansas on Tuesday, CBS News projected, an upset that makes him the first Democrat the state has elected to the U.S. Senate since 1932.

Hamilton, 62, leads the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, the largest United Methodist congregation in the United States, and is a well-known author and speaker. A fifth-generation Kansan, he ran as a centrist on an agenda focused on affordability.

Hamilton speaks at a campaign rally in Newton, Kansas, on Oct. 30, 2026

Marshall, 66, a physician who practiced obstetrics and gynecology for 25 years, was seeking a second term. A reliable supporter of President Donald Trump's agenda, he distanced himself from the administration in the final weeks of the race, criticizing its immigration enforcement, while national Republicans redirected millions of dollars to defend the seat. Trump carried Kansas by more than 16 points in 2024.

In neighboring Iowa, Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek defeated Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson for the seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Joni Ernst. The Associated Press said both Midwestern states had borne the brunt of high diesel prices and Trump's tariff war.