Pastor Adam Hamilton to face Sen. Roger Marshall after Kan. Dem. primary win
United Methodist megachurch pastor and author Adam Hamilton has won the Kansas Democratic Party nomination for the U.S. Senate, separating himself from a crowded field of 11 Democratic candidates.
NBC News called the crowded Democratic primary race for Hamilton on Tuesday night with less than 50% of the vote in, as Hamilton already had a commanding lead over his opponents. Hamilton set a Kansas fundraising record along the way, raising nearly $3.7 million within the first 62 days of his campaign. This was the largest fundraising haul of any Senate campaign launch in state history.
"Thank you, Kansas," posted Hamilton's campaign page on Facebook shortly after the race was called for the lead pastor of Resurrection Church of Leawood. "On to November."
Hamilton will go on to run against incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall in November. Marshall also won his primary by a commanding margin, NBC News reported.
In an emailed statement provided to The Christian Post on Tuesday night, the Hamilton campaign declared that Kansan voters have "had enough of the chaos and corruption in Roger Marshall’s Washington DC."
"They’re tired [of] skyrocketing prices for gas, groceries, and health care. They’re tired of a Senator who only pretends to live in Kansas," the campaign added.
"Kansas Republicans, Democrats, and Independents are ready for something different. Kansas families are ready for something better. That’s why Adam Hamilton is going to beat Roger Marshall in November.”
Hamilton, 62, graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1985 and holds a Master of Divinity from Southern Methodist University. He's married to LaVon Hamilton and has two children and a grandchild. He served during President Barack Obama's second term on an advisory council on faith-based and neighborhood partnerships and delivered the sermon at Obama's second inaugural prayer service. He has also written more than 30 books.
A theological progressive who long advocated for the UMC to change its long-held opposition to same-sex marriage, Hamilton announced in February that he was launching an exploratory committee and a listening tour to gauge interest in a possible Senate run as an independent candidate.
“The American experiment feels fragile. Families and communities are divided,” he stated at the time. “We are better together and we need leaders who will work to unite us rather than seeking to divide.”
Hamilton announced his campaign at a press conference in April, explaining that he would run as a Democrat “dedicated to leading from the center.”
Before Hamilton announced his candidacy, the Kansas Republican Party filed an ethics complaint with the Federal Election Commission alleging that he unlawfully used church resources for his exploratory committee.
A Hamilton campaign spokesperson told CP at the time that the complaint was politically motivated and that the video cited in the complaint was strictly informational and didn't urge viewers to support Hamilton’s potential campaign.
“It’s sad but not surprising that a politician like Roger Marshall would choose to launch false political attacks on people of faith and a leading church community in Kansas,” the spokesperson stated. “Kansans are tired of politicians like Roger Marshall, who aren’t listening and just keep making things worse in Washington.”
In May, the Hamilton campaign released information on his stance on some hot-button issues, identifying him as being pro-choice and anti-tariffs, as well as supporting a federal minimum wage increase and either term limits or age limits for public office.
A public opinion poll conducted by Change Research in June of more than 1,000 likely Democratic Kansas voters found that Hamilton led with 18% support, while community developer and businesswoman Christy Davis had 10%, and former U.S. Navy Intelligence Officer Patrick C. Schmidt had 7%. The same poll found 55% of respondents unsure on who they would support.
A separate poll conducted in January by Tavern Research found Marshall leading Hamilton in a hypothetical general-election matchup, 54% to 46%, suggesting the race will be competitive heading into November.
Hamilton garnered notable endorsements, including Kathleen Sebelius, former Kansas governor and head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under Obama.
“We need to end the chaos and corruption in Washington,” Sebelius said in an emailed statement shared with CP last month. “Adam Hamilton has what it takes. But more than that, Adam has spent his career serving Kansans and bringing people together to solve real problems. I’m proud to endorse his campaign for the United States Senate.”
