Megachurch Pastor Adam Hamilton releases first Senate campaign ad: 'It's time for something different'
United Methodist megachurch pastor and author Adam Hamilton has released his first television ad for his campaign to represent Kansas in the United States Senate, accusing government leaders of creating a democracy that is "for sale."
Hamilton, the lead pastor of the Leawood-based Resurrection Church, who is among many candidates seeking to secure the Democratic nomination, released the 30-second ad on Wednesday.
“America is more than a place,” he says. “It's an idea that all are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. Those rights exist not just for the wealthy few but for all.”
“Our leaders seem to have forgotten that and instead created a democracy that's for sale to the highest bidder. While Kansans can't afford gas, groceries, or health care, that's just not who we are.”
The pastor said he is running for Senate because he believes it is "time that Congress is reminded that they work for us."
"I approve this message because we have to do better," he concludes, before a female narrator says, "Adam Hamilton for Senate. It's time for something different."
In February, the 61-year-old Hamilton, a theological progressive who long advocated for the UMC to change its long-held opposition to same-sex marriage, announced the launch of an exploratory committee and a listening tour to gauge interest in a possible Senate run as an independent candidate.
“Our society is growing more polarized; concern for our fellow Americans, kindness and reasoned dialogue are endangered,” he stated at the time. “The American experiment feels fragile. Families and communities are divided. We are better together and we need leaders who will work to unite us rather than seeking to divide.”
During an April press conference at Harmon Park in Prairie Village, Hamilton officially announced that he is running for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat, describing himself as an “independent-minded Democrat” who is “dedicated to leading from the center.”
The Kansas Democratic primary is scheduled for Aug. 4. The winner will face incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall.
A public opinion poll conducted by Change Research in mid June of over 1,000 likely Democratic Kansas voters finds that 55% are unsure who they will vote for in the Senate primary. Hamilton holds a slim lead (18%) over community developer and businesswoman Christy Davis (10%) and former U.S. Navy Intelligence Officer Patrick C. Schmidt (7%).
Before Hamilton even 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 The Christian Post that the complaint was a political move by Marshall and that the video referenced in the complaint was strictly informational and did not 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 said. “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 where he stands on some hot-button issues, identifying him as being pro-choice, saying he supports "safe and legal access to abortion." He also opposes tariffs, wants to increase the federal minimum wage and supports either term limits or age limits for public office.
