Kansas elects first Democratic senator since 1932
Adam Hamilton cites tariffs and war costs as key drivers of his victory in a state that has not sent a Democrat to the Senate for nearly a century.
By Rafael Bailey ·
Adam Hamilton won a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas on November 2, 2026. He is the first Democrat elected to that body from the state since 1932. Hamilton, a Methodist pastor, told NPR that voters sought more than a party change.
The race followed a period of rising costs and new tariffs. Hamilton said the war in Iran also influenced the electorate. He noted that many Americans are tired of hyperpolarization in Washington. One Republican voter told Hamilton he had voted in 46 elections without supporting a Democrat before this vote. That voter described the current Washington environment as cruel and indecent.
In Greensburg, Kansas, a woman spoke with Hamilton about family ties broken by political division. She asked him to help Americans remember they are fellow human beings. Hamilton registered as a Republican until earlier this year. He now urges Democrats to reach more religious voters and work across party lines.
Hamilton plans to build a close relationship with Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran. He said he wants to be Moran's best friend in Washington. This approach aims to show that Republicans and Democrats can work together. The next step involves taking the oath of office and beginning legislative work in the coming weeks.
