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Kansas Senate debate crowd heckles Marshall
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall was booed and heckled at a state fair debate.
The crowd reaction signals a tough re-election fight in a Republican-leaning state.
Background
Marshall, a first-term Republican senator and former obstetrician, faced Democratic pastor Adam Hamilton at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson on Sept. 12, 2026 — their first debate since the primary. Hamilton, founder of a large United Methodist church, out-fundraised Marshall and beat nine other Democrats in August. The crowd's loud negative reaction to Marshall, especially on Trump's tariffs, drew national coverage.
How it unfolded
- August 2026Hamilton won the Democratic primary, defeating nine other candidates, and out-fundraised Marshall.
- Sep 12, 2026Marshall and Hamilton held their first post-primary debate at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, hosted by WIBW 580 Radio with a three-journalist panel; Libertarian David Graham was not invited.
- Sep 12, 2026The crowd booed and heckled Marshall's answers, particularly when he defended Trump's tariffs, and gave a tepid response to his closing statement.
Who’s saying what
- Public
- Crowd members booed and jeered Marshall's answers, especially on tariffs, and heckled him during the debate.
- Party
- Hamilton said the scene reflects 'exactly what's wrong in Washington, D.C., right now' and criticized Marshall's support for Trump's tariffs, inaction on the war in Iran, and cuts to healthcare and food assistance.
- Party
- Marshall said he disagreed with Trump's $5,000 payment proposal, emphasized focus on Kansas jobs and agriculture, and called Hamilton 'too woke' and 'too weak.'