Kansas votes in midterms with Senate race unexpectedly close
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Kansas voters are casting midterm ballots, with GOP Sen.
Democrats haven't won a Kansas Senate seat since 1932, so the result tests a reliably red state.
Background
Kansas is a reliably Republican state, and Kansas Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate seat since 1932. This cycle, incumbent Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, a former OB-GYN, faces Democratic nominee Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor who founded and leads the country's largest United Methodist church. With control of the Senate at stake, the race moved from the edges to the center of the national map in its final weeks. Separately, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited, and Republicans have a good chance to retake the governor's office.
How it unfolded
- Aug 4, 2026Kansas voters went to the polls in primaries narrowing the field for governor and other statewide offices, U.S. Senate and U.S. House races, and deciding a constitutional amendment on the Kansas Supreme Court.
- Nov 3, 2026Kansas voters head to the polls for the midterms, choosing members of Congress, electing leaders for statewide offices from governor on down, and voting on a constitutional amendment question; polling places are open from at least 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Nov 3, 2026Eleven state executive offices are up this cycle, including governor and lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state; results are tabulated by The Associated Press.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- NPR and PBS News report the Senate race became a toss-up in its final weeks, with first general election polls within the margin of error and Kansas moving to the center of the Senate-control map.
- Party
- NPR notes one bright spot for the GOP: Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited, giving Republicans a good chance to retake the governor's seat.
- Caution
- NPR cautions that results require patience — mail ballots must be verified before counting, and a candidate's early advantage can shift as more places report.