Kansas elects first Democratic senator in 94 years

• Kansas was among several states President Trump won by double digits in 2024 where Senate races became unexpectedly competitive this fall.

The big picture: Democrats hadn't come within 10 percentage points of winning a Kansas Senate race in more than 50 years.

• Marshall, a doctor and Trump ally, won the seat by more than 11 points in 2020. He backed Trump's tariffs and the Iran war and told AP that Hamilton was "too woke for Kansas."
• Hamilton, a Kansas City-area pastor who founded the country's largest United Methodist church, entered the race in April as an "independent-minded Democrat."
• He blamed tariffs and foreign wars for higher prices and hit Marshall over a New York Times report that Marshall's former medical practice sued more than 700 former patients over unpaid bills.

What we're watching: Hamilton's priorities include giving Congress a say on tariffs, getting the U.S. out of the Iran war and reversing last year's Medicaid cuts.

• He backs the Trade Review Act, which would end new tariffs unless Congress approves them within 60 days. Marshall opposed it.
• He also wants to restore enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. His campaign told Axios it would pay for the health care changes by undoing tax breaks for data centers, billionaires and large corporations.

What's next: Hamilton plans to keep preaching at Church of the Resurrection 12–18 times a year while serving in the Senate.