Former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves, a Republican, has endorsed Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton, who is challenging Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) in November’s midterm elections.

Graves served as Kansas governor from 1995 to 2003.

The Hill shared further:

This is not the first time Graves has endorsed a Democrat for statewide office. In 2018 and 2022, he backed Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) over her GOP opponents, with Kelly winning both times.

Hamilton, the senior pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, is trying to become the first Democrat to win a Senate race in the Sunflower State since former Sen. George McGill in 1932. To do so, he will have to defeat Marshall, an obstetrician in his first term in the upper chamber.

The election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the race as “likely” to go Republican. The Hill’s polling partner, Decision Desk HQ, also gave Marshall a roughly 8 in 10 chance of beating Hamilton as of Monday.

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As of the end of June, Marshall’s campaign held a financial edge over that of his Democratic opponent. The Republican had nearly $5.4 million on hand to less than $1.8 million for Hamilton, according to the Federal Election Commission.

“For the last six years, Senator Roger Marshall has turned his back on Kansas,” Graves said in a video shared by Hamilton.

“In contrast, Adam Hamilton stands as a bulwark of kindness, humility and service to others. It is for those reasons, and many more, that I believe Kansas should send Adam Hamilton to the U.S. Senate,” he continued.

Watch below:

KSN-TV has more:

Graves shared his thoughts in the Kansas City Star newspaper on Wednesday morning.

“Adam understands the value in finding the common ground necessary to solve the tough issues confronting our nation,” he said. “The gridlock occurring in Washington is the result of both political parties refusing to stop the politicking and understand their public service role.”

Hamilton serves as senior pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in the Kansas City area.

Some Republicans suggest his sermons are too liberal, and Marshall said in an interview that Hamilton is “too woke for Kansas.”

 

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