Vance Rallies in Topeka for Marshall as Kansas Senate Race Tightens Before the Midterms
Vice President JD Vance campaigned in Topeka on Monday for Sen. Roger Marshall, the vice president's second Kansas visit in about a month, as polls show Marshall in a close race against Democrat Adam Hamilton one week before the Nov. 3 election.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Vice President JD Vance rallied for Sen. Roger Marshall in Topeka on Monday, telling a crowd of several hundred at a manufacturing plant that the Nov. 3 election would decide control of the Senate. The visit was Vance’s second to Kansas in about a month, following an Oct. 19 rally near Wichita by President Donald Trump.
The rally, hosted by Trump 47 Committee Inc. at HME Inc., filled roughly 400 seats and spilled into standing room, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. Chants of “USA” met Vance as he took the stage, and the crowd answered interruptions by two hecklers with the same chant. Vance answered each interruption with a profane dismissal, the Capital-Journal reported.
Vance tied Marshall to the administration’s record, crediting the senator on taxes. “Because of Roger Marshall, we cut taxes on overtime. Because of Roger Marshall, we cut taxes on tips. And because of Roger Marshall, we cut taxes on Social Security,” Vance said, according to Kansas Public Radio.
A race Republicans did not expect to be close
Marshall faces Democrat Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor, in a state Trump carried three times and won by 16 percentage points in 2024, according to Kansas Reflector reporting. Recent polls show Hamilton with a slight lead, though within the margin of error, Kansas Public Radio reported. Hamilton would be the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate election in Kansas since 1932, the Capital-Journal reported.
The annual Kansas Speaks survey from Fort Hays State University, released Monday, found Trump’s approval in Kansas fell to 33% from 43% last year, while Marshall’s fell to 26% from 34%. Gov. Laura Kelly’s approval held steady at 47%.
Vance framed the race as a choice about Senate control, linking Hamilton to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “On Nov. 3, let your voice be heard,” Vance said. “Let America, let Chuck Schumer, let the far left know that in Kansas, we love the United States of America, we love Doc Marshall and we’re going to send him to Washington to fight for us.”
Marshall used the same line of attack, telling the crowd that Hamilton “would give control of the Senate to Chuck Schumer” and calling him “the most radical liberal to ever make it through a Kansas primary.” Marshall also warned that Democrats were turning out early in large numbers. “In-person voting is open, and the Democrats are coming out like it’s a presidential year,” he said. “Republicans, we gotta match that excitement, that enthusiasm.”
Hamilton answers, and the governor’s race shares the stage
Hamilton released a video before the rally inviting Vance to attend a service at his church. “Last time he was here, he attacked my church and the thousands of Christians who worship with us,” Hamilton said, referring to Vance’s September rally in Olathe. “He lied about our faith, he twisted my words, and none of us will be surprised if he does it again.”
Vance also campaigned for Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, the Republican nominee for governor, who faces Democratic state Sen. Cindy Holscher in a two-person race, the first since 1994 with no third-party or independent candidate. Holscher said in a statement that Kansans were paying $4 for gas and $6 for diesel, and that tariffs had raised the cost of groceries, farm equipment and fertilizer.
Trump is scheduled to return to Kansas on Saturday for a rally in Salina, Kansas Public Radio reported.
Reporting based on coverage by the Topeka Capital-Journal, Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas Reflector.
