Another former GOP governor backs Hamilton over Marshall for Kansas Senate

Former Kansas Gov. Mike Hayden (R) became the second former GOP governor to support Democrat Adam Hamilton over Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) in November’s Kansas Senate race.

Hayden, who served from 1987 to 1991, published an op-ed in The Wichita Eagle on Friday endorsing Hamilton for a seat that has not been held by a Democrat for nearly a century. He believes Hamilton will press for relief and real solutions and will listen to constituents.

“I ran for office for the first time when I was only 28 years old because I felt the person representing my community in the legislature was failing to fight for the needs of our state,” Hayden said. “Today, I am endorsing Adam Hamilton for the U.S. Senate for the same reasons.”

Former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves (R) also endorsed Hamilton last month over his party’s nominee. He said Marshall had “turned his back” on Kansas and that Hamilton knows how to “disagree without being disagreeable.”

The Kansas Senate race is likely to be won by Marshall, according to a prediction by Decision Desk HQ , but it is seen as a potentially competitive seat in an election predicted to favor Democrats.

An Emerson College poll conducted in September had Hamilton leading within the margin of error, indicating a tight race in the deep-red state.

Hamilton said in a post to the social media platform X that he is honored to have the former governor’s support.

He noted that Hayden has worked “tirelessly” for the people of Kansas and practiced the kind of leadership that is needed to make a difference.

“He knows how to put party and politics aside to deliver for working families, and I am so honored to have him by my side as I strive to do the same,” Hamilton wrote.