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US Midterms 2026
24SEP

Hamilton beats Marshall 50.9% to 46.0%

1 min read
11:45UTC

Adam Hamilton beat Senator Roger Marshall 50.9% to 46.0% on NBC's projection, while Kansas's governor's race stood uncalled at 50.3% to 49.7%.

PoliticsDeveloping
Key takeaway

Hamilton took Kansas's Senate seat while the state's governor's race remains uncalled.

Deep Analysis

In plain English

Kansas, a Republican-leaning state in the US Midwest, elected Democrat Adam Hamilton to the US Senate, unseating Republican Senator Roger Marshall. The race for Kansas governor was too close to call on Wednesday, with the two leading candidates less than one point apart.

Deep Analysis
Root Causes

Marshall's fundraising trailed far behind his challenger's: he raised $618,222 from 16 July to Hamilton's $8.27m. Party help did not fill the gap, because the national Republican Senate committee spent nothing with its Kansas nominee in early October.

The late money in Kansas came from super PACs on both sides. WinSenate, Senate Majority PAC's ad-buying affiliate, reported advertising against Marshall from 10 October, while SLF money reached the race through Plains PAC.

What could happen next?
  • Consequence

    Kansas's governorship stays undecided while the remaining ballots are counted.

First Reported In

Update #23 · Democrats take the Senate and the House

NBC News· 5 Nov 2026
Read original →
Different Perspectives
University of Florida Election Lab
University of Florida Election Lab
The lab, run by Michael McDonald, estimates about 124.3 million ballots, a raw midterm record, and turnout of about 49.4% of eligible voters, second to 2018's 50.05%. The raw record reflects population growth more than a record rate, so the late count is working through a near-2018 electorate.
Thune's critics on the right, including Senator Ron Johnson
Thune's critics on the right, including Senator Ron Johnson
Ron Johnson backed the failed 31-15 motion to delay Thune's re-election, after activists such as Mike Cernovich blamed the leader for the defeat. Their complaint is that Republicans could have passed the SAVE Act; in January it meets a Democratic Senate instead.
Senator John Thune
Senator John Thune
Thune was re-elected Senate Republican leader by acclamation on 10 November after a motion to delay failed 31-15. He kept the filibuster that stopped the SAVE Act, the choice his critics on the right blame for the defeat.
House Republicans under Jim Jordan
House Republicans under Jim Jordan
House Republicans elected Jordan minority leader by 106 votes to 73 over Steve Scalise on 10 November, after Speaker Mike Johnson declined to run. They replaced the leadership that lost the majority, while Senate Republicans kept theirs.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Trump asked on Truth Social on 9 November whether anybody believed the election "was honest" and blamed the machines, having told The New York Times on polling night he would accept the results. No Republican campaign had sued over a 2026 result by 10 November, so the claim has no case behind it.
Judge David O. Carter
Judge David O. Carter
Carter closed the Justice Department's suit over about 20,000 California mail ballots on 10 November after the department withdrew it, writing that the suit "attempted to disrupt an ongoing election". The closure leaves the department with no court order touching a 2026 California ballot.

Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Editorial standards.