Kansas could surprise the nation and elect a Democrat to the U.S. Senate. MAGA politics reshaped the state. • Kansas reflector

In 1932, Kansas voters elected Democrat George McGill to the U.S. Senate. Since then, in 32 Senate elections, voters have consistently elected Republicans to represent them.

This historic streak makes it difficult for Democrat Adam Hamilton to prevail in his challenge to the re-election of U.S. Senator Roger Marshall. However, Marshall’s embrace of MAGA politics changed the dynamics of the race and gave Hamilton a credible chance to cause a dramatic upset.

History shows that key Republican senators from Kansas sent to Washington have been true legislators – pragmatic, problem-solving, middle-of-the-road Republicans who chose bipartisan solutions to public issues.

Adam Hamilton says “we must end the chaos and corruption in Washington by truly listening to people and working together to get things done for Kansas families.”

He is committed to “leading from the middle” and avoiding extreme positions to the right or left.

His philosophy aligns closely with that of Kansas’ Republican senators in recent years.

Let’s take a closer look.

Kansas voters have elected and re-elected 11 Republican senators since 1932. The first four of them had served as governor of Kansas before their election to the U.S. Senate. Three of the four (Arthur Capper, Clyde Reed, and Frank Carlson) had roots in progressive politics. They were activists and problem-solvers who understood the give-and-take of the legislative process – an experience that served them well in the U.S. Senate.

Kansas Sen. Jim Pearson, first elected in 1962, was characterized by a dedicated staff member as a “man in the middle” who worked effectively with leading Senate Democrats.

Pearson and Democrat Walter Mondale spearheaded filibuster rule reform in the U.S. Senate, which ultimately led in 1983 to lowering the threshold for closing debate in the House from two-thirds to three-fifths.

As a ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee, Pearson joined with Democrats on the committee to create an Airport-Airway Trust Fund, similar to the Highway Trust Fund, to ensure modernization of the nation’s airports and airways, while also protecting Kansas’ aviation industry.

Bob Dole evolved during his five runs for the U.S. Senate, from 1968 to 1992, from a staunch supporter and ally of Nixon to a formidable bipartisan force charged with solving critical issues and getting things done.

In 1977, for example, Dole and Democrat George McGovern, ranking member and chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, respectively, worked hand in hand to gain bipartisan support and comprehensively reform and expand the food stamp program.

Most importantly, in the early 1980s, Dole worked with Democrat Patrick Moynihan to break a legislative impasse that ultimately led to major reforms and secured future funding for Social Security.

Nancy Landon Kassebaum, first elected in 1978, joined forces with Democrat Ted Kennedy to push for legislation to ensure that employees who lost their jobs would not lose their health insurance.

Kassebaum also championed the protection of public lands through the creation of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in the Flint Hills of Kansas.

Kansas Senator Roger Marshall stands in stark contrast to these Kansas senators. During his 10 years in Congress, he turned to unyielding partisanship and became a supporter of the MAGA culture wars.

Marshall provided crucial support for the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates will reduce Medicaid and food assistance spending by more than $1 trillion over the next 10 years, primarily by restricting aid eligibility. Ten to 12 million people will no longer benefit from Medicaid, and the number of people eligible for food assistance will also decline.

Marshall gave his endorsement to Trump nominees who were unqualified for their positions, such as Robert Kennedy Jr, Kristi Noem and Pete Hegseth, among others.

He gave wholehearted support to Trump’s war on Iran, which raised pump prices to $4 and the price of diesel to $6. He voted repeatedly to block Congressional measures to end the war.

Marshall said Trump’s chaotic tariffs are working, when in fact these actions are increasing inflation in the grocery stores of everyday Kansans. He appears to represent the Trump administration rather than Kansans in the U.S. Senate. He avoids public forums with Kansans, whom he considers “dangerous.”

His partisan leadership gave Kansas voters a clear choice in the U.S. Senate race.

Voters could simply choose to break the streak of the last 32 Senate elections and surprise the nation.

H. Edward Flentje is professor emeritus at Wichita State University and previously served as director and professor at the university’s Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs. He has written and edited numerous publications, most recently co-authoring and co-editing “Reform and Reaction: The Arc of Kansas Politics.” Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector strives to amplify the voices of people affected by public policy or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own comments, here.