Why deep-red Kansas has become an unexpected Senate battleground

In a state that hasn't elected a Democratic senator since 1932, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall suddenly finds himself in a competitive race with weeks to go until the 2026 midterm elections . Stubborn inflation, blowback from White House trade policies, and a formidable Democratic challenger in megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton have combined to turn ruby-red Kansas into an unexpected Senate battleground. The tightening contest has forced Marshall into a balancing act confronting a growing number of vulnerable Republicans: creating space from President Donald Trump on issues that pose risks at home without alienating his base.