This was shocking to see for millions of Republican voters.
A prominent former Republican governor is breaking with his own party in Kansas, endorsing a Democrat who hopes to unseat Republican Sen. Roger Marshall in the 2026 midterm elections.
Former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves announced his support for Democratic Senate candidate Adam Hamilton, arguing that growing political division and partisan gridlock have convinced him that Kansas needs a different approach in Washington.
The endorsement puts Graves, a longtime Republican who served two terms as governor, on the opposite side of his party in one of Kansas’ most closely watched statewide contests.
Former Republican Governor Endorses Democrat
Graves announced that he is supporting Hamilton, a Methodist minister and senior pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, instead of Marshall.
In a campaign video released by Hamilton, Graves sharply criticized the Republican senator’s record.
“For the last six years, Senator Roger Marshall has turned his back on Kansas,” Graves said.
Graves contrasted Marshall with Hamilton, whom he praised for what he described as kindness, humility and a commitment to serving others.
He concluded by saying he believes Kansas voters should send Hamilton to the U.S. Senate.
The criticism represents Graves’ political assessment of Marshall rather than an independent finding about the senator’s record.
Republicans Push Back
Republicans are rejecting the idea that Graves’ endorsement signals a broader political shift in Kansas.
Samantha Cantrell, a regional press secretary for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told The Hill that Kansas voters would overwhelmingly reject Hamilton in the November election.
Marshall, meanwhile, is seeking a second term after first winning his Senate seat in 2020.
Before joining the Senate, Marshall represented Kansas’ 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House.
Graves Has Crossed Party Lines Before
Although Graves spent decades in Republican politics, this is not his first decision to support a Democratic candidate.
He endorsed Democrat Laura Kelly for Kansas governor in both 2018 and 2022 rather than backing the Republican nominees.
Kelly ultimately won both races.
That history makes Graves’ endorsement of Hamilton less unusual than it might initially appear, although his decision still gives Democrats the backing of one of Kansas’ best-known former Republican officeholders.
Who Is Bill Graves?
Graves, 73, served as governor of Kansas from 1995 through 2003.
Before becoming governor, he spent eight years as Kansas secretary of state.
He was generally associated with the more moderate wing of the Kansas Republican Party during his time in elected office.
Since leaving the governor’s mansion, Graves has occasionally criticized the direction of his former party and supported candidates outside the GOP.
Hamilton Faces a Difficult Historical Challenge
Hamilton is attempting to accomplish something no Kansas Democrat has done in more than 90 years: win a U.S. Senate election.
The last Democrat elected to represent Kansas in the Senate was George McGill in 1932.
Kansas has since developed one of the longest Republican Senate winning streaks in the country.
Hamilton is hoping his background as a pastor and his emphasis on reducing political division can attract independents and some Republican voters in addition to the Democratic base.
Graves’ endorsement appears designed to reinforce that message.
Roger Marshall Seeks Another Term
Marshall entered the Senate after winning the 2020 election.
A physician and former congressman, he has aligned himself with many Republican priorities in Washington and has remained a prominent supporter of President Donald Trump’s political agenda.
The Kansas contest therefore offers voters two significantly different political choices.
Marshall is campaigning as the Republican incumbent, while Hamilton is attempting to build a coalition that includes Democrats, independents and Republicans dissatisfied with the current political environment.
Money Could Play a Major Role
Marshall also entered the final months of the campaign with a substantial fundraising advantage.
Federal Election Commission records cited in the original reporting showed Marshall with nearly $5.4 million in campaign cash available at the end of June.
Hamilton had less than $1.8 million.
Campaign fundraising does not determine election results, but the financial difference could affect how much each campaign can spend on television advertising, digital outreach, campaign staff and voter turnout efforts heading into November.
Why Graves’ Endorsement Matters
Political endorsements do not guarantee that voters will follow the recommendation of the person making them.
However, Graves gives Hamilton something potentially valuable: the public support of a Republican who won statewide elections in Kansas.
Hamilton’s campaign can use that endorsement to argue that his candidacy has appeal beyond traditional Democratic voters.
Republicans, on the other hand, can point to Graves’ previous endorsements of Democrats as evidence that his latest decision is consistent with his recent political history rather than proof of a larger Republican defection.
Kansas Senate Race Draws More Attention
Kansas has historically been difficult territory for Democratic Senate candidates, but Graves’ announcement adds another layer to the 2026 contest.
Hamilton is attempting to build a bipartisan image while Marshall is asking voters to return a Republican incumbent to Washington.
With control of Congress among the major issues surrounding the 2026 midterms, Senate races across the country are receiving increased national attention.
Kansas voters will make the final decision when they head to the polls in November.
For now, Graves’ endorsement provides Hamilton with a high-profile Republican supporter — and gives the Kansas Senate race another political storyline to watch as Election Day approaches.