Federal candidates must submit fundraising reports to FEC on July 15
By: Tim Carpenter
Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hamilton, who is part of an 11-candidate field seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination, reported raising $3.66 million from 16,000 people since launching his campaign in April.
In a 62-day period, Hamilton’s campaign raised more than half of what U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, the Republican seeking reelection, raised during his 2020 campaign.
“Adam Hamilton raised more than any Kansas Senate candidate launch in history thanks to a grassroots movement of Kansans who are sick and tired of Washington politicians like Roger Marshall,” said Tyson Brody, a Hamilton spokesman.
Hamilton serves as senior pastor of the United Methodist Church of Resurrection in Leawood. In the 35 years since Hamilton founded the church, it has grown into the largest United Methodist congregation in the United States.
Brent Robertson, a spokesman for the Marshall campaign, pointed to a political history lesson drawn from Marshall’s victory in the 2020 election. An avalanche of contributions fueled competition between Marshall and Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier. They battled to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, a Republican.
Marshall, who was in the U.S. House at that time, was credited with raising $6.8 million for his successful campaign for U.S. Senate. Bollier produced $29 million in donations for her failed bid. The Center for Responsible Politics said millions of dollars more were spent by outside groups on negative advertising against Marshall and Bollier.
In that election four years ago, Marshall secured 53.2% of the vote to Bollier’s 41.8%. The Libertarian Party candidate, Jason Buckley, received 5%.
“In 2020, (U.S. Sen.) Chuck Schumer dropped a $30 million goose egg in Kansas,” Robertson said. “We are prepared for Schumer to do the same for megachurch CEO Adam Hamilton. Sen. Marshall is in an even stronger position in 2026.”
In March, Marshall reported to the Federal Elections Commission that he had $4.7 million in his reelection campaign account.
Candidates for federal office are required to submit reports to the FEC on July 15 to document campaign finance activity from April 1 to June 30.
A portion of Hamilton’s campaign funding has been earmarked for broadcast of a 30-second commercial delving into the importance of moving the federal government to address cost-of-living issues. The list included the elevated price of fuel, groceries and healthcare, Hamilton said.
“America is more than a place. It’s an idea that all are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights,” he says in the ad. “Those rights exist not just for the wealthy few, but for all. Our leaders seem to have forgotten that and instead created a democracy that’s for sale to the highest bidder.”
Marshall recently said he would refuse appointments to the Trump administration during the next two years. His commitment came amid speculation he could resign from office so his Republican replacement might be able to control the Senate seat until the November 2028 election.
In Kansas, the secretary of state’s office says the deadline to register to vote or to update voter registration is July 14 for anyone interested in participating in the August primary. Advance voting by mail-in ballots can start July 15, while in-person advance voting must begin July 28.