The Rev. Adam Hamilton, a 62-year-old pastor at Resurrection United Methodist Church in Leawood, Kansas, announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate in April and has emerged as an unusually competitive Democratic candidate in a state that has not elected a Democratic senator in nearly a century. Hamilton leads a megachurch with approximately 20,000 attendees across multiple worship sites and is known for building a politically diverse congregation within the United Methodist tradition, where megachurches are relatively uncommon.
Recent polling data indicates the race remains highly competitive. The Cook Political Report has shifted its characterization of the race twice, moving from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican” as of the current week. An Emerson College poll released the previous week showed Hamilton at 45% support among likely voters, essentially tied with incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who polled at 43%. Political observers attribute Hamilton’s competitive position partly to the goodwill he has cultivated through his bridge-building approach to faith and community engagement.
Republican opposition has focused on attacking Hamilton’s faith credentials and church policies. Vice President JD Vance spoke at a Marshall campaign rally to criticize Hamilton and his church’s sponsorship of Kansas City Pridefest, which included participation from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a nonprofit group of queer and transgender activists. Vance characterized the sponsorship as incompatible with Christian values, stating the church was “supporting groups that spit on God-fearing Americans.” Additionally, attack advertisements have labeled Hamilton a “woke megachurch CEO,” and the Kansas Republican Party filed a Federal Election Commission complaint in February alleging Hamilton misused church resources to promote his campaign exploratory committee.
Hamilton’s campaign has denied the allegations and disputed Vance’s characterization of his positions. In response to the attacks, David Wilson, the United Methodist bishop overseeing Hamilton’s regional conference, issued a statement criticizing the attacks as “inaccurate and unwarranted” and defending Hamilton’s alignment with Methodist teachings. Additionally, 120 United Methodist pastors from across Kansas signed a public letter to Marshall, calling for reduced political rhetoric and arguing that attacks on Hamilton’s pastoral work represented divisive language against their denomination.
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