Two former Republican governors of Kansas endorsed a Democrat for the U.S. Senate, in a state that has not sent a Democrat there since 1932.
Story Snapshot
- Former Governors Bill Graves and Mike Hayden endorsed Democrat Adam Hamilton.
- Graves backed Hamilton in a campaign video that stressed ending gridlock.
- Hayden wrote that Kansas needs a senator who fights for the state first.
- The endorsements challenge an unbroken Republican Senate streak since 1932.
Two ex-GOP governors cross party lines for Adam Hamilton
Bill Graves and Mike Hayden, both former Republican governors of Kansas, broke party lines to endorse Democrat Adam Hamilton for the U.S. Senate. Graves served from 1995 to 2003 and endorsed Hamilton first. Hayden, who served from 1987 to 1991, followed with a public backing soon after. The Hill reported Hayden’s move made him the second former Republican governor to support Hamilton. Both endorsements were direct, on the record, and timed late in the campaign.
Graves framed his endorsement around civic tone and results. In a video shared by Hamilton’s campaign, Graves said the country faces rising gridlock and division, and that Kansas should try something different. He described Hamilton as a “bulwark of kindness, humility and service to others,” and cast him as a candidate running from the middle. Graves later added that Senator Roger Marshall acts as a reliable vote for the administration and criticized Marshall’s actions after the 2020 election.
Hayden’s written case: Put Kansas needs ahead of party
Mike Hayden put his case in writing and tied it to representation, not party loyalty. He said he first ran for office because his representative failed to fight for Kansas’s needs. He endorsed Hamilton for the same reasons now, arguing that Kansas needs a senator who places the state first and breaks Washington stalemates. The Wichita Eagle carried the op-ed, and national outlets quoted its core lines to frame Hayden’s reasoning.
Both endorsements stressed service, decency, and results over labels. The message targeted moderate Republicans, independents, and Democrats tired of toxic fights. The argument is simple: send a dealmaker, not a talker. That pitch matches the state’s long tradition of pragmatic conservatives and moderate Republicans who once defined Kansas politics, even as national politics hardened around sharper lines.
Why this matters in Kansas: a 94-year wall
Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1932. That drought is the longest of its kind in the country and anchors expectations every cycle. Republican nominees typically win Senate races by safe margins. Yet Kansas voters have split tickets for governor at times, proving they will cross lines for the right person and the right moment. That tension makes any elite Republican endorsement of a Democrat newsworthy, especially two in a row.
WaPo: Former GOP Kansas Governors Back Democrat for Senate
Democratic Senate candidate Adam Hamilton, who has unexpectedly turned deep red Kansas into a toss-up, has drawn high-profile Republican supporters as he tries to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the midterms
Two…
— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) October 10, 2026
These endorsements do not prove a Republican realignment in Kansas. They do show that two respected Republican leaders think Hamilton fits the state’s practical streak and that Senator Marshall has not met that test. Graves criticized Marshall for refusing to accept certain 2020 results and for voting in line with the administration, while praising Hamilton’s middle-lane approach. Voters will judge those claims. The endorsements simply give permission for some Republicans to take a fresh look.
How to read the signal without overreading it
Endorsements from former governors offer credibility but not automatic votes. They matter most when they sharpen a clear choice and open social space for crossover support. Here, the choice is between a known Republican incumbent and a Democrat pitched as a centrist who will negotiate and listen. The safer bet in Kansas is still the Republican brand. The question is whether enough center-right voters decide a calmer, more practical Senate voice is worth the party break this time.
What to watch next
Watch suburban counties near Kansas City and Wichita for movement among college-educated Republicans and independents. Look for farm country signals on trade, water, and input costs that could test claims of “state first” representation. Track whether more Republican elders or local officials speak up, which would extend the permission structure beyond two governors. If Hamilton keeps the race close in Johnson County and trims margins in rural counties, these endorsements will look like an early tell.
