Ex-GOP Governor Turns On GOP Senator In Deep-Red State, Endorses Democratic Opponent

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Former two-term GOP Kansas Governor Bill Graves (R) released a scathing video clip this week shredding incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and endorsing Marshall’s Democratic Party challenger Adam Hamilton.

“With our nation facing increasing partisan gridlock and division, it’s time Kansas does something different. For the last six years, Senator Roger Marshall has turned his back on Kansas,” Graves began in the clip, adding:

In contrast, Adam Hamilton stands as a bulwark of kindness, humility, and service to others. It is for those reasons and many more that I believe Kansas should send Adam Hamilton to the U.S. Senate, and I’m proud to endorse him.

While Marshall’s reelection bid still appears to be on solid ground in a state Trump won in 2024 by 16 points, there are indications that the GOP is worried.

Vice President JD Vance held a rally for Marshall earlier in the week and defended him after a New York Times report revealed that, as a doctor, he sued some 700 of his patients to collect on medical debt, resulting in 91 of them being arrested.

“In Doc Marshall, you have a man who devoted his life to delivering babies and making sure that moms and children from every walk of life were safe and had the healthcare that they need,” Vance told the crowd.

Cook Political rates the race as a “likely Republican,” and the most recent poll has Marshall up by 5 points on Hamilton.

“I had the honor and privilege of serving the people of Kansas for 22 years. Over the course of four Republican primaries and four general elections, the voters allowed me to serve them first as Secretary of State and then as Governor,” Graves said in the clip.

“During that time, I developed a very clear appreciation for the difference between politics and public service, and along with that understanding, I knew very clearly where politics should end and when public service must begin,” Graves argued.

He went on to add:

Once the votes are counted and the winners of the respective races for public office are determined, it’s time to put politics on the shelf and begin the hard work that’s required of you for all the people.

Kansas is a big, diverse state.

Serving the needs of people in our rural communities is at times very different from serving the needs of those in Sedgwick, Wyandotte, or Johnson counties, and yet all Kansans are equally entitled to educational opportunity, quality health care they can afford, public safety, and social services, with all of these provided with responsible management of their tax dollars.

When you run for public office and win, you work for everyone. You take an oath of office that pledges your faithful effort to that end.

I am supporting Adam Hamilton for the United States Senate because I believe he is the candidate who embraces this philosophy of government.

Adam understands what it means to be compassionate in lifting up those in need, while still appreciating and respecting the contributions of those who make that help possible.

Adam understands the value in finding the common ground necessary to solve the tough issues confronting our nation.

Graves has endorsed a Democrat for office in Kansas before, supporting former Gov. Laura Kelly (D) in both her successful runs in 2018 and 2022.

Watch the clip above.

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