Bill Graves

Kansas has split its governorships evenly since 1960, with seven Republicans and seven Democrats holding the office despite the state's strong Republican lean in federal races. No party has won three consecutive gubernatorial elections since four-year terms began in 1974, a streak now being tested by Democratic state Sen. Cindy Holscher's challenge to Republican state Sen. Ty Masterson, as term-limited Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, departs after two wins.

Several past races were decided by narrow margins, including a sub-4,000-vote finish in 1974 and Kelly's roughly 22,000-vote win in 2022. Since 1990, no sitting Kansas governor has lost a reelection bid, underscoring the historical stakes of this year's contest.

Former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves, a Republican, has endorsed Democrat Adam Hamilton in his bid to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Roger Marshall. Graves, who led Kansas as governor, cited growing "partisan gridlock and division" nationally as a key reason for crossing party lines, saying it's "time Kansas does something different."

Graves discussed his decision and its implications for the current state of the Republican Party in an interview with PBS NewsHour's Geoff Bennett. The endorsement is notable given Kansas's traditionally strong Republican lean, and it adds a high-profile cross-party voice to the race ahead of the Senate contest. Such endorsements can shape perceptions of competitiveness in what might otherwise be viewed as a safe Republican seat, potentially influencing donor interest, media coverage, and voter engagement in the race between Hamilton and Marshall.

Former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves, a Republican, has endorsed Democrat Adam Hamilton in his challenge against Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.). In a video shared by Hamilton's campaign, Graves said Marshall "has turned his back on Kansas" over his six years in office and praised Hamilton, senior pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, as a figure of "kindness, humility and service." Graves cited rising partisan gridlock as reason for Kansas to "do something different."

Graves, who governed Kansas from 1995 to 2003, has previously crossed party lines to back Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in both her 2018 and 2022 campaigns. Hamilton is seeking to become the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Kansas since 1932. Election forecasters currently favor Marshall, giving him roughly an 80% chance of winning, and his campaign holds a substantial fundraising advantage heading into the race.