Kansas makes Senate history. Deadlocked governor's race. Incumbents return.

By Morgan Chilson | senior reporter

OVERLAND PARK — The Rev. Adam Hamilton made history as the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate in Kansas in 94 years, defeating Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall at the end of a fervid race defined by clashing political visions and strong turnout in some of the state’s most populous counties.

Hamilton led in unofficial counts for most of Tuesday night, but the margin narrowed as final tallies rolled in. He led with 51% of votes compared to Marshall’s 45% by the time the AP called the race around 10:25 p.m., accounting for 90% of votes.

“This election is a rebuke of unkindness and cruelty in Washington,” Hamilton said addressing a crowd of around 1,000 people in Overland Park.

WICHITA — Democrat Cindy Holscher and Republican Ty Masterson battled to an unofficial draw Tuesday in the Kansas governor’s race, leaving anxious voters without a resolution in the high-stakes battle to determine who follows departing Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

Preliminary results mirrored campaign polling that suggested the outcome would be tight. The latest numbers issued shortly after midnight by the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office had Holscher with 546,523 votes for 50.3% of the total. Out of 1.08 million votes cast in the race, Masterson held 540,651 votes, or 49.7%.

Holscher told supporters in Johnson County that she was confident that she would win the election when all ballots were finally tabulated.

TOPEKA — All four U.S. House members from Kansas held onto their seats Tuesday, including three Republicans who saw their margins of victory shrink considerably from two years ago.

U.S. Reps. Tracey Mann, Derek Schmidt, Sharice Davids and Ron Estes will return to Washington, D.C.

TOPEKA — Kansas voters passed a constitutional amendment that changes wording on voting laws allowing only U.S. citizens to vote – even though the state Constitution already says that – but that opponents worry can lead to more significant changes in the future.

With nearly all precincts reporting at midnight, the amendment passed 64% to 36%.

By Clay Wirestone

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall officially lost his seat to the Rev. Adam Hamilton on Tuesday night as part of a resounding repudiation of Republicans across the United States.

But Marshall actually lost that seat 20 months ago, when he clashed with everyday Kansans at a March 1 town hall meeting in Oakley.

Facing tough questions from an audience fed up with President Donald Trump's Department Of Government Efficiency, Marshall left the meeting early.

TOPEKA — Narrow margins dominated statewide races Tuesday, but as the clock neared midnight, two candidates claimed victory, leaving two races unsettled.

Victorious were Republican Dan Hawkins for insurance commissioner and Republican incumbent Steven Johnson for treasurer. Neither candidate claimed victory in the race for secretary of state, although Republican Pat Proctor moved a percentage point ahead of Democrat Jennifer Day with 48% of the votes to her 47%.

Voters across the country administered a sharp reprimand to President Donald Trump and Republicans who hold majorities in Congress, with Democrats gaining control of the Senate and on track by early Wednesday to take over the House as well.

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