Sleeper Senate race emerges as unexpected headache for Republicans ahead of midterms

Republicans fully acknowledge that they are facing political headwinds going into the midterm elections in November, and those winds are swirling in a race that has become quietly competitive as Election Day nears.

Kansas has, for nearly a century, consistently elected Republicans to the Senate. But in a midterm election year when voters are unhappy with the Trump administrations actions and its impacts on the economy, the race between Sen. R-Kan., and megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton has tightened more than some in the GOP would have liked.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., the Senate GOPs campaign chief, acknowledged that the race is close, but remained confident Marshall would hold on.

"Listen, I think, if you look at Kansas, it's a very competitive state, more competitive than I'd like to see it, but the fact of the matter is that we're gonna win in Kansas," Scott said.

Republicans are trying to maintain and grow their 53-seat majority, but face many toss-up contests across the map, and voters that are frustrated with high fuel prices, tariffs and the war in Iran, that could threaten that grip on power.

Kansas isnt in that toss-up category, but it was recently downgraded by "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican" by the Cook Political Report and in Fox News election power rankings.

"No one should be surprised that Adams message of leading from the middle and working together is resonating across Kansas," Tyson Brody, a spokesperson for Hamilton told Fox News Digital.

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"Roger Marshall has spent the past 18 months hiding from his constituents, voting to slash health care, and supporting endless war thats led to skyrocketing gas and grocery prices," he continued. "Kansans are ready for something different, and thats why well vote to elect Adam in November."

Still, Scott gave Marshall and others some advice that could be the recipe for success, even in close contests.

"I told Roger Marshall the same thing I told all the candidates nearly two years ago: "You do one of two things, you either run afraid or you run unopposed," Scott said. "And, frankly, it's not unopposed."

"And therefore, you can't run to the tape, you have to run through the tape. I believe that Kansas is a competitive state," he continued. "I will, however, say that, as I look at all the data, it tells me that Roger Marshall will be successful."

He has already gotten reinforcements in the form of who earlier this month rallied for the lawmaker and pitched to voters that Marshall, a former obstetrician, was 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."

"Lets stand for Doc Marshall and send the crazy people packing, ladies and gentlemen," Vance said.

He will get more back up soon, too. R-S.D., told Fox News Digital as he exited the Senate late Wednesday night that he planned to travel to Kansas. When asked if Republicans would keep the majority, Thune said "of course we are."

Marshall is eying a second term in the Senate against Hamilton, a political newcomer who was previously registered as a Republican now running a centrist-aligned campaign. Marshall was first elected to the upper chamber in 2020, cruising to an 11-point victory while Republicans across the country took hits as Trumps first term came to an end.

Since then, he has