Woke Pastor or Centrist? The Hamilton-Marshall Debate | Topeka News

Senator Roger Marshall is painting his Democratic rival, Adam Hamilton, as a “woke pastor” too liberal for Kansas, citing edited sermon clips and controversial stances like supporting drag shows for kids and critiquing cattle farming. But Hamilton, leader of the nation’s largest United Methodist congregation, is pushing back—arguing his message is grounded in timeless Christian values like compassion and neighborly care, and that his sermons are being misrepresented to fuel a false narrative. Despite Kansas’s long Republican Senate streak and Marshall’s campaign framing Hamilton as extreme, the Democrat is raising serious funds and even has conservative allies questioning the “woke” label. Hamilton’s own pastor and Marshall’s former pastor both describe him as a centrist, suggesting the “woke” label may be more political than pastoral. He’s urging voters to hear his full sermons to see the real message—and insists his values align with Kansans’ own. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/52622cfabd0db72c