Democratic Kansas Senate candidate Adam Hamilton rebuts JD Vance’s attacks on his Christian faith

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hamilton responded on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, to Vice President JD Vance’s public questioning of his Christian faith during a televised interview in Kansas.

Hamilton, the pastor of the Church of the Resurrection – the nation’s largest United Methodist congregation – told host Jonathan Karl on ABC’s This Week that Vance’s attacks were “really sad” and “pathetic,” adding that they reflected political desperation rather than genuine theological disagreement.

"I thought it was a sign of desperation," Hamilton said. "It was pathetic. He doesn’t know me, doesn’t know anything about my faith."

Vance had previously claimed Hamilton believed “it’s a sin to be white and a sin to raise cattle and eat meat,” statements Hamilton flatly rejected as lies.

"Every single line of what you just read was a lie," Hamilton asserted.

During the interview Hamilton described his daily devotion, saying he rises each morning, kneels in prayer, offers his life to Christ, reads Scripture, and carries a Bible with him. He invited Vance to visit his church instead of attacking a congregation of thousands.

The exchange comes as the Kansas Senate race, historically a Republican stronghold since 1919, has tightened. Incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall faces a surprisingly close contest against Hamilton, a centrist Democrat who has campaigned on affordable energy, healthcare, and agricultural concerns while emphasizing his Christian values.

Republican strategists have framed Hamilton as “too woke for Kansas,” but the candidate has positioned himself as a faith‑based moderate, noting his past support for candidates of both parties and his desire to work with voters “in the center.”

National observers see the race as crucial to the Democrats’ goal of a net gain of four Senate seats in the 2026 midterms. Recent polls suggest a near tie, prompting heightened Republican attention to Kansas, a state Donald Trump won by more than 16 points in 2024.

Hamilton’s rebuttal underscores the broader contest over religion in politics, as candidates on both sides use faith‑based rhetoric to appeal to voters. With weeks left before Election Day, the Kansas Senate contest remains a focal point for both parties as they vie for a seat that has not been held by a Democrat since 1932.