KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
Republican Sen. Roger Marshall and Democratic nominee Adam Hamilton debated in Kansas City, discussing the Iran war, fuel prices, and campaign attack ads as Election Day approaches.
The debate, less tense than their first encounter at the Kansas State Fair, featured Hamilton attempting to connect Kansas’ problems to Marshall and former President Donald Trump, while Marshall linked Hamilton to Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The candidates began by responding to attack ads against each other, accusing their opponents of spreading lies and twisting the truth.
Then, attention turned to the war in Iran.
Hamilton said he would work to end the war as soon as possible. Marshall said he wants to end the war as badly as anyone, but said Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
Gas and diesel prices were another major focus of the debate.
Hamilton described a diesel tax moratorium as “not a long-term solution” but “a very short-term stopgap.”
“My hope is that in January we’re going to bring a bill to really force the President to bring this war to a conclusion very quickly,” Hamilton said.
Marshall countered by pointing to broader issues across the world. .
“The real problem with the cost of diesel in particular, number one, is the Ukraine war, and because of that, diesel production has gone down,” Marshall said. “But beyond that, why are we dependent on diesel imports? It’s because of the Green New Deal policy that my opponent supports.”
After the debate, both candidates were given the opportunity to speak to the press.
While Marshall declined, Hamilton addressed affordability for Kansans.
“We’re going to start clawing back control of tariffs in Congress,” he said. “That’s where it belongs in the Constitution. We’re going to be asking the President, if you’re going to impose a tariff, what’s the impact of this? What’s the downside, what’s the upside? What are you trying to accomplish?”
The candidates also discussed artificial intelligence, with Hamilton advocating for strong regulation and Marshall favoring a lighter approach.
Hamilton again said he would not support Schumer for Senate Majority Leader in the event he’s elected and the Democratic Party takes control of the U.S. Senate.
Marshall’s spokesperson, Alex deGrasse, issued a statement following the debate.
“Kansans got to see the real Adam Hamilton tonight,” deGrasse said. “Adam Hamilton is the weakest, most out-of-touch candidate Kansas has ever seen, and he proved it in this debate. He had no answers on agriculture, no answers on the role of government in AI, and no answers on the border. When he did answer, he made the case against himself.”