President Donald Trump arrived in Park City, Kansas, on Monday night for a campaign rally supporting Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sen. Roger Marshall, according to KWCH. The former president told the crowd, “Whatever you do, get out and vote,” emphasizing his push for Kansas voters to turn out for Republican candidates.
Trump’s remarks also targeted Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, noting, “I love you Kansas, but I’m here for a guy named Roger Marshall.” He added an unverified claim that protesters at the rally were “paid protesters,” saying, “They get $250 and they scream out some stupid thing, their parents go crazy. They get $250 and they go to jail.”
Local Republican leaders Kris Kobach, Ty Masterson and Ron Estes were also on the stage, underscoring the rally’s significance for the state’s Senate race, which KWCH described as “tight.”
Following the event, KSHB reporter Charlie Keegan noted that the rally’s message resonated with some voters but not all. In Wichita, Alison Guerra, a Republican who supports Marshall, said she was motivated to vote because a friend in the state House was running, not because of the rally. “I have a good friend who is in the state House of Representatives… I would feel terrible if I didn’t vote,” she told KSHB.
Conversely, Wichita resident Peter Youngs said Trump’s comments did not sway him. “I vote my conscience,” Youngs said, adding, “I’m not going to give my God‑given right to choose to any political party.”
In neighboring Lyon County, longtime union Democrat James Sturm expressed a different view, noting that Republicans appear “nervous that Marshall might lose to Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton.” He said, “People in politics, after a while, they don’t worry about the people. You gotta check ‘em up every once in a while and keep them nervous.”
Marshall himself remained confident, telling KSHB, “I think the benefits far outweigh any risk. The majority of undecided voters are Trumpers. That’s what we’re betting on, that he’s going to mobilize his base — which is my base — to get out and vote.”
Voter activity on the first day of advance voting was notable. The Sedgwick County Election Office in Wichita reported a record number of ballots cast on Monday, according to KSHB. The office’s director said the turnout eclipsed the first‑day numbers from the 2022 midterm elections, with “more than double” the voters participating, a claim echoed by Johnson County voter David Hines, who said, “I was going to be here early anyway,” but added that Trump’s visit might have hurt Marshall by linking him to unpopular policies.
Other local voters shared their perspectives. Republican Larry Davis in Lyon County said he would vote by mail, noting, “I’ll go vote. All you do is send me one in the mail, and I’ll get her done.” Heather Simons, also from the area, said she does not think about Trump when she votes, stating, “I vote for my interests… for what I think is best for my community, the state of Kansas and this country.”
Statewide registration data released by the Kansas Secretary of State shows 901,822 Republicans, 578,791 unaffiliated voters, and 521,669 Democrats as of Oct. 1, highlighting the party advantage that Trump hopes to capitalize on ahead of the November election.
What’s next: Kansas voters will continue to cast ballots through the advance voting period, with the Oct. 27 deadline for mail‑in ballot requests emphasized by President Trump at the rally. The general election is slated for early November, when Kansans will decide the Senate seat and other statewide offices.
