AGP Executive Report

Kansas Election: Voters are deciding a closely watched U.S. Senate race between Republican Roger Marshall and Democrat Adam Hamilton, along with state and local contests. Kansas polls close at 7 p.m.; Lyon County reported turnout at 20% several hours after polls opened. Three Kansas communities are also weighing data-center restrictions. Election Oversight: The Justice Department deployed monitors in Sedgwick, Johnson and Wyandotte counties as part of its first election-monitoring effort in all 50 states. Montgomery County Shooting: An 18-year-old Coffeyville man was arrested and booked on a second-degree murder charge in the Nov. 1 shooting north of Sycamore that killed Devin Windsor, 40. The investigation continues. Topeka Roads: Rain delayed planned daytime closures on Kansas Avenue.

Kansas at the Polls: Voters decide two closely watched races: Sen. Roger Marshall faces Adam Hamilton, while Democrat Cindy Holscher and Republican Ty Masterson compete to succeed Gov. Laura Kelly. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but final results may take days as mail ballots are processed. Local Ballot Questions: Voters in El Dorado, Emporia and Ottawa will decide whether to restrict large data centers, amid debate over economic development, power use and community safeguards. Jayhawks: No. 17 Kansas opened its basketball season with a 95-65 win over Fordham. Tre White scored 22 points, and top recruit Tyran Stokes had 15 in his debut.

Kansas Senate Race: Republican Sen. Roger Marshall and Democrat Adam Hamilton made their final appeals before Tuesday’s vote in a contest recent polls show is unusually tight. Libertarian David Graham is also on the ballot. President Donald Trump rallied for Marshall in Salina, while Hamilton argued voters want a different approach in Washington. Turnout and Weather: More than 300,000 Kansans have voted early, surpassing the state’s 2022 total. Rain is likely Tuesday, with storms possible in parts of Kansas; wet weather could affect turnout, though its impact is uncertain. National Stakes: Democrats are favored to retake the House and are competing for Senate control, with Kansas among the races drawing close attention.

Kansas Senate Race: President Donald Trump made a final campaign stop in Salina to boost Sen. Roger Marshall, whose race against Democrat Adam Hamilton has tightened. The contest could help decide control of the Senate as Democrats seek gains in Congress. Voting: More than 54 million Americans had cast ballots early by Sunday. Kansas officials also moved to stop a canvassing group from offering voter incentives. Community: The Wichita Kansas Temple was dedicated Sunday, becoming the state’s first temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. College Sports: No. 15 Kansas volleyball beat Iowa State 3-1, led by 18 kills from Grace Nelson.

Kansas Senate Race: President Donald Trump returned to Kansas for a final rally as Republican Roger Marshall faces a stronger-than-expected challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton. A Fox News forecast shifted the race to a toss-up, and early voting in Kansas topped 300,000, surpassing the state’s 2022 total. Voting Rules: Attorney General Kris Kobach ordered canvassing group Bluestem Kansas to stop offering incentives after a voter reported being offered a $5 gift card. State and federal law prohibit paying people to vote. Public Safety: Derby’s fire marshal received a statewide award recognizing leadership in emergency prevention and community safety. Courts: Wichita’s lawsuit over its nearly 200 automated license plate readers is headed to trial, with challengers arguing the surveillance network violates privacy protections. College Football: Kansas squandered a 13-point lead and lost 22-16 at TCU, while Kansas State fell 27-24 in overtime at Colorado. Weather: Forecasters warned of possible severe storms, damaging winds and a few tornadoes in Kansas early this week.

Kansas Election: President Donald Trump is set to rally in Salina on Sunday for U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, after reversing plans to cancel the visit. More than 300,000 Kansans have voted early, surpassing the total from the 2022 midterms. Campaign Finance: A watchdog group filed a complaint alleging Marshall’s leadership PAC improperly paid his chief of staff; Marshall’s campaign says it follows the law. Separately, Attorney General Kris Kobach ordered civics group Bluestem Kansas to stop offering voters gift cards, which he says may violate state law. College Football: Kansas let a 13-point halftime lead slip in a 22-16 loss to TCU, while Kansas State fell 27-24 to Colorado in overtime. Traffic Fatality: A 66-year-old Iola woman died in a head-on crash on U.S. 169 near Iola; a 15-year-old driver was seriously injured.

Kansas Politics: President Donald Trump has restored his Sunday rally in Salina after canceling it, as Republican Sen. Roger Marshall faces a tight re-election race. Polls disagree on the contest, and a watchdog group alleges Marshall’s leadership PAC improperly paid his top aide; his campaign says it follows the law. Election Watch: Kansas early voting is up more than 30% from the same point in 2022. A storm could bring rain and strong winds to the state on Election Day. Statehouse: Rep. Dan Goddard, a Parsons Republican and former Air Force pilot who served in the Kansas Senate and House, died Thursday at 78. Prep Sports: Ellinwood volleyball won its second straight state title, finishing another undefeated season at 47-0.

Kansas Senate Race: President Donald Trump has restored his Sunday rally in Salina for Republican Sen. Roger Marshall after canceling it, as Democrat Adam Hamilton makes the race unexpectedly competitive. Kansas advance voting is running roughly two-thirds ahead of the 2022 midterm pace, part of a nationwide record surge. Property Taxes: Kansas governor candidates are again trading blame over the lack of major relief, after statewide property tax collections climbed to $6.6 billion in 2025. Salina Free-Speech Ruling: A federal appeals court sided with the Cozy Inn, finding the city violated the restaurant owner’s First Amendment rights by trying to restrict its UFO-themed mural. Sunflower Showdown: No. 15 Kansas swept Kansas State volleyball 3-0 before a record crowd of 8,058 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Campaign 2026: President Donald Trump will return to Salina Sunday, Nov. 1, for a rally supporting Sen. Roger Marshall, whose reelection race is tight. Doors open at 2:30 p.m.; Trump is expected to speak at 6 p.m. The reversal came as early voting set a national midterm record, with nearly 48 million ballots cast. Public Safety: A 66-year-old Iola woman died and a 15-year-old driver was seriously injured in a head-on crash on U.S. 169 south of Iola. Workers: More than 2,600 National Beef employees in Liberal approved a five-year union contract with wage increases, bonuses and additional time off. Health Care: The University of Kansas Health System’s Great Bend Campus ranked No. 7 among 220 small community hospitals in Vizient’s quality leadership rankings. Wichita Crime: A multi-agency initiative reported 34 arrests and 58 firearms recovered. Water Quality: KDHE lifted the harmful algal bloom watch at Lone Star Lake after toxin levels fell below advisory thresholds.

Kansas Campaign: President Donald Trump canceled his planned Salina rally and switched to phone-in events, saying Sen. Roger Marshall is “doing very well.” He also lashed out at a reporter who asked about the cancellation. Senate Race: Marshall faces Democrat Adam Hamilton in an unusually tight contest, where campaign ad spending has hit a Kansas record of $84.5 million. Governor’s Race: Ty Masterson and Cindy Holscher are sparring over property-tax relief, the Brownback-era tax cuts and safeguards for data centers as they make their final pitches to voters. Voting: Kansas officials urge voters not to mail ballots as early voting closes Monday and Election Day nears. School Funding: Blue Valley schools say a nearly $19 million special-education funding gap is forcing more cuts; the district receives 62% of costs, below the 92% reimbursement required by state law. Health Care: About 7,000 people affected by Wichita-based Medova Health Plan’s collapse are receiving compensation from a $23 million federal recovery.

Kansas Senate Race: President Donald Trump canceled his planned Saturday rally in Salina, switching to virtual appearances as the race between Republican Sen. Roger Marshall and Democrat Adam Hamilton tightens. A CNN poll put Hamilton ahead, 49% to 45%. Voting Amendment: Kansans will decide whether to change the state constitution to explicitly limit voting to U.S. citizens. Noncitizens cannot currently vote in Kansas elections. Victim Services: Gov. Laura Kelly announced $10.8 million in federal grants for 64 Kansas organizations serving crime victims, including through counseling, shelter and court advocacy. Consumer Protection: Kansas joined the FTC and 20 states suing Dollar General over allegations that shoppers were charged more at checkout than shelf prices; the company denies wrongdoing. K-State Football: Quarterback Avery Johnson is out for a second straight week, while backup Jacob Knuth is doubtful for Saturday’s game at Colorado.

Kansas Elections: The Senate race is tightening as early voting surges. Voters will also decide a constitutional amendment on voting rights; supporters say it clarifies the rules, while opponents argue current law already bars noncitizens from voting. President Donald Trump is returning to Kansas for a Salina rally on Halloween to campaign for Sen. Roger Marshall. Data Center Debate: National political action committees are pouring money into Kansas data-center politics as local petitions and concerns over power costs put projects under scrutiny. Higher Education: Fort Hays State’s Sternberg Museum will stay open after donors pledged $1.2 million, though legislators questioned how the university handled its planned closure. At KU, Provost Arash Mafi said the university will face pressure on funding, regulation and academic freedom without retreating.

Kansas Elections: With Election Day approaching, more than 222,000 Kansans had voted early in person, and nearly 60,000 mail ballots had been returned. The governor’s race has tightened, while property taxes and data-center impacts remain flashpoints. Voter Scrutiny: Federal subpoenas seeking voter records have reached Kansas as part of a nationwide inquiry into noncitizen voting, though legal experts say such voting is rare. Cost of Living: A new K-State tool lets agricultural landowners estimate property taxes and compare how local rates and land use affect bills. Rural Investment: FEMA approved more than $738,000 for repairs to Midwest Energy equipment, and federal grants are slated for 10 Kansas meatpacking facilities. Education and Culture: Fort Hays State’s Sternberg Museum will stay open after donors contributed $1.2 million. Sports: Kansas football edged Baylor 25-24 on a blocked late field goal for its first Big 12 win.

Consumer Protection: Kansas has joined the FTC and 19 other states in suing Dollar General, alleging shoppers were charged more at checkout than prices posted on shelves. Election Watch: With Election Day approaching, Kansas’ U.S. Senate race remains tight, and President Donald Trump is set to rally in Salina for Sen. Roger Marshall. A new Kansas Speaks survey found Gov. Laura Kelly has a 46.9% approval rating, while Marshall’s fell to 26% and Trump’s to 33%. Energy Costs: Evergy says new data centers will pay about 20% more than standard commercial rates, with the premium intended to help limit rate increases for other customers; the utility says it has rejected dozens of projects. Transportation: The Kansas Turnpike Authority plans to spend $136.6 million widening I-70 north and east of Lawrence. College Sports: Kansas football edged Baylor 25-24 on a blocked late field goal for its first Big 12 win, while Kansas State fell 28-17 at Arizona State.

Consumer Protection: Kansas joined the FTC and 19 other states in suing Dollar General, alleging years of checkout overcharges that cost shoppers millions. The company denies wrongdoing. Kansas Politics: Vice President JD Vance rallied in Topeka for Sen. Roger Marshall and announced $57 million in federal meatpacking grants. President Donald Trump is scheduled to return Saturday for a rally in Salina, three days before Election Day. Public Opinion: A new Kansas Speaks survey found Gov. Laura Kelly had 46.9% approval, while approval stood at 26% for Marshall and 33% for Trump; the poll also found broad distrust of politics. On the Ballot: Kansans will vote Nov. 3 on a constitutional amendment stating that only U.S. citizens may vote in state elections. At the Pump: Kansas gas prices averaged $3.92 a gallon, down 3 cents in a week; Topeka averaged $3.85. Road Safety: KDOT urges drivers to buckle up and put phones away, noting 110 people killed in Kansas crashes last year were not wearing seat belts.

Kansas Senate Race: Vice President JD Vance rallied in Topeka on Monday for Sen. Roger Marshall, whose reelection bid faces a strong challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton. President Donald Trump is scheduled to campaign for Marshall in Salina on Saturday, just days before the Nov. 3 election. Consumer Costs: Kansas joined the FTC and 19 other states in suing Dollar General, alleging the chain repeatedly charged customers more at checkout than advertised prices. College Sports: Kansas football edged Baylor 25-24 with a blocked field goal, earning its first Big 12 win of the season; Kansas State fell 28-17 at Arizona State.