Vice President JD Vance is headed back to Kansas, this time landing in Topeka on Monday, Oct. 26, for a midterm rally meant to shore up support for Republican Sen. Roger Marshall. Doors open at 2 p.m. at HME Inc.-Haas Group, 2828 NW Button Road, with the rally kicking off at 4 p.m. and Vance expected to speak at 5:15 p.m. The event is free, but attendees must RSVP ahead of time.
The Topeka stop, hosted by Trump 47 Committee Inc., according to KMBC, marks Vance's second trip to Kansas in less than two months, as KWCH reports. He previously campaigned for Marshall in Olathe on Sept. 14, and as KSHB 41 Kansas City notes, that Olathe trip also included a visit to the KBI Kansas City field office, where he announced Operation Heartland Surge and Operation No Doze.
Vance's return comes just days after President Donald Trump himself stumped for Marshall in the Wichita area. Trump spoke to hundreds at Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City on Monday, Oct. 19, a venue The Kansas City Star described as having roughly 6,500 seats. Outside that rally, about 80 demonstrators waved signs and chanted against both Trump's visit and Marshall, as The Kansas City Star reported.
A Senate Race Republicans Thought Was Settled
Marshall is facing Democrat Adam Hamilton in a U.S. Senate race that, not long ago, Republicans expected to be a formality in a reliably red state. That is no longer the case. The Star describes it bluntly: “The race he was supposed to win easily is now neck-and-neck.” NBC News similarly reports that polling shows a toss-up with less than two weeks until Election Day, when voters will decide between Marshall and Hamilton on Nov. 3.
Both national parties have taken notice. According to NPR, both parties have redirected tens of millions of dollars into the race in recent weeks. A top Republican super PAC has also launched a $14 million negative ad campaign targeting Hamilton, per NBC News. NPR also notes that Kansas is among nearly ten states this cycle where voters could split their choices for governor and U.S. senator.
Early Voting Turnout Surges in Two Counties
The tightening race is showing up at the ballot box well before Nov. 3. Johnson County logged almost 38,000 early in-person voters in the first three days of early voting, twice the turnout from the same period in the 2022 midterms, the station reports. Johnson County Election Commissioner Connie Schmidt pointed to the crowded ballot as a driver, saying, “we have a high-profile U.S. Senate race, and we have an open governor's seat and secretary of state. So, a lot of seats are open, and we have a lot of interest in people voting.”
Wyandotte County saw a similar jump. Election Commissioner Michael Abbott said the county logged 3,498 early in-person voters in the first three days this cycle, compared to 1,130 during the same stretch in 2022. Abbott also said 4,220 mail-in ballots have gone out so far this year, up from about 2,957 at the same point four years ago, the same account notes. KSHB 41 Kansas City also cites an Associated Press analysis finding that many states that will decide control of the Senate are seeing a broader boost in early voting this cycle.
What To Expect Monday
Monday's event structure mirrors the kind of large-scale campaign stop Kansas has seen twice now in a week, with doors opening hours ahead of the 4 p.m. rally start and Vance's remarks slated for 5:15 p.m. As with the Wichita rally, Trump used his appearance to encourage Kansans to vote. Vance is set to make his case for Marshall directly to Topeka-area voters with just over a week left before Election Day.
