Sharice Davids

DNC chair Ken Martin believes Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall is vulnerable in the upcoming Kansas Senate race.

Martin called Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids a "great candidate" but did not publicly urge her to run for the Senate.

Davids has not ruled out a statewide run, stating that "all options remain on the table."

A Democrat has not won a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas since 1932, the longest active losing streak in the nation.

OTTAWA — Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin believes Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall is "vulnerable" and Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids would be a "great candidate," but stopped short of publicly encouraging her to run.

Martin was in Ottawa, which is part of the 3rd Congressional District that Davids represents, on Feb. 7 for a private roundtable. He spoke with The Capital-Journal afterward.

"There's a lot of important races on the ballot here in Kansas," Martin said. "We feel very optimistic, the wind at our back on the heels of a really historic 2025, which was the best off-election-year for the Democratic Party in our party's history. We feel there's real opportunities to expand the map and do well here in Kansas."

Democrat hasn't won U.S. Senate seat in Kansas since 1932

He specifically mentioned the U.S. Senate race as "an opportunity" while saying, "We need to reelect my good friend Sharice Davids in the 3rd Congressional District."

"I will just say Sharice is doing a wonderful job in Congress, and that's where her attention and focus is right now," Martin said when asked if Marshall is beatable — and if it depends on Davids' decision. "I do think that Roger Marshall is certainly vulnerable. There's no doubt, if you look at his approval ratings, there is an opportunity here.

"Now we also have to acknowledge it's an uphill battle for sure."

A Democrat has not won a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas since 1932, which is the longest active losing streak in the country.

Martin is aware that Kansas "has the longest streak of electing Republican senators." While the DNC chair is from Minnesota, he attended the University of Kansas and worked in Kansas politics in the 1990s.

"I remember in '96 when I was down here, I thought there was a chance because we had two open Senate seats," Martin said. "Remember, Bob Dole stepped down to run for president, Nancy Kassebaum retired, and so there were two open Senate seats. And of course, we didn't win either one of them then."

Democrats already have 6 candidates running for U.S. Senate seat

Davids previously told reporters "every option is on the table, including a statewide run" when asked if she would challenge Marshall if Republicans gerrymandered her district.

While top GOP lawmakers have said they don't have the votes to redistrict the congressional maps, Davids has not ruled out a run, and renewed speculation was fueled by her recent tour of parts of Kansas outside her district.

"Right now, I'm focused on doing my job — showing up, listening, and helping lower costs for hardworking folks," Davids said in a Feb. 9 statement to The Capital-Journal. "Kansans have made their opposition to extreme mid-decade redistricting resoundingly clear, but state Republican politicians still say it's a top priority if they get the votes. So, I'm not taking anything for granted, and all options remain on the table."

Without Davids, the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate currently has six declared candidates vying for the chance to challenge Marshall in the 2026 general election. Three of them — Christy Davis, Anne Parelkar and Sandy Spidel Neumann — participated in a November forum. State Sen. Patrick Schmidt, D-Topeka, filed to run in February. Also running are Erik Murray and Mike Soetaert.

How much each Kansas contender for U.S. Senate has raised

In the most recent filing with the Federal Election Commission, Marshall's principal campaign committee reported raising about $745,000 in the past quarter and having about $4.1 million cash on hand.

Spidel Neumann reported about $127,000 cash on hand, Murray reported about $109,000 and Parelkar reported about $500. The FEC didn't have data for Davis, Schmidt or Soetaert.

Davids reported raising about $730,000 in the past quarter and having about $1.3 million cash on hand.

"Roger Marshall is certainly vulnerable," Martin said. "The race is still developing, of course, but we certainly, I think, would have a shot.

"Sharice is very popular. She comes from a great part of the state," he said, noting that Johnson County has "a ton of votes."

"I think she's been very happy to be a congresswoman and to focus on the 3rd Congressional District and do the work of serving her constituents," Martin said. "I don't know what she's choosing to do."

DNC chair mum on whether party is recruiting Davids for Senate run

Martin declined to say whether national Democrats are trying to recruit Davids to run for Senate.

"Of course she's one of the highest ranking elected — outside of Governor Kelly — in the state of Kansas," Martin said. "She's very popular, and she would certainly be a great candidate if she chose to run statewide. And that's all I'll say. I've known Sharice a long time, and she is very happy being in the U.S. Congress right now."

President Donald Trump endorsed Marshall in a July post on Truth Social.

"KANSAS," Trump said, "Roger Marshall has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!"

Marshall officially filed for reelection in January.

"It's been the honor of my lifetime to serve Kansas in the Senate," Marshall said in a statement at the time. "And I promise to continue protecting our Kansas values and working with President Trump to restore the American Dream for future generations."