FEC Filing Shows Marshall’s Kansas Senate Campaign Had No Paid Staff in Q3

Key points

• Marshall’s campaign spent $5 million from July to September but reported no payroll or salary payments in its latest FEC filing.
• Other competitive Senate incumbents, including those in Ohio, Alaska, and Maine, reported tens of thousands of dollars in payroll for multiple staffers during the same period.
• A joint investigation by MS NOW and the Kansas Reflector found evidence that Marshall and his chief of staff used congressional staff and government resources for campaign activities in 2020.
• The campaign website claims to have a full team separate from official staff, but the FEC filing lists no salaries, only small consulting fees totaling $8,000.
• Hamilton’s campaign argues the lack of paid staff warrants an ethics investigation, suggesting Marshall is abusing his official office for re-election efforts.

Background

The 2026 Kansas Senate race has become a national flashpoint, with polls showing Marshall and Democrat Adam Hamilton neck and neck. This follows a period of intense scrutiny, including a viral controversy over Marshall’s unpaid bakery bill and Trump’s defense of Marshall’s medical debt collection practices. Previous archive coverage noted that national Democrats and Republicans have poured millions into the race, with Hamilton raising $10.6 million in the third quarter. The current filing adds a new dimension to the debate over Marshall’s campaign operations, following earlier reports that his office functioned more like a campaign arm than a taxpayer-funded Senate office.

How outlets are covering it

MS NOW and the Kansas Reflector emphasize the anomaly of zero payroll in a competitive race, linking it to previous findings of potential ethics violations involving the use of congressional staff for campaign work. The DSCC highlights the broader pattern of Marshall’s alleged misuse of taxpayer dollars, including a conflict of interest regarding a $4.2 million earmark that benefited his personal ranch. In contrast, the Marshall campaign maintains full compliance with FEC rules and Senate ethics, though it did not immediately respond to questions about whether newly hired staff will appear in future filings. Campaign Legal Center’s Brendan Fischer noted the lack of payroll is anomalous but suggested some expenses might be reported later or paid after the campaign ends. Hamilton’s campaign argues the situation warrants an ethics investigation, while Marshall’s chief of staff previously claimed the campaign had paid staff, a statement contradicted by the current filing.

Why it matters

The absence of paid staff in a high-stakes Senate race raises questions about the integrity of campaign operations and the potential misuse of public resources. If confirmed, such practices could set a precedent for other incumbents and undermine public trust in the electoral process. The race in Kansas is a bellwether for the GOP’s ability to hold its Senate majority in the 2026 midterms, with national parties investing heavily to influence the outcome.

What to watch

Marshall’s campaign is expected to file its next FEC report, which may include payroll expenses for recently hired staff, including Chris Grant, who worked on his 2020 campaign. The race will continue to be closely watched as a key indicator of the GOP’s performance in the 2026 midterms, with national parties likely to increase spending in the final weeks before Election Day.