HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Adam Hamilton, United Methodist pastor and candidate for the United States Senate, recently shared his motivations, approach, and aspirations in an interview with Ad Astra News. Hamilton, who leads the largest United Methodist church in the United States and the largest church in Kansas, outlined his vision for representing Kansans in Washington.
Meet and Greet at Scuttlebutts
Earlier in the week, Hamilton made a stop at Scuttlebutt’s, for a Monday morning meet and greet. Scuttlebutts is situated inside The Clayworks at Disability Supports, an organization dedicated to creating a higher standard of care for people with intellectual disabilities. The coffee shop features beautiful artwork crafted by The Clayworks artists. During the interview, Hamilton referenced the venue’s focus on supporting individuals with disabilities, highlighting the importance of federal funding and policies that do not leave people behind.
Motivations for Seeking Office
Hamilton spoke candidly about what prompted his Senate bid:
“Over the last year and a half, I’ve just felt, you know, I felt my heart hurting for people who I feel like were being left behind or people who might be being hurt. … Funding for special needs persons across the country had been cut from the federal government, from the federal budget. And that was just one example of many others where I felt like people were being left behind”.
He continued, emphasizing the need for change in the political climate:
“I just found myself feeling like we have to do better. We have to do better in Washington at Republicans and Democrats working together, as opposed to the polarization that keeps them from solving problems, whether it’s immigration reform or healthcare reform”.
Embracing an Independent-Minded Approach
Identifying himself as an “independent minded Democrat,” Hamilton described his approach:
“I find myself identifying with emphasis in the Democratic Party for people who are vulnerable, marginalized, safety nets, concerns for, you know, concerns for people. But I’m also somebody who understands where Republicans are coming from. I’m a bridge builder”.
Hamilton also spoke to his congregation’s makeup and how that informs his politics:
“We have 24,000 members and about 35% are Republicans, 35% are Democrats, and 30% are independents. … We’ve managed to hold them together and they love each other and they work together and they realize, you know, we don’t agree on everything, but that’s okay. Which is more of what I think we need in Washington right now”.
He further stated, “I’d like to go to Washington as a United States senator, to be able to work with people, first of all, to work with Democrats and be a champion for Kansas among the Democratic party. … And then having somebody who would work across the aisle”.
Bringing Pastoral Skills to Public Service
Reflecting on how his pastoral experience would shape his Senate work, Hamilton said, “One is listening. So I’m a pretty good listener. And I feel like I have devoted myself to hearing people tell their stories, caring for them. I have a lot of empathy and compassion. And then I want to see, okay, how can we help? What can we do?”.
He added, “I feel like I’m a good listener and I want to listen. … A lot of what I’m doing is I’m listening to people. I’ve been out with farmers. I’ve just said, tell me what you’re feeling. What’s happening. And how could I be a great champion for farmers based upon your experience?”.
Kansas Roots and Personal Commitment
Hamilton cited his personal connection to Kansas as central to his campaign:
“I would want them to know that I deeply care. I’m a fifth generation Kansan. … I love this state. And I really, really want to care for the people, you know, and I want to not just care for them, I want to champion them”.
Lessons from the Wizard of Oz
Drawing inspiration from a recent visit to the Wizard of Oz Museum, Hamilton reflected, “I was thinking about the characters in the Wizard of Oz. So you’ve got the scarecrow who needs a brain, and you’ve got the Tin man who needs a heart, and you’ve got the lion who needs courage. And as I was walking through there, I thought, this is what Washington needs right now. … We need people who are going to bring critical thinking to the task of how we govern … We need people with a heart. … And then the idea of having courage”.
He summed up, “I want to speak up for things that are right. And I want to stand with people and I want to have a heart of compassion and I want to bring critical thinking to the task of governing”.
Listen to the full interview on our Podcasts Page.
