The scandal that could break the longest winning streak in American politics
In five weeks' time, America's longest winning streak is at risk of being broken.
The state of Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932.
Roger Marshall is in a fight for his own seat in the midterm elections. Mark Schiefelbein/POOL AP via AP
But now more than any time since then, Republicans are deeply concerned they will lose the seat.
The Democratic candidate is megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton, who is running a populist moderate campaign.
But Republicans have a tougher problem with Roger Marshall, a senator who has never had to run a tough race - and it shows.
Marshall is under immense scrutiny over his actions as a doctor before he was elected to the Senate.
The New York Times reported that he sued 700 patients for unpaid medical bills.
Eighty-one of his patients were arrested for missing court cases after Marshall's lawyers sought warrants.
The obstetrician and gynaecologist would typically charge patients with an 18 per cent interest rate for their medical bills.
Now Hamilton is running an attack ad featuring a woman who said she was arrested when eight months pregnant over a $US50 ($70) unpaid bill.
Marshall has issued a cease-and-desist over the ad, which he claims is defamatory.
"The unmistakable message to a reasonable viewer is that Senator Marshall caused a pregnant patient to be arrested and jailed for missing a single $50 payment," a letter from the senator's lawyers read.
Adam Hamilton leads the largest church in Kansas. AP Photo/Colin E. Braley
"That message is false in every material respect."
Marshall has called for the ad to be removed from TV.
His defence is that the woman owed more than $US50 and was arrested for missing court dates, not for the unpaid bill.
But Hamilton's campaign stood by their ad.
"The truth is what Roger Marshall did is extreme and hurt Kansans," Hamilton said.
"Voters should know the truth about who their senator is and what he’s done."
Other issues are hurting Republican chances in Kansas, including the prices of diesel and fertiliser.
Trump also drew the ire of cattle farmers by allowing large imports of beef into the country in an effort to drive down the prices.
Marshall was loudly booed by the crowd at the Kansas State Fair, a typically friendly crowd for conservatives most of the time.
The close race has prompted top Republicans to attack Hamilton on his faith.
“We have got Dr Roger Marshall, a proud servant of this state, and a proud Christian to boot, versus a guy who would insult your faith and spit on your religion to accrue donations to himself,” Vice President JD Vance said.
"That is left-wing radicalism dressed in the skin suit of our religion."
JD Vance was an atheist who converted to Catholicism several years before entering politics. Mark Schiefelbein/POOL AP via AP
Vance's comments drew a rare rebuke from the bishop of the Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church David Wilson.
"The language used, in effect, criticises fellow Christians merely for living up to what Jesus taught in the Gospel texts.
"A reading of the parable of sheep and goats found in Matthew 25 is helpful for reference."
Hamilton's church is the largest in Kansas.
A poll from Emerson College released earlier this month showed Hamilton with a one-point lead over Marshall.
Such a close result is well within the margin of error, but certainly enough to make Republicans very nervous.
The party is also trailing in other typically conservative states, including Texas, Alaska, Ohio and Iowa.
A Democratic-aligned independent is neck-and-neck with the Republican incumbent in Nebraska, the state directly neighbouring Kansas.
And new polling shows unexpectedly close races in South Carolina and Florida, states Democrats had not expected to compete in.
Even if Republicans outperform the polls, Democrats are set for a wave election.
If Democrats do even better than expected, it will be a bloodbath for the Republican party.
Election Day is November 3.
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