Roger Wayne Marshall is an American politician, physician, and former military officer serving as Kansas’s junior United States senator since 2021. A Republican, he previously represented Kansas’s 1st Congressional District (2017–2021), a vast rural seat known as the “Big First.”
Marshall trained as an obstetrician/gynecologist and spent decades practicing medicine in Kansas, a background he frequently cites in debates over health policy and abortion. He earned a B.S. in biochemistry from Kansas State University and an M.D. from the University of Kansas, and he served in the U.S. Army Reserve, reaching the rank of captain.
Politically, Marshall is a pro-Trump, farm-state conservative: strongly aligned with agricultural interests, skeptical of regulatory agencies, and aggressive on culture-war messaging. In the Senate, he has emphasized border security, opposition to the Affordable Care Act, and a hardline “pro-life” agenda.
He has also been a recurring lightning rod in national coverage for disputing or amplifying claims related to the 2020 election and for public statements during the COVID era that critics argue undercut public-health institutions.
Right Wing Populist
Committee Assignments
Caucus Memberships
Achievements
- Won the open-seat 2020 Kansas Senate race and entered the Senate in January 2021.
- High-salience advocate for Kansas agriculture, crop insurance, and farm-state commodity priorities.
- Made rural health access and telehealth a core theme, leveraging his OB-GYN background and clinic experience.
- Promoted conservative tax and regulatory agendas aimed at agriculture, energy, and small-business growth.
- Elevated Kansas influence on agriculture policy through committee work and farm-bill positioning.
Controversies
- Supported objections to Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral votes on January 6, 2021, drawing national criticism.
- Accused of spreading COVID-era misinformation; some social-media posts were removed for policy violations.
- Reported for late disclosures related to financial transactions under STOCK Act transparency rules.
- Criticized for opposing Medicaid expansion despite rural-hospital strain in parts of Kansas.
- Climate-change skepticism and anti-EPA posture drew backlash from environmental and public-health advocates.
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nueterra Capital | $49,400 | $49,400 | $0 |
| National Republican Senatorial Cmte | $44,600 | $0 | $44,600 |
| McKee Foods | $42,100 | $42,100 | $0 |
| Nelson Farms (Kansas) | $26,700 | $26,700 | $0 |
| Venture Corp (Kansas) | $26,400 | $26,400 | $0 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2020 Margin R +11.4%