Roger Marshall, Adam Hamilton talk affordable housing in Topeka

Roger Marshall, Adam Hamilton talk affordable housing in Topeka

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In Topeka, the path to homeownership for young professionals has become a central point of contention in the race for the U.S. Senate. During separate appearances on October 16 at events hosted by the Greater Topeka Partnership, incumbent Roger Marshall and his Democratic challenger, Adam Hamilton, offered starkly different diagnoses—and prescriptions—for a housing market that has shifted significantly over the last decade.

The Regulatory Debate and Federal Policy

The conversation was sparked by a question from Jacinta Bergkamp of Forge Young Talent, who pointed to the recently enacted 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. While the law passed with broad bipartisan support and moved forward without President Donald Trump’s signature, the candidates hold opposing views on how federal intervention should proceed.

Senator Marshall frames the current housing crisis as a direct consequence of federal overreach. He argues that the solution lies in a aggressive rollback of regulations that he claims inflate construction costs.

What it does is roll back regulations.

Marshall said, noting that while eco-friendly features are desirable, they often render new homes unaffordable for the average buyer. He suggested that the regulatory process, which can span two years from the purchase of green space to the start of construction, remains a primary barrier for builders in Kansas.

Marshall also pointed to the role of the USDA housing programs as a tool for increasing unit supply, though he emphasized that the federal government’s fiscal health is the ultimate lever. He argued that the national debt, currently hovering near $40 trillion, forces high interest rates that keep the dream of homeownership out of reach. To Marshall, the path forward is a return to a balanced budget to naturally drive down those rates.

The Human Stakes of Market Entry

Adam Hamilton approached the issue through the lens of personal experience, highlighting the generational divide in wealth accumulation. He noted that when Senator Marshall first entered Congress, the average age of a first-time homebuyer was 32; today, that figure has climbed to 40.

I’m not blaming all that on Roger, it’s just that you should be fighting to make sure people can have the American dream of buying a house.

Hamilton said.

Roger marshall adam hamilton

Hamilton’s critique centers on the practical difficulty of entering a market where even “affordable” housing often starts at $250,000. He shared his own experience of helping his adult daughters navigate the market, acknowledging that such assistance is a luxury not available to everyone. He advocated for local, collaborative solutions, citing projects in Kansas City, Kansas, where the city provides lots at near-zero cost and partners with for-profit builders willing to accept lower margins to revitalize abandoned sites.

Supply Chains and the Cost of Lumber

The candidates also diverged on how to manage the fundamental costs of materials. Marshall, a member of the Senate forestry committee, argued that the nation has become too reliant on foreign lumber. He advocates for a strategy that emphasizes domestic harvesting to stabilize supply chains.

We haven’t used our own lumber for years.

Marshall said.

We’re totally dependent upon foreign nations bringing in lumber.

Hamilton countered by criticizing the use of tariffs, which he argued artificially inflate the price of essential imports like Canadian plywood. He suggested that current trade policies are a hidden tax on young families trying to build or buy their first home. For Hamilton, the focus should be on removing these trade-related friction points rather than focusing solely on domestic production shifts.

As the election approaches, the fundamental question remains: can federal policy truly unlock a market that has been fundamentally reshaped by inflation, interest rates, and a decade of stagnant inventory? While Marshall bets on deregulation and fiscal restraint, Hamilton pushes for targeted city-level interventions and trade reform. For young Kansans, the answer to whether the American dream remains attainable may hinge on which of these approaches gains traction in Washington come 2027.

Where They Stand: Sen. Roger Marshall and Rev. Adam Hamilton talk with KSN

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