NBC Hypes El-Sayed Overcoming 'Personal Attacks,' Claims Hamilton Is 'A Moderate'

The morning after Democrats gained control of Congress, NBC's Wednesday edition of Today was especially excited over two Senate races in particular. Meet the Press host Kristen Welker and correspondent Ryan Nobles both hyped the alleged fact that Kansas's Adam Hamilton is a "moderate" and barely even a Democrat. Meanwhile, Nobles also tried to praise Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed for overcoming "personal attacks."

Welker claimed that Hamilton was a good example of Democrats running quality candidates, "Well, part of this comes down to — and part of the themes last night has to do with — and Hallie just touched on this: the quality of the candidate. Here you had the sitting senator, Roger Marshall. A lot of his allies didn't think he really engaged in the race early enough. Adam Hamilton, a pastor, had a lot of crossover appeal. He ran as a moderate. He wasn't really even leaning into being a Democrat, and those were the types of themes and messages that resonated."

NBC's Kristen Welker claims liberal Adam Hamilton as actually a moderate, "He ran as a moderate. He wasn't really even leaning into being a Democrat and those were the types of themes and messages that resonated."

Ryan Nobles agrees, "The red state upsets continuing in Kansas.… pic.twitter.com/oabIn14X97

— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) November 4, 2026

About an hour later, Nobles echoed the idea, "The red state upsets continuing in Kansas. Sending a Democrat to the Senate for the first time in nearly a century. Incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall losing to Democrat Adam Hamilton. A megachurch pastor, who was registered as a Republican until earlier this year."

Hamilton was the kind of "Republican" and pastor who gives sermons about climate change and beef consumption and who the media has been promoting on abortion since at least 2008. The media may have dropped the ball in accurately portraying Hamilton as a liberal during the campaign as he donned a moderate persona, but now it will have another chance to correct the record, as he will actually have to govern. Although, if history is any guide, in six years the media will probably just fail again.

Someone who did not campaign as a moderate was Abdul El-Sayed, but Nobles appreciated him too, claiming El-Sayed was, "Becoming the first Muslim American to be elected to the Senate, defeating Republican Mike Rogers. After a bitter and contentious campaign Republicans accusing El-Sayed of anti-Semitism after his criticism of Israel and the Democrat facing personal attacks over his faith including from President Trump."

It wasn't just Israel. It was his response to the Hezbollah-inspired terrorist attack at Temple Israel, his association with Hasan Piker, and his refusal to denounce anti-Semitic ads and conspiracy theories from groups such as The Young Turks that masqueraded as criticisms of Israel. Nor were concerns about El-Sayed's affinity for the Muslim Brotherhood "personal attacks." The voters decided to go with him anyway, and in six years they'll get a chance to decide on whether or not that was a mistake.

Here is a transcript for the November 3 show:

NBC Today

11/3/2026

8:11 AM ET

KRISTEN WELKER: Well, part of this comes down to — and part of the themes last night has to do with — and Hallie just touched on this: the quality of the candidate. Here you had the sitting senator, Roger Marshall. A lot of his allies didn't think he really engaged in the race early enough. Adam Hamilton, a pastor, had a lot of crossover appeal. He ran as a moderate. He wasn't really even leaning into being a Democrat, and those were the types of themes and messages that resonated.

…

9:04 AM

RYAN NOBLES: The red state upsets continuing in Kansas. Sending a Democrat to the Senate for the first time in nearly a century. Incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall losing to Democrat Adam Hamilton. A megachurch pastor, who was registered as a Republican until earlier this year.

…

Becoming the first Muslim American to be elected to the Senate, defeating Republican Mike Rogers. After a bitter and contentious campaign Republicans accusing El-Sayed of anti-Semitism after his criticism of Israel and the Democrat facing personal attacks over his faith including from President Trump.