Senator Roger Marshall Pays Long-Overdue Bakery Bill Amid Tight Kansas Senate Race

Republican Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) posted a screenshot on social media showing a $1,300 payment to Holly’s Sweet Treats, a bakery in Hutchinson, Kansas. The payment settled an invoice that the bakery’s owner, Holly Thomas, said had remained unpaid for six years after her shop supplied cookies, cupcakes and brownies for Marshall’s 2020 primary-night watch party.

The Hill

In 2020 the campaign ordered 150 frosted sugar cookies, 100 mini strawberry muffins and 100 fudge brownies, amounting to $375 for custom sugar cookies, $75 for cupcakes and $175 for brownies. Thomas reported that the total bill was $678.75. She said she repeatedly called and emailed the campaign during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic but received no response, leaving her newly opened business unable to recoup the costs.

The Hill

• Invoice amount: $678.75 (as shown on the invoice Thomas shared).

The Hill

• Payment made: $1,300, described by the senator’s office as “double” the original amount.

The Hill

• Source of figures: CNN and The Hill.

CNN

The repayment comes as Marshall faces a competitive re-election bid against Democrat Adam Hamilton. A recent poll by The New York Times and Siena College found the two candidates tied at 45 % among likely voters. Democrats have highlighted the bakery incident in campaign ads, accusing Marshall of disregarding small-business concerns. Thomas publicly declared she will not vote for Marshall, stating, “That experience is why Roger Marshall will never get my vote.”

CNN

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New York Times

Verbatim Quotes

New York Times

• “That experience is why Roger Marshall will never get my vote.” — Holly Thomas, owner of Holly’s Sweet Treats

The Hill

• “We have absolutely no idea how this happened, but rest assured as soon as it became known to us, we immediately attempted to contact the business in order to apologize, and we have repaid the bill from 2020, double.” — Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, spokesperson

CNN

• “This isn’t about political parties or policy disagreements. It’s about my personal experience as a small business owner and the importance of honoring financial commitments.” — Holly Thomas

CNN