Roger Marshall Pays Six Year Bakery Bill After Campaign Dispute

Republican US Sen. Roger Marshall paid a $678.75 bakery invoice from his 2020 campaign on Saturday after Kansas baker Holly Thomas criticized the unpaid bill online, drawing attention during Marshall's re-election race in Kansas. Marshall said he paid $1,300 after learning about the dispute.

According to Fox News and CNN, Thomas said her Hutchinson bakery supplied cookies, brownies and cupcakes for Marshall's primary election watch party in 2020. She said repeated attempts to collect payment over nearly a year did not receive a response.

Thomas explained her criticism in a social media post that gained widespread attention after she shared the unpaid invoice and described the impact on her small business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Do you know why I will never vote for Roger Marshall?" Holly Thomas said in a Facebook post.

Thomas said the issue was about her experience as a business owner rather than political disagreements, according to the Guardian and CNN.

"Six years later, I haven't forgotten. 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.

That experience is why Roger Marshall will never get my vote." Holly Thomas said.

The bakery owner later confirmed the payment had been made after Marshall posted evidence of the transaction.

"But I can officially confirm that Roger Marshall has paid his bill! Better late than never, right? Six years later, I guess we can finally mark that invoice PAID!" Holly Thomas said.

Marshall responded after the online criticism and said his campaign had not understood why the invoice remained unpaid. He shared a screenshot showing the payment made to Holly's Sweet Treats.

"As some folks may have seen, there was a post on social media regarding an unpaid 2020 cookie bill. 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." Roger Marshall said.

The senator's payment came as he faced a competitive race against Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton. CNN reported a New York Times and Siena University poll showed Marshall and Hamilton tied at 45% among likely voters.

Marshall, a physician and former member of the US House of Representatives, has also faced criticism after a report about lawsuits involving unpaid medical bills from his former medical practice. A spokesperson said the doctor continued treating patients regardless of their ability to pay, according to CNN.