Derek Schmidt
Republican candidate for U.S. House in Kansas
KS-02 Republican nominee?
$19.1K
AUG 5, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Live Odds
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
Derek Schmidt is trading at 100% to win the KS-02 Republican nominee? on prediction markets.
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleU.S. Representative
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age58 years old (Jan 23, 1968)
GenderMale
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LocationKansas
BackgroundAttorney
EducationB.S., University of Kansas (1990)
Notable personal detailsDerek Larkin Schmidt is a U.S. Representative for Kansas’s 2nd Congressional District, serving since January 3, 2025. He previously served as Kansas Attorney General from 2011 to 2023 and served in the Kansas Senate (including as majority leader). Schmidt has worked as an attorney and previously served on the staff of U.S. Senators Nancy Kassebaum and Chuck Hagel.
SourcesShowHide
Political Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports tax cuts for individuals and businesses (including repeal of the estate/death tax), reduced federal spending, and regulatory rollback to promote pro-growth policies and relief for families and small businesses.
Healthcare
Derek Schmidt opposes Medicaid expansion in Kansas and has indicated preference for alternative approaches such as increasing provider payments and targeting workforce incentives to improve access, rather than expanding Medicaid eligibility. His public record and campaign materials emphasize improving rural provider support and other market-oriented or targeted reforms over broad public-coverage expansions.
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Immigration & Border
Supports stronger border enforcement and measures to detain and deport unauthorized immigrants who commit crimes; advocates securing the southern border, building physical barriers, and adopting stricter immigration policies. Has sponsored and cosponsored legislation intended to strengthen cooperation on deportation and increase enforcement tools for states and federal authorities.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate opposes broad abortion rights and has taken legal and policy actions to defend restrictions on abortion in Kansas, including appealing court rulings and supporting measures that would limit abortion access. He has argued for narrow statutory interpretations to exclude treatment of conditions like ectopic pregnancies from the legal definition of abortion and backed efforts to reinstate or uphold state bans and limits.
Climate & Energy
Supports domestic energy production including hydraulic fracturing and has opposed federal regulations that would restrict energy development; favors market-driven approaches and state-level control over energy policy rather than aggressive federal emissions mandates. Has joined or supported legal actions against EPA regulations and criticized federal executive actions that he views as limiting American energy production.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports robust Second Amendment protections, favors expanding concealed-carry reciprocity and limiting federal firearms regulation, and has defended state-level laws that restrict federal firearm enforcement. Has a record of opposing new federal gun restrictions and working to protect gun owners and gun retailers from federal regulatory actions.
Latest News
Derek Schmidt is being mentioned in the widening redistricting fight ahead of the 2026 midterms. Kansas is one of the states drawn into the dispute, which could affect Republican House seats and the balance of power in Congress. The reporting does not give any specific new action by Schmidt himself, but places him in the middle of this political battle.
Campaign Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Campaign finance totals from the latest available reporting period.
2024
2026
LatestCycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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