Polling Average
15%10%5%0%
7%
10%
Kansas Democratic Senate nominee?
$54.1K
AUG 5, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Senator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
LocationKansas
BackgroundKansas state senator
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Notable personal detailsPatrick Schmidt is a Democratic politician serving in the Kansas Senate representing District 19 (Shawnee County) since 2025. He is a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Kansas in the 2026 election cycle and has filed with the Federal Election Commission. He previously ran for Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District in 2022. He has been described as a former Naval intelligence officer and has been active in Kansas legislative debates including property tax policy.
SourcesShowHide
kslegislature.govfec.govkcur.orggoodparty.orgen.wikipedia.orgkansas.comkansasreflector.comkwch.comkansasdems.orgschmidt.house.govkalshi.comeverything.explained.todayapnews.comdocquery.fec.govksopen.orgpatrickforkansas.comkssenatedems.orgmultibriefs.comkslegislature.orglawrencekstimes.compbs.orgthepitchkc.comsunflowerstatejournal.comiolaregister.comthe-trebuchet.orgreddit.comkansaspublicnotices.comfacebook.comballotpedia.orgkansascity.cominstagram.comnewsfromthestates.comballotready.orgsenate.govhistory.house.govdailypress.senate.govjudiciary.senate.govperiodicalpress.senate.govdemocrats.senate.govcongress.govgovinfo.govziplook.house.govclerk.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports tax relief and lower taxes (including property-tax relief) and has signed a taxpayer protection pledge committing against increases in income taxes; has proposed targeted tax credits for families. Positions emphasize reducing tax burden and promoting tax credits rather than advocating higher taxes or large-scale redistribution.
Healthcare
Supports expanding Medicaid in Kansas to increase coverage and lower costs; prioritizes affordable healthcare access and extending care to additional residents. Advocates state-level actions to expand coverage rather than proposing repeal or privatization.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate has supported tougher enforcement measures on immigration, including urging Congress to increase penalties for violations of federal immigration laws and encouraging prosecution of employers who hire undocumented immigrants. In past forums he emphasized that the border should be fixed first as part of bipartisan reform and described securing the border as a prerequisite to discussing pathways to legal immigration.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate has publicly described support for abortion rights but also sponsored or amended legislation that adds fetal recognition provisions (including a proposal to extend child tax benefits or claims to fetuses), actions that have drawn criticism from abortion rights advocates. Public statements and legislative actions present a conflicted record that does not fit cleanly into a single pro‑choice or pro‑restriction category.
Climate & Energy
Supports expanding renewable energy in Kansas—particularly wind—and encourages investment in wind energy education, technology, and production while acknowledging the need to invest in other energy supplies during the transition. Positions emphasize building Kansas’ role in clean energy development rather than opposing transitional fossil-fuel use outright.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports gun violence prevention and has been recognized as a ‘Gun Sense’ candidate by Moms Demand Action; expresses commitment to passing gun safety legislation to reduce deaths while governing with gun safety in mind.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 4, 2026
Patrick Schmidt is in the news because of a Supreme Court case that could affect how mail ballots are counted after Election Day. The case centers on whether states can accept ballots that are postmarked on time but arrive later, which could affect laws in Mississippi and several other states. The ruling could also matter for military and overseas voters and may influence upcoming elections.
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Polls
Kansas Democratic Senate nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Kansas Democratic Senate nominee?
Endorsers of Patrick Schmidt for Kansas Democratic Senate nominee?
James Carville
Political organization
James Carville endorsed Patrick Schmidt's Senate campaign.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$177.2K
$132.9K
$88.6K
$44.3K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$177.2K
$129.6K
$47.6K
$3.2K
Source: FEC