Polling Average
15%10%5%0%
5.5%
11.5%
7%
Democrat
Patrick Schmidt
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Kansas
Kansas Democratic Senate nominee?
$80.8K
AUG 5, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Live Odds — Kansas Democratic Senate nominee?
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
0%chance to win
$80.8KAUG 5, 2026Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleState Senator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
LocationKansas
BackgroundKansas state senator
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EducationTufts University (BA)
Notable personal detailsPatrick Connor Schmidt is an American politician and Democrat serving in the Kansas Senate (19th District) since January 2025. He previously ran for the U.S. House in Kansas's 2nd District in 2022. He has served as a U.S. Navy intelligence officer and in the U.S. Naval Reserve, and he is a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Kansas.
SourcesShowHide
fec.govpatrickforkansas.comen.wikipedia.orgkansasdems.orgballotready.orgkansas.comgoodparty.orginsideelections.comhistory.house.govontheissues.orgbluevoterguide.orgjocoelection.orgthecandidate.comfordcounty.netkpdc.kansas.govatchisoncountyks.orgmynavyhr.navy.milalumniandfriends.tufts.edux.comexhibits.tufts.eduthe-trebuchet.orgnavifor.usff.navy.milscholarworks.waldenu.edukansasreflector.comkssenatedems.orgmultibriefs.comkcur.orgkslegislature.orglawrencekstimes.comkslegislature.govpbs.orgthepitchkc.comsunflowerstatejournal.comiolaregister.comkwch.comreddit.comkansaspublicnotices.comkansascity.comfacebook.comthe-downballot.comhayspost.comballotpedia.orgfortune.compredictionedge.cominstagram.comfox40.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgdocquery.fec.govschmidt.house.govgovinfo.govdailypress.senate.govdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgsenate.govjudiciary.senate.govcdn.ballotpedia.org
Political 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.
Latest News
AINews Summary
Last updatedSep 2, 2026
Patrick Schmidt is in the news because he is one of the candidates in Kansas’s contested Democratic primary for governor. The race is part of a broader primary day that also includes a crowded Democratic U.S. Senate field and other statewide contests. The reports focus on the primary itself and the vote-counting process, but they do not provide a result for Schmidt.
fec.gov+54
Articles
WCWDIV ClickOnDetroit1 month ago
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in the Kansas state primary
Neutral
TAThe Associated Press1 month ago
What to expect in the Kansas state primary
Neutral
CNCBS News6 months ago
Supreme Court to consider deadlines for late-arriving mail ballots, as Trump continues attacks
Neutral
NYNew York Magazine4 months ago
Republicans Wind Down Their Post
Neutral
Latest Polls
Kansas Democratic Senate nominee?
Recent polling results and the candidate's current average in the race.
Patrick Schmidt currently averages 5.5%, ranking third in this race, 1.5 points behind the next candidate.
Polling average: 5.5%Position: thirdMargin: -1.5 ptsLatest poll: 4.0% (Jul 13 - 16)Polls included: 2
Average recalculated from polls through Jul 13 - 16.
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Campaign Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Campaign finance totals from the latest available reporting period.
Total raisedCash on hand
$256.0K
$192.0K
$128.0K
$64.0K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$256.0K
$5.0K
$251.0K
$13.2K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements