Derek Schmidt
U.S. House · KS-2 · Republicans · since 2025
alsoCandidate for U.S. House · KS-2
Biography
Overview
Derek Schmidt is a Republican U.S. representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district, serving since January 2025. He previously served as Kansas Attorney General from 2011 to 2023 and in the Kansas State Senate from 2001 to 2011, where he served as Agriculture Committee chairman and Senate majority leader. Schmidt is a lawyer with degrees from the University of Kansas, University of Leicester, Georgetown University Law Center, and the University of Kansas. He was the Republican nominee for governor of Kansas in 2022 but lost to incumbent Democrat Laura Kelly.
Career
As Kansas Attorney General, Schmidt challenged multiple Obama and Biden administration policies through litigation, including suits on healthcare, environmental regulations, and voting procedures. He defended Kansas's same-sex marriage ban, opposed Medicaid contracts with Planned Parenthood, and challenged local marijuana decriminalization efforts. He argued two death penalty cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. As Kansas state senator, he served as majority leader and Agriculture Committee chairman. He was elected to the U.S. House in 2024 after his 2022 gubernatorial campaign fell short.
Prior political experience
Schmidt was first elected to the Kansas State Senate in 2000. He was elected Kansas Attorney General in 2010, defeating incumbent Democrat Steve Six, and was re-elected in 2014 and 2018. In the 2022 Kansas gubernatorial election, Schmidt received 47.3% of the vote (477,586 votes), losing to incumbent Democrat Laura Kelly who received 49.5%. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024 for Kansas's 2nd district.
Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ideology
Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)
Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)
Campaigns targeting Derek Schmidt
No active campaigns target Derek Schmidt right now.
Start a campaign targeting Derek SchmidtOfficeholding history
| Term | Seat | Term dates | Termination | Predecessor | Successor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | U.S. House KS-2 | 2025–present | In progress | — | — |
Committee assignments
- OversightHouse· 2025–present
- Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce DevelopmentHouse· 2025–present
- Rural Development, Energy, and Supply ChainsHouse· 2025–present
- Military PersonnelHouse· 2025–present
- The Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and AntitrustHouse· 2025–present
- Tactical Air and Land ForcesHouse· 2025–present
- ReadinessHouse· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
- Immigration Integrity, Security, and EnforcementHouse· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
Current term legislation
Bills sponsored this term10
- H.R. 8352
Criminal History Access Act
Apr 16, 2026REPORTED - H.R. 8276
Quindaro Townsite National Historic Landmark Act
Apr 14, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8065
Restoring Executive Branch Authorities to Oversee Offices of the United States Attorneys Act of 2026
Mar 24, 2026REPORTED - H.R. 7752
Kelsey Smith Act
Mar 2, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7664
State Partnerships to Enhance Removal of Criminal Aliens Act
Feb 24, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6596
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to adjust the eligibility for the rural emergency hospital designation under the Medicare program.
Dec 10, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6595
To direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the availability of care for veterans at facilities of the Department of Defense.
Dec 10, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 5977
Common Repository for Small Businesses Act
Nov 7, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 5364
STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act
Sep 15, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 5211
Peace Officer Standards and Training Agency Information Access Clarification Act
Sep 8, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Bills cosponsored this term10
- H.R. 8077
287(g) Cooperation Act of 2026
Mar 25, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8034
Protecting America’s Small Oil and Gas Producers and Rural Jobs Act
Mar 20, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7997
Research and Oversight of AI in Courts Act of 2026
Mar 19, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7932
HONOR Gold Star Families Act
Mar 12, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7678
Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act
Feb 25, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7704
VA Call Center Multi-Factor Authentication Act
Feb 25, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7622
Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026
Feb 20, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7540
United States-Israel FUTURES Act of 2026
Feb 12, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7494
To authorize the Attorney General to make grants to establish a national training and technical assistance center to provide for the ongoing promotion and adoption of lethality assessment programs to reduce domestic violence-related homicides, and for other purposes.
Feb 11, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7484
Community Bank Relief Act
Feb 11, 2026IN_COMMITTEE
Elections
| Year | Seat | Result | Vote share | Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Governor KS | Lost | 47.33% |
|