BIOGUIDE S001228 · FEC H4KS02164
Derek Schmidt
U.S. Representative (since 2025); previously Attorney General of Kansas (2011-2023) and Kansas State Senate (2001-2011)RINCUMBENT
- Race
- U.S. House · Kansas's 2nd District
- Result
- Derek Schmidt, projected winner
- Opponents
- Don Coover (D); John Hauer (LIB)
- Research
- Basic
Party line16 votes tracked
With party = voted the same way as most Republicans who voted.
Said vs. did4 statements · 16 votes
We locked in tax relief for middle-class families, small businesses, and family farms; fully funded border security and the deportation of illegal aliens; and reduced the growth of federal spending more than ever before in U.S. history.
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotU.S. House · 2
2026-11-03
| Derek Schmidt R | incumbent |
| Don Coover D | challenger |
| John Hauer LIB | challenger |
Won the August 4 Republican primary
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
We locked in tax relief for middle-class families, small businesses, and family farms; fully funded border security and the deportation of illegal aliens; and reduced the growth of federal spending more than ever before in U.S. history.
Cosponsored and helped pass the Laken Riley Act, backs legislation to deport non-citizen fraudsters, and says he supported the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in part because it "fully funded border security and the deportation of illegal aliens."[4][5]
KCUR reports he sought to ban transgender athletes from school sports.
Documented position[9]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Cosponsored H.R. 7296, the SAVE America Act (119th Congress), which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
Documented position[10]
- YESSAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).[11]
1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement
Cosponsored H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (119th Congress), which would require states to honor other states' concealed-carry permits.
Documented position[12]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization.[14]
- NOWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.[15]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.[16]
Biography
Derek Schmidt is the Republican U.S. Representative for Kansas's 2nd District, elected in 2024, and won re-election on November 3, 2026, according to unofficial results. A fifth-generation Kansan from Independence, he spent more than two decades in Kansas state government, serving in the Kansas Senate, including as majority leader, and as the state's attorney general for 12 years, and lost the 2022 race for governor. He serves on the House Armed Services, Judiciary, and Small Business committees.[1][2][3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Schmidt is, according to his official biography, a fifth-generation Kansan from Independence who graduated from Independence High School and then studied at Independence Community College.[2][3] He earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Kansas, a master's degree in international politics from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, and a doctorate in law from the University of Kansas School of Law.[2][3] He worked as an assistant to U.S. Senators Nancy Kassebaum and Chuck Hagel, an assistant to the Kansas Attorney General, special counsel to the Governor of Kansas, and a lawyer with the firm Scovel, Emert, Heasty & Chubb. He has also served as a director of Independence Industries Incorporated and the Kansas State Historical Society.[2]
Schmidt served in the Kansas State Senate (District 15) from 2001 to 2011, chairing the Senate Agriculture Committee and serving as Senate Majority Leader.[2][3] He was the 44th Attorney General of Kansas from 2011 to 2023 and was re-elected in 2018 over Sarah Swain. According to his official biography, he personally argued three Kansas cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and led efforts to build a new Kansas Bureau of Investigation forensic science laboratory.[2][3] He was president of the National Association of Attorneys General from 2017 to 2018 and, according to his official biography, was named the nation's Outstanding Attorney General by his colleagues in 2019.[3]
Schmidt won the Republican nomination for governor in 2022, defeating Arlyn Briggs in the primary, and lost the November general election to incumbent Democrat Laura Kelly.[2] He was elected to the U.S. House in November 2024, defeating Democrat Nancy Boyda and Libertarian John Hauer after winning a five-candidate Republican primary, and took office January 3, 2025, succeeding Jake LaTurner. He won the August 4, 2026 Republican primary over Chad Young.[2][3] He won re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election with 51.2% of the vote to Don Coover's 45% and John Hauer's 3.7%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1] For 2025-2026 he is assigned to the House Armed Services, Judiciary, and Small Business committees.[2][3]
Recent votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207 |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted no | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210 |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted yes | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21 |
| 2026-01-08 | With partyvoted no | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196 |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212 |
| 2025-12-10 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18 |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1 |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted yes | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2 |
Showing the 8 most recent of 16 votes.
All 16 recorded votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans. |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted no | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy. |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted yes | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026. |
| 2026-01-08 | With partyvoted no | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans. |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region. |
| 2025-12-10 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year. |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support. |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted yes | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively. |
| 2025-07-17 | With partyvoted yes | CLARITY Act — digital asset market structureH.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · roll call ↗Democrats 78–134 · Republicans 216–0The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries. |
| 2025-07-17 | With partyvoted yes | GENIUS Act — stablecoin regulationS. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · roll call ↗Democrats 102–110 · Republicans 206–12The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law. |
| 2025-07-03 | With partyvoted yes | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passageH.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 218–2H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025. |
| 2025-06-12 | With partyvoted yes | Rescissions Act of 2025H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–208 · Republicans 214–4The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades. |
| 2025-05-22 | With partyvoted yes | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passageH.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 215–2H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients. |
| 2025-04-10 | With partyvoted yes | SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registrationH.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 4–208 · Republicans 216–0The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls. |
| 2025-03-11 | With partyvoted yes | Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 1–212 · Republicans 216–1The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations. |
| 2025-01-22 | With partyvoted yes | Laken Riley Act — final passageS. 5 · Passed 263–156 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–156 · Republicans 217–0The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions. |
On the record
Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.
- actionServes on the House Committee on the Judiciary (Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement; Oversight subcommittees), the House Committee on Small Business, and the House Committee on Armed Services (Military Personnel, Readiness, and Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommittees), 2025-2026 assignments.[17]
- bill2025-02-07 · Voted yes on H.R. 26, the Protecting American Energy Production Act, which bars a president from declaring a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing without prior authorization from Congress.[18]
- bill2025-12-18 · Cosponsored three public-safety bills - including the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act (H.R. 1269) - that were included in the final FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the House 312-112 on December 10, 2025 and the Senate 77-20 on December 17, 2025.[19]
In their own words
Priorities
- Border security: cosponsoring and helping pass the Laken Riley Act and Sarah's Law.[4]
- Economic relief: curbing federal spending and extending tax relief for Kansas families, small businesses, and farmers and ranchers through the Working Families Tax Cut.[4]
- Public safety: legislation to support victims of violent crime, coordinate a federal response to scams targeting seniors, and deport non-citizens convicted of fraud.[4]
Campaign money$1.5M raised · 64% from individuals · FEC through 2026-07-15
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $898K
- PACs & committees $506K
Largest committee contributions
- American Bankers Association PAC (Bankpac) PAC$10K
- Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, Inc. Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- National Cattlemen's Beef Association Political Action Committee (Ncba-Pac) PAC$10K
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- National Beer Wholesalers Association Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- Growth Energy PAC PAC$10K
- American Council of Engineering Companies (Acec/Pac) PAC$10K
- Seaboard Corporation Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- Buckeye Liberty Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- National Pork Producers Council Pork PAC PAC$10K
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/derek-schmidt
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 6 of 467 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Climate & energy (3), Foreign affairs & defense (2), Jobs & cost of living (2)
Amendment (Boebert) to H.R. 8800 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
A yes vote supported an H.R. 8800 amendment that strikes section 518, a pilot program using voice-based risk assessment technology to identify servicemembers for drug testing. (AI-written)
What it does: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 This bill sets forth policies and authorities for FY2027 for Department of Defense (DOD) programs, activities, and military construction as well as the national…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 175–37, Republicans 90–123
Jul 21, 2026Official record ↗
Amendment (Self) to H.R. 7567 — Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026
A yes vote adopted an amendment (Self) adding soda, defined as a carbonated beverage with over 1 gram of added sugar, sweetener or flavoring per serving, to the items SNAP benefits cannot buy. (AI-written)
What it does: Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 This bill (commonly known as the farm bill) reauthorizes through FY2031 and modifies Department of Agriculture programs that address commodity support, conservation, trade…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 29–183, Republicans 156–55
Apr 30, 2026Official record ↗
Amendment (Luna) to H.R. 7567 — Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026
A yes vote adopted an amendment (Luna) striking the bill’s sections on pesticide label uniformity, state authority over pesticides, and lawful use of authorized pesticides. (AI-written)
What it does: Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 This bill (commonly known as the farm bill) reauthorizes through FY2031 and modifies Department of Agriculture programs that address commodity support, conservation, trade…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 207–6, Republicans 73–135
Apr 30, 2026Official record ↗
Their votes on the most contested roll calls
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 214–212 · Yes 214–No 212 · Democrats 0–211, Republicans 214–0
Jun 9, 2026Official record ↗
- No
Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act
With most of their party · Failed 214–217 · Yes 214–No 217 · Democrats 214–0, Republicans 0–216
Feb 11, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 217–215 · Yes 217–No 215 · Democrats 0–214, Republicans 216–1
Feb 25, 2025Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Failed 215–215 · Yes 215–No 215 · Democrats 213–0, Republicans 2–214
Jan 22, 2026Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Failed 213–213 · Yes 213–No 213 · Democrats 211–0, Republicans 2–212
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
Compare all 3 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Kansas U.S. House District 2 election results 2026 · NBC News · 2026-11-09 News report
- 2.Derek Schmidt · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 3.About | Congressman Derek Schmidt · Office of Rep. Derek Schmidt · 2026-10-21 Official record
- 4.Meet Derek Schmidt · Derek Schmidt for Congress campaign website · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
- 5.Schmidt Applauds Passage of One Big Beautiful Bill · Office of Rep. Derek Schmidt · 2025-05-22 Official record
- 6.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
- 7.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
- 8.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
- 9.Kansas 2nd District election: A guide to the candidates · KCUR News report
- 10.H.R. 7296, the SAVE America Act (SAVE America Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 11.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
- 12.H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 13.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
- 14.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
- 15.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
- 16.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
- 17.Derek Schmidt · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 18.Schmidt Votes to Protect America's Energy Independence · Office of Rep. Derek Schmidt · 2025-02-07 Official record
- 19.Congress Passes Schmidt-backed Public Safety Bills · Office of Rep. Derek Schmidt · 2025-12-18 Official record