Patrick Schmidt

Patrick Schmidt is an American politician and Democratic member of the Kansas Senate, representing District 19. He is a sixth-generation Kansan who comes from a family with deep roots in agriculture, military service, teaching, and mining. Schmidt is married to Megan and currently resides in Kansas.

Schmidt's entry into politics was motivated by the January 6 United States Capitol attack. His background includes service as a U.S. Navy Intelligence Officer, where he served on the USS Ronald Reagan supporting the battle group's intelligence team in defending U.S. interests from China and Russia. He has since transitioned to the Naval Reserve.

Political Experience

Schmidt first ran for elected office in 2022, challenging incumbent Republican Jake LaTurner for Kansas' 2nd Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. His campaign focused on criticizing LaTurner's vote to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and his opposition to abortion rights. LaTurner won that race with 57% of the vote to Schmidt's 42%.

Following redistricting that made the 19th District of the Kansas Senate a safely Democratic seat, Schmidt announced his candidacy for the 2024 Kansas Senate election. He won the Democratic primary, easily defeating state House Minority Leader Vic Miller and ShaMecha King Simms, and was subsequently elected to the Kansas Senate in November 2024.

Current Positions and Committees

As a state senator, Schmidt serves on several standing committees: Transportation, Government Efficiency, and Judiciary. He also holds membership on three joint committees: the Joint Committee on Information Technology, the Joint Committee on Kansas Security, and the Joint Committee on State Building Construction. His Senate office is located in Room 135-E of the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka.