Is Derek Schmidt's Kansas seat now in play for Democrats?
Timeline for Derek Schmidt
Mentioned in: Kansas's Marshall outraised 13 to 1
US Midterms 2026Background
Derek Schmidt has represented Kansas's 2nd District in the US House since 2025. On 16 October 2026 Cook Political Report moved his seat from Solid to Likely Republican, one of 11 House rating changes that day, all towards Democrats.
Schmidt was Kansas attorney general from 2011 to 2023, after a decade in the Kansas Senate, where he was majority leader. He was the Republican nominee for governor in 2022 and narrowly lost to Democrat Laura Kelly.
The statewide picture in Kansas has moved too. Raters shifted the Senate race towards Democrats in September, and Cook rated it a Toss Up on 6 October.
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Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 17 October 2026. Editorial standards.