Schmidt, Derek

Derek Schmidt has represented Kansas's Second Congressional District since January 3, 2025. A fifth-generation Kansan from Independence, Schmidt previously served 12 years as the 44th Attorney General of Kansas, from 2011 to 2023. Before his tenure as attorney general, he served in the Kansas State Senate representing Southeast Kansas from 2001 to 2011, where he chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee and served as Senate Majority Leader. Schmidt holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Kansas, a Master of Arts in international politics from the University of Leicester, and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.

In Congress, Schmidt serves on three major committees: the House Armed Services Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, and the House Small Business Committee. His legislative priorities focus on border security, reducing federal spending, and limiting federal bureaucracy. During his time as attorney general, Schmidt personally argued three cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and led efforts to establish a modern forensic science laboratory for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and strengthen state human trafficking and consumer privacy laws. In 2017, his colleagues elected him president of the National Association of Attorneys General, and he was named Outstanding Attorney General by his peers in 2019.

Since entering Congress, Schmidt has introduced legislation addressing immigration enforcement, including the State Partnerships to Enhance Removal of Criminal Aliens Act and the Kelsey Smith Act. He has also sponsored bills related to executive branch oversight, Medicare eligibility adjustments, and fraud prevention in federal programs. His work reflects a focus on public safety, border security, and protecting vulnerable populations including children and seniors.