Derek Schmidt

In the 2024 House race for KS-2, Derek Schmidt (R) won with 57.1% of the vote, defeating Nancy Boyda (D) who received 38.2%. A third candidate also appeared on the ballot. Derek Schmidt's 18.9-point advantage over the runner-up confirmed a comfortable win.

This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — Jake LaTurner (R) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2024 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.

In the 2022 House race for KS-2, Jake LaTurner (R) defeated Patrick Schmidt (D) 57.6% to 42.4%. Jake LaTurner received 134,506 votes compared to 98,852 for Patrick Schmidt, a comfortable 15.3-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

As the incumbent, Jake LaTurner benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. As a Republican, Jake LaTurner benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Democrat in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats.