Get to know: Patrick Schmidt, Democratic candidate running for U.S. Senate in Kansas

KANSAS (KQTV) -- Patrick Schmidt is a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Kansas. He currently serves in the Kansas State Senate for District 19, having been elected in 2024.

"What I've seen in my last two sessions in the state Senate is that the problems facing Kansas and facing Kansans are much bigger than what we can address in the state Senate," Schmidt said. "I broke with my party on property taxes in both 2025 and 2026 because I know it's really taxing people out of their homes. It's hurting everybody from people our age to people on Social Security and everywhere in between."

Schmidt said property taxes are the number one issue the Kansas Legislature could address to help families.

He points to legislation that eliminated property taxes on private jets and precious metals instead.

"In 2025, we didn't help you lower property taxes on your home or your car, but gosh dang it, if you've got a private jet, we eliminated your property taxes," Schmidt said. "In 2026, if you've got gold and silver coins, we got rid of your property taxes. That is a corrupt system that helps a very small number of people at the expense of everybody else."

He said the rising costs from the war, tariffs, and corruption are making life less affordable for Kansas families, and that the state needs someone in the U.S. Senate who will put Kansas first.

"This war is making inputs way more expensive, making fertilizer way more expensive, and it's making it harder for us to sell our wheat, corn, and soybeans around the world," Schmidt said. "We need someone in the United States Senate that's going to put Kansas first."

Schmidt is a sixth-generation Kansan and a five-year active duty Navy veteran.

He served aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific and the Middle East.

He said his military experience gives him perspective on national security issues.

"I was active duty for five years, served on board an aircraft carrier in the Pacific, served in the Middle East," Schmidt said. "I know how important these issues are. What we're seeing right now, both policies at home and abroad, are making Kansas less safe and less prosperous."

On protecting children from social media and AI, Schmidt said he worked with both Republican and Democratic colleagues in Topeka to introduce legislation.

"You've got young kids being exposed to age-inappropriate content that puts them at risk and in some cases encourages them to commit suicide or self-harm," Schmidt said. "There are simple policy fixes to protect kids from artificial intelligence."

Schmidt says the war in Iran is the top issue facing the nation right now.

He notes that the Senate has abdicated its constitutional role to advise and consent on military action.

"This Congress, and especially the Senate, have an opportunity to rein in this chaotic executive and give us order," Schmidt said. "What we're seeing right now with the border, with the economy, with insiders making millions on Poly Market because of what they know is going to happen, that's corruption. We need to get back to basics."

He urges people to go out to the polls on Aug. 4.

"My parents taught for 91 years in Kansas elementary schools," Schmidt said. "I'm a sixth-generation Kansan on both sides of my family. I saw growing up how hard it was to raise a family and own your own home. Right now, that dream is falling further out of reach. If you elect me to the United States Senate, I will put Kansans first. I've done that in the state Senate with property taxes, with protecting kids, with expanding the child tax credit. And I'm going to do that in the United States Senate."