--- title: "Coover vs. Schmidt: 2026 Kansas’ 2nd District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-ks-02" updated: "2026-08-05" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Kansas’ 2nd District race: Don Coover (D) vs. Derek Schmidt (R) Rating: Likely R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 5, 2026 In Kansas' 2nd Congressional District, freshman Republican incumbent Derek Schmidt faces Democratic nominee Don Coover, a West Point graduate, Army veteran, veterinarian, and rancher, in the November 3, 2026 general election. Schmidt's campaign highlights his conservative record as former state attorney general and his congressional votes on border security, federal spending, and regulatory reform. Coover's campaign centers on a populist, nonpartisan message focused on inflation, rural hospital closures, and replacing career politicians with working-class leaders. ## Candidates - **Don Coover** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://doncooverforcongress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Don_Coover) - **Derek Schmidt** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://derekschmidt.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Schmidt) ## Issues ### Economy and Cost of Living Salience: high Schmidt emphasizes curbing federal spending and extending tax cuts, while Coover focuses on relief from rising grocery and housing costs through working-class representation. **Don Coover:** Supports lowering costs for working families Coover criticizes Washington politicians for failing to curb inflation and rising living expenses. He advocates for fiscally responsible federal policies that spend within means and reward working-class families struggling with essential costs. - Highlights rising costs of groceries and housing as key drivers of local community distress. - Calls for congress members to spend within their means and prioritize working people over party leaders. > “We all see it with rising grocery and housing costs and the closing of local hospitals. And politicians in Washington keep making things worse.” > — Don Coover, via [Campaign site](https://doncooverforcongress.com/) **Derek Schmidt:** Supports tax cuts and spending reform Schmidt emphasizes reducing federal spending to curb inflation and extending tax cuts for families, small businesses, and agricultural producers. In the 119th Congress, he voted for major reconciliation and budget legislation aligned with Republican economic priorities. - Voted for H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), addressing federal tax policy and spending reconciliation. - Voted for H.Con.Res.14 to establish the congressional budget framework. - Advocates extending tax relief through the Working Families Tax Cut. > “stop the federal government from making daily life increasingly expensive and difficult.” > — Derek Schmidt, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Schmidt) ### Government Reform and Federal Overreach Salience: medium Schmidt focuses on curbing executive regulations and federal judicial power, whereas Coover emphasizes replacing career politicians with working-class leaders to break Washington gridlock. **Don Coover:** Advocates practical, nonpartisan governance Coover argues that federal politics is fundamentally broken due to career politicians focusing on party leadership and re-election. He advocates for electing representatives with real-world working experience who will cooperate across party lines. - Pledges to bring working-class representation to decision-making in Washington. - Criticizes politicians who prioritize national party orders over local district impacts. > “For me, this isn’t about party or politics. We just need to get folks in the room who actually feel the impacts of the policies being made in Washington on communities like mine.” > — Don Coover, via [Campaign site](https://doncooverforcongress.com/) > “I’d like the folks who know what it’s like to put in a hard day’s work to be making the decisions again in Washington.” > — Don Coover, via [Campaign site](https://doncooverforcongress.com/) **Derek Schmidt:** Opposes federal overreach and bureaucracy Schmidt focuses on curbing executive branch regulations and federal overreach. His legislative record includes voting for national election integrity standards and restricting federal court nationwide injunctions. - Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R.22) requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections. - Voted for NORRA of 2025 (H.R.1526) to limit federal district court authority regarding nationwide injunctions. - Supported 2022 Kansas Constitutional Amendment 1 to allow legislative vetoes of state executive agency regulations. > “fight overreach from a federal government that doesn't understand or respect our way of life” > — Derek Schmidt, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Schmidt) ### Border Security and Immigration Salience: high **Don Coover:** No documented position in our sources **Derek Schmidt:** Supports strict border enforcement and deportations Schmidt advocates for strong southern border enforcement and strict immigration laws. He supported congressional measures to detain non-citizens charged with crimes and authorize state lawsuits over federal border enforcement. - Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S.5) requiring detention of undocumented immigrants arrested for theft or burglary. - Voted for H.R.875 to make driving while impaired grounds for non-citizen deportation or inadmissibility. - Co-sponsored Sarah's Law to address crimes committed by unauthorized migrants. > “In Congress, I will work to secure our border, fight overreach from a federal government that doesn't understand or respect our way of life, and stop the federal government from making daily life increasingly expensive and difficult.” > — Derek Schmidt, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Schmidt) ### Healthcare and Community Services Salience: medium **Don Coover:** Supports preserving rural healthcare facilities Coover identifies rural hospital closures as a primary symptom of broken policy in Washington. He supports federal initiatives that protect rural infrastructure and maintain local medical services. - Highlights the closure of local hospitals as a major issue facing Kansas communities. > “We all see it with rising grocery and housing costs and the closing of local hospitals.” > — Don Coover, via [Campaign site](https://doncooverforcongress.com/) **Derek Schmidt:** No documented position in our sources ### Defense and Military Affairs Salience: medium **Don Coover:** No documented position in our sources **Derek Schmidt:** Supports military installations and veterans Schmidt serves on the House Armed Services Committee and prioritizes resource allocation for Kansas military installations. He advocates for robust national defense funding and comprehensive support for military personnel and veterans. - Serves on Armed Services subcommittees for Military Personnel, Readiness, and Tactical Air and Land Forces. - Advocates for funding and support for Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth, and Forbes Field. > “Kansans know me and my longstanding support for our freedoms that generations of Americans have sacrificed so much to defend, for law and order, for Veterans and those currently serving in our armed forces” > — Derek Schmidt, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Schmidt) ### Agriculture and Rural Affairs Salience: medium **Don Coover:** No documented position in our sources **Derek Schmidt:** Supports Kansas agricultural producers Schmidt emphasizes strong support for Kansas farmers and ranchers, serving on relevant small business subcommittees and earning endorsements from state agricultural groups. - Serves on the House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains. - Endorsed by the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, and National Sorghum Producers. > “for farmers and ranchers, for small businesses, for our great Kansas colleges and universities, for life, and for the Second Amendment.” > — Derek Schmidt, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Schmidt) ### Public Safety and Law Enforcement Salience: medium **Don Coover:** No documented position in our sources **Derek Schmidt:** Supports law enforcement and crime victims Schmidt highlights his record as former state attorney general to advocate for law enforcement agencies, victim support, and fraud prevention. He supported measures protecting local law enforcement structure and increasing federal transparency. - Supported 2022 Kansas Constitutional Amendment 2 protecting elected county sheriffs. - Voted for the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R.4405) to release DOJ records. - Endorsed by the Kansas Sheriffs Association and Kansas State Council of Fire Fighters. > “Kansans know me and my longstanding support for our freedoms that generations of Americans have sacrificed so much to defend, for law and order” > — Derek Schmidt, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Schmidt) ### Women and Girls in Sports Salience: low **Don Coover:** No documented position in our sources **Derek Schmidt:** Restricts transgender participation in female sports Schmidt voted in favor of federal legislation prohibiting school athletic programs from allowing biological male athletes to compete in sports designated for women or girls. - Voted for H.R.28 (Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025). ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/ks-02-house-election-winner) — KS-02 House Election Winner: Republicans 78.0%, Democrats 21.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-KS02-26) — KS-02 House winner?: Derek Schmidt 81.0%, Don Coover 20.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXKSPRIMARY-02R26) — KS-02 Republican nominee?: Derek Schmidt 99.0%, Chad Young 3.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXKSPRIMARY-02D26) — KS-02 Democratic nominee?: Don Coover 99.0%, Braeden Curwick 1.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-ks-02)