Patrick Schmidt is a sixth-generation Kansan from Topeka who is a former U.S. Navy Intelligence Officer and current state senator. He served in the U.S. Navy and worked on naval intelligence, including on the USS Ronald Reagan supporting the battle group's intelligence team defending U.S. interests from China and Russia. He has since transitioned to the Naval Reserve and returned to Kansas. Schmidt earned his bachelor's degree from Tufts University in 2013. Both of his parents were public school teachers who worked second jobs to make ends meet. Schmidt was elected to the Kansas State Senate in 2024, representing the 19th district, after running unsuccessfully for Kansas's 2nd Congressional District in 2022. He has not formally announced his U.S. Senate campaign but has filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Patrick Schmidt grew up in a family deeply rooted in Kansas values, with six generations of farmers, miners, and teachers. His parents were public school teachers who worked second jobs, and his father's death was deeply impactful to him. After college graduation, he was commissioned as a Naval Intelligence Officer and served protecting U.S. interests from China and Russia. He recently transitioned to the Naval Reserve and returned to Kansas to help hard-working families like his own who struggle to make ends meet.