Media

October 2, 2026

Voters across KS-02 need to see — on TV, CTV/OTT, and digital — that Congressman Derek Schmidt takes checks from drug companies, insurance companies and billionaire-funded special interests, then votes their way while Kansas families pay the price. Voters, especially women, those over 55, and registered unaffiliated should also receive these messages in the mail.

He took their money. He voted their way. Kansas families are paying for it.

• Drug company PACs gave to Schmidt’s campaign. He then voted for H.R. 1, which shields certain drugs from Medicare price negotiation — an $8.8 billion giveaway that means higher prescription costs for seniors. [FEC, Derek Schmidt for Congress Committee Detail, accessed 9/9/2026; House Roll Call 190, 7/3/2025; CBO, 10/20/2025]
• Insurance industry PACs gave to Schmidt. The same bill cut roughly $911 billion from Medicaid — and today 69 Kansas rural hospitals are at risk of closing, with 28 at immediate risk, more than any other state. [FEC, Derek Schmidt for Congress Committee Detail, accessed 9/9/2026; House Roll Call 190, 7/3/2025; KFF, Allocating CBO’s Estimates of Federal Medicaid Spending Reductions Across the States, accessed 9/9/2026; Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, via KCUR, 6/11/2026]
• Billionaire-funded groups backed by Koch Industries and the Walton family spent thousands to elect Schmidt. He voted for a bill that gives the top 0.1% a tax cut while cutting healthcare for tens of thousands of Kansans, and our costs go up. [FEC, Derek Schmidt Candidate Detail (independent expenditures) and Americans for Prosperity Action Committee Detail, accessed 9/9/2026; House Roll Call 190, 7/3/2025; Tax Policy Center, 3/23/2026; Kansas Reflector, 7/16/2026]

As the race enters its final weeks, voters need to see that when it came to protecting children from sexual abuse, Derek Schmidt had the chance to act — and didn’t.

Who is Derek Schmidt protecting?

• Schmidt cast the deciding vote to block the release of the Epstein files, protecting billionaires and DC insiders who preyed on kids. [Congress.gov, H Res 580, Vote #194, 7/15/25]
• As Attorney General, Schmidt’s office identified 188 men suspected of crimes against Kansas children. Not one was charged. None were named. He released the report after 5 p.m. on a Friday — his last full day in office. [Kansas Bureau of Investigation task force report, 1/6/2023; Kansas City Star, 1/7/2023; The Lawrence Times, 1/6/2023]

Additional: Advance (early) voting in-person begins on October 14. Advance ballots by mail also begin to be transmitted by mail on Oct 14.