# Kansas's 2nd congressional district

Kansas' 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kansas that covers most of the eastern part of the state, except for the core of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The district encompasses less than a quarter of the state. The state capital of Topeka, the cities of Emporia, Junction City and Leavenworth and most of Kansas City are located within this district. The district is currently represented by Republican Derek Schmidt.

## History

Kansas had but one representative in the U.S. House of Representatives until after the 1870 U.S. census, which showed that the state was entitled to three members of the lower branch of the national legislature. In 1872, three representatives-at-large were elected, but by the act of March 2, 1874, the legislature divided the state into three districts. The 2nd congressional district was composed of the counties of Montgomery, Wilson, Labette, Cherokee, Crawford, Neosho, Bourbon, Allen, Anderson, Linn, Miami, Franklin, Johnson, Douglas and Wyandotte.
No changes were made in until after the 1880 U.S. census, which gave the state seven representatives. On March 5, 1883, Governor George Washington Glick approved an act of the legislature which reduced the 2nd congressional district to only include the counties of Wyandotte, Johnson, Douglas, Miami, Franklin, Anderson, Linn, Allen and Bourbon.
Although the 1890 U.S. census showed the population of Kansas to be large enough to entitle the state to eight representatives, no additional district was created until 1905. By the act of March 9, 1905, the state was divided into eight districts with the 2nd Congressional district being composed of the counties of Wyandotte, Johnson, Douglas, Miami, Franklin, Anderson, Linn, Allen and Bourbon.
Reapportionment for 2002 placed the western half of Lawrence as well as Miami County into the 2nd congressional district and cut out the counties of Geary, Montgomery and Nemaha.
Reapportionment in 2012 meant that the entirety of Lawrence was moved to the 2nd congressional district. The district's boundaries were altered to remove Manhattan, home of Kansas State University, and portions of Miami County while adding all of Montgomery County and Nemaha County and portions of Marshall County.
Reapportionment in 2022 moved the entirety of Lawrence to the 1st congressional district. The district's boundaries were also altered to move Anderson and Franklin counties and portions of Miami County to the 3rd congressional district. The entirety of Miami County is now in the 3rd congressional district. Most of Jackson, all of Jefferson and the remaining part of Marshall counties moved from the district to the 1st congressional district. The counties of Chase, Geary, Lyon, Marion, Morris and Wabaunsee all moved from the 1st congressional district to the district.

### 2000 demographics

Following redistricting after the 2000 U.S. census, there were 672,102 people, 257,856 households, and 173,309 families residing in the district. The population density was 47.6/mi$^2$ over a land area of 14,133 square miles (36,600 km$^2$). There were 280,213 housing units at an average density of 19.8/mi$^2$. The racial makeup of the district is 89.01% White, 5.06% Black or African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.52% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.81% of the population.
There were 257,856 households, out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.48% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.79% were non-families. 26.73% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.63% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the district the population distribution by age is 25.34% under the age of 18, 11.88% from 18 to 24, 27.54% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.54% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.08 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.85 males.
The median income for a household in the district is $37,855, and the median income for a family was $47,095. Males had a median income of $32,033 versus $24,230 for females. The per capita income for the district was $18,595. About 7.1% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
Among the population aged 16 years and older, 64.5% was in the civilian labor force and 1.9% were in the armed forces. Of the employed civilian workers, 20.6% were government workers and 7.5% were self-employed. Management, professional, and related occupations employed 32.3% of the work force and sales and office occupations employ 25.4%. Only 0.8% were employed in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations. The largest employment by industry was: educational, health and social services, 24.5%; manufacturing, 12.3%; and retail trade, 11.4%. Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining industries only employed 3.0%.

## Composition

The 2nd district includes the entirety of the following counties, with the exceptions of Douglas and Jackson, which it shares with the 1st district, and Wyandotte, which it shares with the 3rd district. Douglas County cities within the 2nd district include Baldwin City, Eudora and Lecompton, while Jackson County cities include Netawaka and Whiting. The only Wyandotte County city within the 2nd district is a portion of Kansas City.
| # | County | Seat | Population |
| 1 | Allen | Iola | 12,412 |
| 5 | Atchison | Atchison | 16,016 |
| 11 | Bourbon | Fort Scott | 14,408 |
| 13 | Brown | Hiawatha | 9,250 |
| 17 | Chase | Cottonwood Falls | 2,579 |
| 21 | Cherokee | Columbus | 19,054 |
| 31 | Coffey | Burlington | 8,251 |
| 37 | Crawford | Girard | 38,764 |
| 43 | Doniphan | Troy | 7,493 |
| 45 | Douglas | Lawrence | 120,553 |
| 61 | Geary | Junction City | 35,047 |
| 85 | Jackson | Holton | 13,368 |
| 99 | Labette | Oswego | 19,728 |
| 103 | Leavenworth | Leavenworth | 83,518 |
| 107 | Linn | Mound City | 9,860 |
| 111 | Lyon | Emporia | 32,172 |
| 115 | Marion | Marion | 11,690 |
| 125 | Montgomery | Independence | 30,568 |
| 127 | Morris | Council Grove | 5,334 |
| 131 | Nemaha | Seneca | 10,114 |
| 133 | Neosho | Erie | 15,420 |
| 139 | Osage | Lyndon | 15,824 |
| 177 | Shawnee | Topeka | 177,746 |
| 197 | Wabaunsee | Alma | 7,057 |
| 205 | Wilson | Fredonia | 8,382 |
| 207 | Woodson | Yates Center | 3,115 |
| 209 | Wyandotte | Kansas City | 165,281 |

## List of members representing the district

| Member (Residence) | Party | Years in office | Cong ress | Electoral history | District map and location |
| District created March 4, 1875 ||||||
| John R. Goodin (Humboldt) | Democratic | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 | 44th | Elected in 1874. Lost re-election. | |
| Dudley C. Haskell (Lawrence) | Republican | March 4, 1877 – December 16, 1883 | 45th 46th 47th 48th | Elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Died. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 16, 1883 – March 21, 1884 | 48th | | |
| Edward H. Funston (Iola) | Republican | March 21, 1884 – August 2, 1894 | 48th 49th 50th 51st 52nd 53rd | Elected to finish Haskell's term. Re-elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Lost contested election. | |
| Horace L. Moore (Lawrence) | Democratic | August 2, 1894 – March 3, 1895 | 53rd | Won contested election. Lost re-election. | |
| Orrin L. Miller (Kansas City) | Republican | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897 | 54th | Elected in 1894. Retired. | |
| Mason S. Peters (Kansas City) | Populist | March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899 | 55th | Elected in 1896. Lost re-election. | |
| Justin D. Bowersock (Lawrence) | Republican | March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1907 | 56th 57th 58th 59th | Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Retired. | |
| Charles F. Scott (Iola) | Republican | March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1911 | 60th 61st | Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Lost re-election. | |
| Alexander C. Mitchell (Lawrence) | Republican | March 4, 1911 – July 7, 1911 | 62nd | Elected in 1910. Died. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 7, 1911 – November 7, 1911 | 62nd | | |
| Joseph Taggart (Kansas City) | Democratic | November 7, 1911 – March 3, 1917 | 62nd 63rd 64th | Elected to finish Mitchell's term. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Lost re-election. | |
| Edward C. Little (Kansas City) | Republican | March 4, 1917 – June 27, 1924 | 65th 66th 67th 68th | Elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Died. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | June 27, 1924 – November 4, 1924 | 68th | | |
| Ulysses S. Guyer (Kansas City) | Republican | November 4, 1924 – March 3, 1925 | 68th | Elected to finish Little's term. Lost re-election. | |
| Chauncey B. Little (Olathe) | Democratic | March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1927 | 69th | Elected in 1924. Lost re-election. | |
| Ulysses S. Guyer (Kansas City) | Republican | March 4, 1927 – June 5, 1943 | 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th | Elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Died. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | June 5, 1943 – September 14, 1943 | 78th | | |
| Errett P. Scrivner (Kansas City) | Republican | September 14, 1943 – January 3, 1959 | 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th | Elected to finish Guyer's term. Elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Lost re-election. | |
| Newell A. George (Kansas City) | Democratic | January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1961 | 86th | Elected in 1958. Lost re-election. | |
| Robert F. Ellsworth (Lawrence) | Republican | January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1963 | 87th | Elected in 1960. Redistricted to the 3rd district. | |
| William H. Avery (Wakefield) | Republican | January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1965 | 88th | Redistricted from the 1st district and re-elected in 1962. Retired to run for Governor of Kansas. | |
| Chester L. Mize (Atchison) | Republican | January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1971 | 89th 90th 91st | Elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Lost re-election. | |
| William Robert Roy (Topeka) | Democratic | January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1975 | 92nd 93rd | Elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | |
| Martha Elizabeth Keys (Manhattan) | Democratic | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1979 | 94th 95th | Elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Lost re-election. | |
| James Edmund Jeffries (Atchison) | Republican | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983 | 96th 97th | Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Retired. | |
| Jim Slattery (Topeka) | Democratic | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1995 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd | Elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Retired to run for Governor of Kansas. | |
| Sam Brownback (Topeka) | Republican | January 3, 1995 – November 7, 1996 | 104th | Elected in 1994. Resigned November 27, 1996 retroactive to November 7, 1996 when elected U.S. senator. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | November 7, 1996 – November 27, 1996 | 104th | | |
| Jim Ryun (Topeka) | Republican | November 27, 1996 – January 3, 2007 | 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th | Elected in 1996 and seated early under the provisions of K.S.A. 25-3503[d]. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Lost re-election. | |
| Jim Ryun (Topeka) | Republican | November 27, 1996 – January 3, 2007 | 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th | Elected in 1996 and seated early under the provisions of K.S.A. 25-3503[d]. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Lost re-election. | 2003–2013 |
| Nancy Boyda (Topeka) | Democratic | January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009 | 110th | Elected in 2006. Lost re-election. | 2003–2013 |
| Lynn Jenkins (Topeka) | Republican | January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2019 | 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th | Elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Retired. | 2003–2013 |
| Lynn Jenkins (Topeka) | Republican | January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2019 | 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th | Elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Retired. | 2013–2023 |
| Steve Watkins (Topeka) | Republican | January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021 | 116th | Elected in 2018. Lost renomination. | 2013–2023 |
| Jake LaTurner (Topeka) | Republican | January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025 | 117th 118th | Elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. | 2013–2023 |
| Jake LaTurner (Topeka) | Republican | January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025 | 117th 118th | Elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. | 2023–present |
| Derek Schmidt (Independence) | Republican | January 3, 2025 – present | 119th | Elected in 2024. | 2023–present |

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 52% - 46% |
| 2008 | Senate | Roberts 56% - 44% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 55% - 43% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 56% - 37% |
| 2016 | Senate | Moran 60% - 35% |
| 2018 | Governor | Kelly 49% - 42% |
| 2018 | Secretary of State | Schwab 52% - 45% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Schmidt 60% - 40% |
| 2018 | Treasurer | LaTurner 58% - 42% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 57% - 41% |
| 2020 | Senate | Marshall 53% - 41% |
| 2022 | Senate | Moran 61% - 35% |
| 2022 | Governor | Kelly 49% - 48% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Schwab 59% - 38% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Kobach 52% - 48% |
| 2022 | Treasurer | Johnson 55% - 41% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 59% - 39% |

## Recent election results
### 2002

Kansas's 2nd Congressional District Election (2002) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Ryun* | 126,169 | 60.45 |
| | Democratic | Dan Lykins | 78,286 | 37.51 |
| | Libertarian | Art Clack | 4,263 | 2.04 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 208,718 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2004

Kansas's 2nd Congressional District Election (2004) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Ryun* | 165,325 | 56.15 |
| | Democratic | Nancy Boyda | 121,532 | 41.28 |
| | Libertarian | Dennis Hawver | 7,579 | 2.57 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 294,436 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

Kansas's 2nd Congressional District Election (2006) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nancy Boyda | 111,759 | 50.60 |
| | Republican | Jim Ryun* | 104,128 | 47.15 |
| | Reform | Roger Tucker | 4,980 | 2.26 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 220,867 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2008

Kansas's 2nd Congressional District Election (2008) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lynn Jenkins | 155,532 | 50.61 |
| | Democratic | Nancy Boyda* | 142,013 | 46.21 |
| | Reform | Leslie Martin | 5,080 | 1.65 |
| | Libertarian | Robert Garrard | 4,683 | 1.52 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 262,027 | 100.00 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### 2010

Kansas's 2nd Congressional District Election (2010) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lynn Jenkins* | 130,034 | 63.13 |
| | Democratic | Cheryl Hudspeth | 66,588 | 32.33 |
| | Libertarian | Robert Garrard | 9,353 | 4.54 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 205,975 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

Kansas's 2nd Congressional District Election (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lynn Jenkins* | 167,463 | 57.0 |
| | Democratic | Tobias Schlingensiepen | 113,735 | 38.7 |
| | Libertarian | Dennis Hawver | 12,520 | 4.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 293,718 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

Kansas's 2nd Congressional District Election (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lynn Jenkins* | 128,742 | 57.0 |
| | Democratic | Margie Wakefield | 87,153 | 38.6 |
| | Libertarian | Christopher Clemmons | 9,791 | 4.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 225,686 | 99.9 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

Kansas's 2nd Congressional District Election (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lynn Jenkins* | 181,228 | 60.9 |
| | Democratic | Britani Potter | 96,840 | 32.5 |
| | Libertarian | James Houston Bales | 19,333 | 6.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 297,401 | 99.9 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

Kansas's 2nd Congressional District Election (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve Watkins | 126,098 | 47.6 |
| | Democratic | Paul Davis | 123,859 | 46.8 |
| | Libertarian | Kelly Standley | 14,731 | 5.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 264,688 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

Kansas's 2nd Congressional District Election (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jake LaTurner | 185,464 | 55.2 |
| | Democratic | Michelle De La Isla | 136,650 | 40.6 |
| | Libertarian | Robert Garrard | 14,201 | 4.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 336,315 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

Kansas's 2nd Congressional District Election (2022) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jake LaTurner (incumbent) | 134,506 | 57.6 |
| | Democratic | Patrick Schmidt | 98,852 | 42.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 233,358 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |