Like water on rocks, every day that passes brings us that much closer to the end of our Democratic trifecta in Washington. At least that is what my nightmares tell me. And reapportionment looms, so real, real tight preparations are —well— elusive. That said, if after the playing field has finally been drawn, we are to field competitive candidates where they are needed, that will be possible only because we did everything that could be done now.
I introduce Patrick Schmidt, the Democrat in Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District. A graduate of Tufts, Schmidt speaks Persian and Tajik, and is a former US Navy intelligence officer, credited with service on the USS Ronald Reagan and in Bahrain, and later in Washington DC. Although now only 30 years old, Schmidt is already much-published in policy journals.
More significantly, Schmidt is a sixth-generation Kansan, with roots in agriculture and labor. A Frontenac coal miner-ancestor was killed in a mine explosion during the IWW/UMW/Big Four coal companies turmoil a century ago. And Schmidt backs the Topeka Frito-Lay workers today.
The reason this matters now as we scurry about trying to nail down loose ends, while awaiting reapportionment, is that Schmidt (and Frontenac) are in the 2nd Congressional District, where Trump marshaled 56.29%, and defeated Biden by 14.95%. Sounds tough! Kansas 3rd Congressional District, though, is currently represented by a Democrat, Sharice Davids. Biden received 54.25% of the 3rd District vote, and won by 10.58%. And the 3rd District must be reduced in population with this redistricting. The 3rd District is landlocked, so to speak, wedged between the State of Missouri and Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District. No other neighbor.
Here is a map of Kansas’ Congressional Districts.
The extent of the 3rd District’s overpopulation is said to approximate the entire population of Wyandotte County. Frontenac is in Crawford County. Schmidt lives in Topeka in Shawnee County. Douglas and Wyandotte Counties are OUTSTANDING Democratic counties.
So it seems that Republicans almost have to add a LOT of Democrats to Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District almost no matter what. If they try to diminish Davids’ chances by adding a lot of Republicans there, they will almost have to ADD a LOT MORE Democrats to the 2nd.
Now is the time to get behind this very outstanding new Democratic challenger. Your modest contribution now will make Republican heads explode come reapportionment.
And —guess what— we might win it.