In this Friday, March 4, 2022 photo, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt answers questions at a news conference in Topeka, Kan. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

Derek Schmidt is projected to win the Republican nomination in Kansas’ gubernatorial primary on Tuesday. He will challenge incumbent Democrat Laura Kelly in the November general election.  

The Associated Press called both races at the same time, at 8:00 p.m. CST. As of 8:35 p.m., Schmidt led Republican competitor Arlyn Briggs by 55 percentage points, and Kelly led Democratic competitor Richard Karnowski by 91 percentage points. 

Schmidt is currently Kansas’ attorney general and formerly served as the leader of Kansas’ state Senate. He provided counsel to the Texas v. Pennsylvania case, a lawsuit filed by supporters of former President Donald Trump to change the 2020 presidential election results. Many Democrats heavily criticized Schmidt for getting Kansas involved in a case that did not involve Kansas.  

“Now Derek Schmidt, intent on ginning up pro-Trump Kansas voters for a possible run for governor, has signed our state’s name to an embarrassing and baseless lawsuit aimed at overturning the presidential election,” said a Wichita Eagle article.  

The Kansas Democratic Party also criticized Schmidt in February for not outright condemning natural gas companies under investigation for price gouging during the 2021 winter storm Uri. Under state law, Schmidt is entitled to royalties from natural gas drilling on the 240 acres of eastern Kansas land he owns. 

Kelly was elected governor of Kansas in 2018, winning with 48% of the vote. Recent campaign financial reports show record fundraising for both Kelly and Schmidt, with their campaigns bringing in over $2 million combined.