Jake LaTurner | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromKansas's2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Watkins |
| Succeeded by | Derek Schmidt |
| 40thTreasurer of Kansas | |
| In office April 25, 2017 – January 2, 2021 | |
| Governor | Sam Brownback Jeff Colyer Laura Kelly |
| Preceded by | Ron Estes |
| Succeeded by | Lynn Rogers |
| Member of theKansas Senate from the13th district | |
| In office January 9, 2013 – April 25, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Marshall |
| Succeeded by | Richard Hilderbrand |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jacob Andrew Joseph LaTurner (1988-02-17)February 17, 1988 (age 38) Galena, Kansas, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Pittsburg State University (BA) Naval War College |
Jacob Andrew Joseph LaTurner (born February 17, 1988)[1] is an American politician who served as theU.S. representative forKansas's 2nd congressional district from 2021 to 2025. A member of theRepublican Party, LaTurner was the 40thKansas state treasurer from 2017 to 2021 and astate senator from the13th district from 2013 to 2017.
Upon his appointment as Kansas state treasurer byKansas governorSam Brownback, LaTurner became the youngest statewide official in the country. He was elected to the post in his own right in 2018, becoming the youngest elected statewide official in the United States.[2][3] LaTurner briefly campaigned for theUnited States Senate in the2020 election, before instead opting to run for theUnited States House of Representatives inKansas's 2nd congressional district. He defeated incumbent U.S. representativeSteve Watkins in the primary election, amid corruption allegations against Watkins, and won the general election against Topeka mayorMichelle De La Isla. On April 18, 2024, LaTurner announced he would not be seeking reelection.[4]
LaTurner was born and raised inGalena, Kansas. He graduated fromGalena High School and enrolled atPittsburg State University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in political science.[5] LaTurner worked for former Kansas treasurer and congresswomanLynn Jenkins during his time in college in herPittsburg district office.[6] According to Rep.Henry Cuellar, he is enrolled alongside him in the master's in defense and strategic studies program atNaval War College (as of 2023).[7]
After losing the 2008District 13 primary election to Republican senator Bob Marshall, he defeated Marshall in a 2012 rematch.[8] At age 24, he became the youngest member of the Kansas Senate. As a senator, LaTurner drafted legislation that would imposeterm limits on state legislators, reform the process for requestingpublic records, and combat potentialnepotism. He faced opposition on these issues, including from Speaker of theKansas House of RepresentativesRay Merrick, a Republican, and Senate Democratic leaderAnthony Hensley.[9]
In February 2015, LaTurner was the lead sponsor of legislation allowing Kansas adults to carry firearms without aconcealed carry permit.[10] In 2016, he authored a bill limiting property tax increases.[11]
LaTurner was appointedKansas state treasurer in April 2017 by GovernorSam Brownback. He replacedRon Estes, who had been elected to theUnited States House of Representatives forKansas's 4th congressional district. Appointed at age 29, LaTurner became the youngest statewide official in the country. Defeating state senatorMarci Francisco in 2018, he became the youngest statewide elected official in the country.[12]
As state treasurer, one of LaTurner's primary responsibilities was to overseeunclaimed property, over which there is over $350 million worth in Kansas. He completed a 105 County Tour within 5 months during his first year in office, and returned over $10 million during the tour.[13] During LaTurner's first year in office, he returned a record amount of unclaimed property to Kansans, over $25.5 million. "Every dollar we return to the people of Kansas is a dollar that goes back into their local communities," LaTurner said. "Not only have we returned a record amount of money to Kansans, but we have made the process more user friendly and we have improved the service offered to Kansans."[14]
LaTurner also administered the Kansas Learning Quest 529 Education Savings and ABLE Savings Programs, which assist Kansans in saving for their future.[15] During his first year in office, he implemented changes to the Kansas Learning Quest and ABLE Savings Programs. Under these changes, individuals living with a disability are able to roll over saved funds within a 529 Education Savings Account into their ABLE Account. Additionally, Learning Quest 529 Education Savings Account holders can utilize their funds for K-12 education tuition.[16]
In December 2020, GovernorLaura Kelly announced that she would appoint Lieutenant GovernorLynn Rogers to succeed LaTurner as treasurer. Rogers took office on January 2, 2021.[17][18]
As Kansas Treasurer, LaTurner continued a legal case against theUnited States Department of the Treasury which requested the federal government return the proceeds from matured bonds to Kansas. Though a judge in alower court sided with the state of Kansas, requiring the federal government to return approximately $150 million insavings bonds to the state of Kansas, theUnited States Court of Appeals overturned that decision and found in favor of the federal government. The bonds will still be returned to Kansans, but that process will be overseen at the federal, rather than state, level.[19][20]
On January 8, 2019, LaTurner announced his candidacy for theUnited States Senate in the 2020 election, hoping to succeed four-term incumbentPat Roberts. LaTurner's announcement came roughly two weeks after Roberts announced his intention to retire in 2021. LaTurner announced his candidacy at age 30, the minimum age theUnited States Constitution requires a senator to be. As LaTurner's next election as state treasurer would not be until 2022, the Senate campaign was considered relatively low-stakes.[21] Campaigning as a conservative, he supported Donald Trump's proposedMexico–United States border wall, an expansion of thephysical barrier along theMexico–United States border, argued forfiscal responsibility, and supportedterm limits for federally elected politicians.[21] Responding to questions at a meeting with five locals at theGarden City library, he said RepresentativeAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez "thinks that the government can fix all of our problems for us and doesn't think that individuals have rights, naturally." "I think that what I believe in, and it's what our founders believed in, is that our rights come from God, not from the government... We need to continue to send people to Washington, D.C., that aren't afraid to stand up with President Trump and defend conservative principles."[22]
LaTurner stated in several interviews that he would step aside and drop out of the race ifUnited States secretary of stateMike Pompeo opted to run for the seat. In one interview, LaTurner stated that he would be the "first to support [Pompeo]," while in another he said Pompeo had "right up to the last minute. He can decide to run."[23][24]
On September 9, 2019, LaTurner suspended his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, opting instead to run for the U.S. House in the 2020 election.[25]
While LaTurner was running his Senate campaign,incumbent Republican representative forKansas's 2nd congressional districtSteve Watkins was becoming embattled in several controversies, including that he inflated his business resume, was not present for important votes,voting fraud and allegations ofsexual misconduct. Watkins and his staff had edited hisWikipedia page to remove content relating to the controversies. Many speculated Watkins was planning on resigning prior to the end of his term, which he adamantly denied.[26] Watkins was charged with interference with law enforcement, providing false information; voting without being qualified; unlawful advance voting; and failing to notify the DMV of change of address.[27] In response, formergovernor of KansasJeff Colyer publicly encouraged LaTurner to consider challenging Watkins for the seat.[28][29]
LaTurner announced he would end his Senate campaign in order to challenge Watkins on September 4, 2019. In an interview withPolitico, LaTurner said, "At the end of the day, we don't want to see another congressional seat be turned over to the Democrats in Kansas...Congressman Watkins, without question, puts this seat in jeopardy this cycle." Watkins had beenelected in 2018 by a margin of less than 1%. LaTurner was able to move $470,000 cash on hand from his Senate campaign to his House campaign, giving him a large advantage over Watkins who had only $260,000 at the time of LaTurner's announcement. On August 4, 2020, LaTurner defeated Watkins in the Republican primary to run againstDemocraticTopeka MayorMichelle De La Isla in the November 3 general election.[30]
On January 6, 2021, during theUnited States Electoral College vote count for the2020 presidential elections, LaTurner voted in favor of sustaining the objection raised against Arizona's electoral votes after the session was earlier suspended when Trump supportersstormed and occupied the Capitol. Before the session concluded, he had to withdraw in quarantine because of a positiveCOVID-19 test, and thus was not able to vote on the objection to Pennsylvania's electoral votes.[31] LaTurner voted against impeaching Trump in the following days. On April 18, 2024, LaTurner announced he would not be seeking reelection to the House of Representatives, citing a "toll" that Congressional service had taken on him. He also ruled out running for state offices in the 2026 midterm elections.[4]
In 2025, LaTurner became a partner at PLUS Communications, a strategic communications and public affairs firm based in the Washington, D.C. area.[34]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jake LaTurner | 47,898 | 49.1 | |
| Republican | Steve Watkins (incumbent) | 33,053 | 33.9 | |
| Republican | Dennis Taylor | 16,512 | 17.0 | |
| Total votes | 97,463 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jake LaTurner | 185,464 | 57.6 | |
| Democratic | Michelle De La Isla | 136,650 | 42.4 | |
| Total votes | 322,114 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jake LaTurner (incumbent) | 134,506 | 57.6 | |
| Democratic | Patrick Schmidt | 98,852 | 42.4 | |
| Total votes | 233,358 | 100.0 | ||
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Treasurer of Kansas 2017–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forTreasurer of Kansas 2018 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromKansas's 2nd congressional district 2021–2025 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
