Jake LaTurner

Jacob Andrew Joseph LaTurner (born February 17, 1988) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district.

After losing the 2008 District 13 primary election to Republican senator Bob Marshall, he defeated Marshall in a 2012 rematch.

At age 24, he became the youngest member of the Kansas Senate.

As a senator, LaTurner drafted legislation that would impose term limits on state legislators, reform the process for requesting public records, and combat potential nepotism.

He faced opposition on these issues, including from Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives Ray Merrick, a Republican, and Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley.

In February 2015, LaTurner was the lead sponsor of legislation allowing Kansas adults to carry firearms without a concealed carry permit.

In 2016, he authored a bill limiting property tax increases.

A member of the Republican Party, LaTurner was the 40th Kansas State Treasurer from 2017 to 2021 and a state senator from the 13th district from 2013 to 2017.

Upon his appointment as Kansas State Treasurer by Governor Sam Brownback, LaTurner became the youngest statewide official in the country.

LaTurner was appointed Kansas State Treasurer in April 2017 by Governor Sam Brownback.

He replaced Ron Estes, who had been elected to the United States House of Representatives for KS's 4th congressional district.

Appointed at age 29, 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.

Defeating state senator Marci Francisco in 2018, he became the youngest statewide elected official in the country.

As state treasurer, one of LaTurner's primary responsibilities was to oversee unclaimed 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.

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."

LaTurner also administered the Kansas Learning Quest 529 Education Savings and ABLE Savings Programs, which assist Kansans in saving for their future.

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.

On January 8, 2019, LaTurner announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in the 2020 election, hoping to succeed four-term incumbent Pat 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 the United 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.

Campaigning as a conservative, he supported the proposed Trump wall, an expansion of the physical barrier along the Mexico–United States border, argued for fiscal responsibility, and supported term limits for federally elected politicians.

Responding to questions at a meeting with five locals at the Garden City library, he said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez "thinks that the government can fix all of our problems for us and doesn't think that individuals have rights, naturally."

LaTurner briefly campaigned for the United States Senate in the 2020 election, before instead opting to run for the United States House of Representatives in KS's 2nd congressional district.

He defeated incumbent U.S. Representative Steve Watkins in the primary election, amid corruption allegations against Watkins, and won the general election against Topeka mayor Michelle De La Isla.

LaTurner was born and raised in Galena, Kansas.

He graduated from Galena High School and enrolled at Pittsburg State University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in political science.

LaTurner worked for former Kansas Treasurer and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins during his time in college in her Pittsburg district office.

According to Rep. Henry Cuellar, he is enrolled alongside him in the master's in defense and strategic studies program at Naval War College (as of 2023).

In December 2020, Governor Laura Kelly announced that she would appoint Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers to succeed LaTurner as treasurer.

Rogers took office on January 2, 2021.

As Kansas Treasurer, LaTurner continued a legal case against the United States Department of the Treasury which requested the federal government return the proceeds from matured bonds to Kansas.

Though a judge in a lower court sided with the state of Kansas, requiring the federal government to return approximately $150 million in savings bonds to the state of Kansas, the United 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.