Jake LaTurner

Jake LaTurner
Official portrait, 2021
Jake LaTurner
Born	Jacob Andrew Joseph LaTurner 17 2, 1988
Birthplace	Galena, Kansas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, political consultant
Known for	U.S. Representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district, 40th Kansas State Treasurer
Education	Pittsburg State University (BA) Naval War College
Children	4

Jacob Andrew Joseph LaTurner (born February 17, 1988) is an American politician and member of the Republican Party who served as the U.S. Representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district from January 2021 to January 2025. Before entering Congress, LaTurner served as the 40th Kansas State Treasurer from 2017 to 2021 and as a member of the Kansas Senate representing the 13th district from 2013 to 2017. Born and raised in Galena, Kansas, LaTurner rose rapidly through Kansas politics, becoming the youngest statewide official in the United States upon his appointment as state treasurer in 2017 at the age of 29. He was subsequently elected to the post in his own right in 2018, retaining the distinction as the youngest elected statewide official in the country. LaTurner briefly campaigned for a United States Senate seat in the 2020 election before shifting his focus to the U.S. House race, where he defeated incumbent Steve Watkins in the Republican primary and won the general election against Topeka mayor Michelle De La Isla. In April 2024, LaTurner announced he would not seek reelection, citing the toll that congressional service had taken on his family life. Following his departure from Congress, he joined the political consulting firm FP1.

Early Life

Jake LaTurner was born on February 17, 1988, in Galena, Kansas, a small city in the southeastern corner of the state in Cherokee County. He grew up in the region and maintained deep ties to his community throughout his political career. In a farewell speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in December 2024, LaTurner spoke about his family legacy and the role that resilience played in shaping his path into public service.

LaTurner's roots in southeastern Kansas informed much of his political identity, and he frequently emphasized his small-town upbringing during campaigns and in office. His connection to the community of Galena and the broader region of southeastern Kansas remained a central part of his public persona throughout his career in both state and federal government.

Education

LaTurner attended Pittsburg State University, located in Pittsburg, Kansas, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Pittsburg State, a public university in the southeastern part of the state, is situated approximately 25 miles from LaTurner's hometown of Galena. He later continued his education at the Naval War College, a professional military education institution.

Career

Kansas State Senate (2013–2017)

LaTurner began his political career at the state level, winning election to the Kansas Senate representing the 13th district. He assumed office on January 9, 2013, succeeding Bob Marshall. At the time of his entry into the state legislature, LaTurner was among the youngest members of the Kansas Senate.

As a freshman senator, LaTurner expressed an interest in increasing government transparency and accessibility. In a January 2013 profile, he was described as being intent on opening government to greater public scrutiny.

During his tenure in the Kansas Senate, LaTurner was involved in fiscal and tax policy matters. In 2016, he participated in legislative discussions regarding limits on local property taxes, a significant issue for Kansas residents and local governments. He also worked on budget-related legislation during a period in which Kansas was grappling with revenue shortfalls resulting from significant income tax cuts enacted under Governor Sam Brownback.

In 2015, LaTurner was involved in legislative efforts related to fiscal policy at the state level. LaTurner served in the Kansas Senate until April 25, 2017, when he was appointed to succeed Ron Estes as Kansas State Treasurer. He was succeeded in the Senate by Richard Hilderbrand.

Kansas State Treasurer (2017–2021)

On April 25, 2017, Governor Sam Brownback appointed LaTurner to serve as the 40th Kansas State Treasurer, succeeding Ron Estes, who had been elected to the United States House of Representatives in a special election for Kansas's 4th congressional district. At 29 years of age, LaTurner became the youngest statewide official in the United States at the time of his appointment.

As state treasurer, LaTurner served under three governors: Sam Brownback, Jeff Colyer, and Laura Kelly. He focused on several key initiatives during his tenure, including the return of unclaimed property to Kansas residents. In 2017, LaTurner conducted a statewide county tour to publicize the state's unclaimed property program, during which he announced that his office had returned millions of dollars to Kansas residents. He also visited communities across the state to promote the treasurer's office services, including a 2017 visit to Salina.

In August 2017, LaTurner praised a federal ruling related to $150 million in unclaimed bonds, characterizing it as a significant development for the state's efforts to return unclaimed property. By June 2018, the Kansas State Treasurer's office under LaTurner's leadership had set a high mark of $25.5 million returned from unclaimed property, which the office described as a record amount.

LaTurner's office also oversaw changes to ABLE and 529 savings accounts in Kansas, implementing modifications intended to benefit account holders.

In 2018, LaTurner ran for election to the state treasurer's post in his own right and won, becoming the youngest elected statewide official in the United States at that time. He continued to serve as treasurer until January 2, 2021, when he was succeeded by Lynn Rogers.

2020 U.S. Senate Campaign

In January 2019, following the announcement by longtime U.S. Senator Pat Roberts that he would not seek reelection, LaTurner became the first candidate to formally enter the race for the open Kansas Senate seat in the 2020 election. His entry into the race came quickly after Roberts' retirement announcement, positioning him as an early contender in what was expected to be a competitive Republican primary.

However, the dynamics of the Kansas Senate race were shaped significantly by speculation about whether U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Kansas congressman, would enter the contest. Republican officials and donors spent much of 2019 waiting on a potential Pompeo candidacy, which created uncertainty for the other declared candidates.

Shift to the U.S. House Race

In September 2019, LaTurner made the decision to suspend his Senate campaign and instead challenge first-term incumbent U.S. Representative Steve Watkins in the Republican primary for Kansas's 2nd congressional district. The decision was driven in part by growing concerns within the Republican Party about Watkins' viability as a candidate. A September 2019 report in Politico detailed the circumstances surrounding the shift, noting that LaTurner was positioning himself as an alternative to the embattled incumbent.

Watkins faced corruption allegations related to voter fraud charges stemming from his use of a UPS store as his residential address on voter registration documents. These legal troubles significantly weakened Watkins' standing within the party and among voters in the district.

LaTurner defeated Watkins in the August 2020 Republican primary election. He then went on to win the November 2020 general election against Democratic candidate Michelle De La Isla, who was serving as the mayor of Topeka at the time.

U.S. House of Representatives (2021–2025)

LaTurner took office as the U.S. Representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district on January 3, 2021, succeeding Steve Watkins. The district encompassed much of eastern Kansas, including the capital city of Topeka and communities across a large swath of the eastern portion of the state.

During his tenure in Congress, LaTurner served as a member of the Republican caucus and participated in legislative activity on fiscal and policy matters. He was reelected in 2022, facing Democratic challenger Elgin "Eli" Woody IV of Topeka in the general election.

In a December 2024 interview with Roll Call, LaTurner reflected on his career, noting that not long before his decision to retire, the prevailing question about his political trajectory had been "just how high he could go." The article traced his rapid rise from state senator to state treasurer to congressman and the expectations that had surrounded his future in Republican politics.

Decision Not to Seek Reelection

On April 18, 2024, LaTurner announced that he would not seek reelection to a third term in Congress. In his announcement, he cited the impact that congressional service had on his family, particularly his four young children. "Congress has taken a toll," LaTurner stated, explaining that the demands of the position, including extended time away from home, had led him to prioritize his family.

KCUR described LaTurner's departure as the end of "a rapid political rise in recent years," noting the trajectory from state senator to statewide officeholder to congressman in less than a decade. LaTurner's term ended on January 3, 2025, and he was succeeded by Derek Schmidt.

Farewell Address

In December 2024, as he prepared to leave Congress, LaTurner delivered a farewell speech on the House floor. In his remarks, he connected his political career to his family's legacy of resilience and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve. He also used the speech to advocate for aid to address childhood hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

Post-Congressional Career

In January 2025, LaTurner announced that he had joined FP1, a political consulting firm. The move was reported by The Topeka Capital-Journal, which noted that LaTurner, now based in Topeka, would be working in the political consulting space following his congressional service. In his Roll Call exit interview, LaTurner had reflected on the temporary nature of political service, stating, "We're not going to be in this season forever."

Personal Life

LaTurner resides in Topeka, Kansas. He and his wife have four children. The demands of balancing family life with the requirements of congressional service—including frequent travel between Kansas and Washington, D.C.—were cited by LaTurner as the primary reason for his decision not to seek reelection in 2024.

In his farewell speech to Congress in December 2024, LaTurner spoke about the importance of family and connected his public service career to the values instilled by his upbringing in southeastern Kansas. He also used his final remarks in Congress to highlight global issues, specifically advocating for assistance to address childhood starvation.

Recognition

LaTurner's rapid rise in Kansas politics attracted attention both within the state and nationally. His appointment as Kansas State Treasurer in 2017 at the age of 29 made him the youngest statewide official in the United States, a distinction that drew media coverage. His subsequent election to the post in 2018 reinforced this distinction, as he became the youngest elected statewide official in the country.

During his tenure as state treasurer, LaTurner's office was recognized for setting records in the return of unclaimed property to Kansas residents, with $25.5 million returned by June 2018.

Roll Call profiled LaTurner in December 2024, characterizing his career arc as one that had generated significant expectations about his political future. The publication noted that LaTurner had been viewed as a rising figure in Republican politics before his decision to step away from elected office.