Rep. Ron Estes, a Wichita Republican, is seeking reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives in Kansas' 4th Congressional District. The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.

Estes faces two challengers: Katy Tyndell, a Democrat, and Drew Cranmer, a Libertarian, according to BallotReady, an election-information platform.

The seat carries authority over federal tax policy, spending and regulations that directly affect Wichita-area residents, farmers and businesses.

Candidate information

  • Party: Republican
  • Age: 70, according to a KMUW voter guide
  • Residence: Wichita
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in civil engineering and master's degree in business administration, both from Tennessee Technological University, according to BallotReady
  • Family: Wife Susan and three children, according to his campaign website

Estes describes himself as a fifth-generation Kansan, according to his campaign website.

Experience and public service

Estes has held the 4th District seat since 2017, according to BallotReady. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, according to his campaign website.

Before Congress, Estes served as Kansas state treasurer from 2011 to 2017 and as Sedgwick County treasurer from 2005 to 2011, according to BallotReady and the KMUW voter guide. He said on his campaign website that in those roles he returned over $1.5 million to taxpayers, oversaw more than $24 billion in public funds and enacted pension reforms.

In the private sector, Estes worked as a project manager and Six Sigma agent at Bombardier Learjet from 2001 to 2005 and as a program manager at Koch Oil/Koch Refined Products from 1995 to 2000, according to the KMUW voter guide.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Estes' campaign website and his responses to the KMUW voter guide questionnaire. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.

Taxes and spending: Estes said he supported the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and said Republicans made key elements of that law permanent, expanded the child tax credit, increased the standard deduction and eliminated taxes on overtime and tips. He also said the legislation implemented a senior tax deduction that essentially covers Social Security taxes for 88% of Americans. He said he has supported balanced budget amendments and proposed a 1% across-the-board spending reduction.

Healthcare: Estes said he supported the Working Families Tax Cuts, which he said include $50 billion for rural health care. He said Kansas will see $222 million of that funding.

Agriculture and economy: Estes said he has worked to create open markets for agricultural producers and dismantle regulations he described as burdensome, including the Waters of the United States rule and lesser prairie-chicken protections. He said he wants to ensure the estate tax does not harm family farms.

Abortion: Estes describes himself as pro-life. He said he has introduced legislation to protect unborn babies with a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis and has worked to defund Planned Parenthood.

Environment: Estes said the federal government should encourage best practices, provide accurate data and hold China and other major polluters accountable. He said it should refrain from imposing burdensome regulations on American farmers, ranchers and businesses, according to his KMUW voter guide response.

Endorsements

Estes has been endorsed by Kansas Farm Bureau's VOTE FBF, according to BallotReady.

Candidate responses were gathered from Ron Estes' campaign website and the KMUW voter guide. This outlet did not interview the candidate for this profile.