Ron Estes

Ron Estes
Born	Ronald Gene Estes 19 7, 1956
Birthplace	Topeka, Kansas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, engineer, business executive
Known for	U.S. Representative for Kansas's 4th congressional district
Education	Tennessee Technological University (BS, MBA)
Spouse(s)	Susan Estes
Children	3
Website	[https://estes.house.gov/ Official site]

Ronald Gene Estes (born July 19, 1956) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Kansas's 4th congressional district since April 2017. A member of the Republican Party, Estes won a closely watched special election to succeed Mike Pompeo, who resigned from the seat to become Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Before entering Congress, Estes served as the 39th Kansas State Treasurer from 2011 to 2017 and as Treasurer of Sedgwick County from 2004 to 2010. A fifth-generation Kansan, Estes built a career in engineering and business before transitioning to public service, and he currently serves as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. He is the dean of Kansas's congressional delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Early Life

Ronald Gene Estes was born on July 19, 1956, in Topeka, Kansas. He is a fifth-generation Kansan, a lineage that has featured prominently in his political identity and campaigns. Estes grew up in Kansas and maintained deep ties to the state throughout his life. Details regarding his parents and childhood upbringing beyond his Kansas roots are limited in publicly available sources.

Education

Estes attended Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. He subsequently returned to Tennessee Tech to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA), combining technical and business training that would shape his pre-political career in manufacturing and consulting.

Career

Private Sector

Before entering public office, Estes worked as a consultant and executive in various manufacturing and service industries. His background in engineering and business administration positioned him in roles that involved management and operational consulting. These private-sector experiences formed the foundation of his later political messaging, which frequently emphasized fiscal responsibility and business-oriented governance.

Sedgwick County Treasurer (2004–2010)

Estes's career in public office began in 2004 when he was elected Treasurer of Sedgwick County, which encompasses the Wichita metropolitan area and is the most populous county in Kansas. He succeeded Jan Kennedy in the position. Estes was reelected to a second term as county treasurer in 2008, serving in the role until 2010. He was succeeded by Linda Kizzire. During his tenure, Estes managed county finances and investments, gaining experience in public fiscal administration that he would carry into his next role at the state level.

Kansas State Treasurer (2011–2017)

In 2010, Estes ran for the office of Kansas State Treasurer and won the general election, succeeding Democrat Dennis McKinney. He took office on January 10, 2011, serving under Governor Sam Brownback. As State Treasurer, Estes was responsible for managing the state's cash balances, investments, and unclaimed property programs.

Estes was reelected to a second term as State Treasurer in 2014, winning the general election decisively. His tenure coincided with a period of significant fiscal debate in Kansas, as the state grappled with budget shortfalls following Governor Brownback's tax reduction policies. Estes served as State Treasurer until April 25, 2017, when he resigned to take his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was succeeded by Jake LaTurner.

2017 Special Election

On January 23, 2017, U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo, who had represented Kansas's 4th congressional district since 2011, resigned his seat after being confirmed as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency under President Donald Trump. The vacancy triggered a special election, which became one of the first significant electoral tests of the Trump presidency.

Estes entered the race as the Republican nominee and faced Democrat James Thompson, a civil rights attorney from Wichita, in the April 11, 2017, special election. The race drew national attention as an early barometer of political sentiment following Trump's inauguration. The district, which encompasses Wichita and surrounding areas in south-central Kansas, had been considered safely Republican; Pompeo had won reelection in 2016 by more than 30 percentage points, and Trump had carried the district by a similar margin.

However, the race proved unexpectedly competitive. Thompson, running a grassroots campaign with limited national Democratic Party support, narrowed the gap significantly. The results surprised political observers, as Estes won by a margin of approximately seven percentage points—a dramatic swing from the district's recent voting patterns.

In the final days of the campaign, both national parties invested resources in the race. President Trump recorded a robocall on behalf of Estes, and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas traveled to the district to campaign for him. The outcome was interpreted by commentators as a sign of both Republican resilience in traditionally conservative districts and growing Democratic energy in the early months of the Trump administration.

Estes was sworn in as a member of the United States House of Representatives on April 25, 2017.

Subsequent Elections

Following his special election victory, Estes ran for a full term in the 2018 midterm elections and won reelection. He has continued to represent Kansas's 4th congressional district in subsequent election cycles, establishing himself as the incumbent in the safely Republican seat.

Congressional Tenure

In Congress, Estes serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, one of the most influential committees in the House, which has jurisdiction over taxation, trade, and entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

Tax Policy

As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, Estes has been involved in major tax legislation. In July 2025, following the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by President Trump, Estes promoted the law's provisions for tax cuts aimed at working families. The legislation included provisions that Estes highlighted as beneficial to Kansas constituents. Estes also released a statement on an international tax side-by-side agreement in his capacity as a Ways and Means Committee member, addressing international tax policy considerations.

Healthcare

Estes has been active on healthcare issues, particularly as they affect rural communities in Kansas. In December 2025, he published an op-ed in The Washington Times discussing air ambulance services and their importance to rural healthcare delivery. In July 2025, Estes introduced H.R. 7520, legislation designed to delay the efficiency adjustment in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, a measure he said would benefit Kansas doctors and maintain access to healthcare in the district.

Environmental Policy

In November 2025, Estes released a statement responding to the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed new rule on the Waters of the United States (WOTUS), signaling opposition to what he viewed as regulatory overreach affecting Kansas farmers and landowners.

Government Spending and Accountability

Estes has taken public positions on government spending and congressional accountability. In October 2025, during a government shutdown, he announced that he had requested his congressional salary be withheld for the duration of the shutdown, stating that Congress should not be paid when the government is not functioning.

Community Engagement

Estes has maintained engagement with his district through programs such as the annual Congressional Art Competition for high school students. In 2025, he announced the dates for the 2026 competition, which provides young artists in the district the opportunity to have their work displayed in the U.S. Capitol.

Personal Life

Estes is married to Susan Estes. The couple has three children. The family resides in the Wichita area, within Kansas's 4th congressional district. Estes has emphasized his roots as a fifth-generation Kansan throughout his political career.

In December 2025, Estes announced staff changes in his congressional office, hiring Natalie Turner as Communications Director to replace Roman Rodriguez, who transitioned to the role of District Director.

Recognition

The 2017 special election that brought Estes to Congress received extensive national media coverage. The race was covered by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Roll Call, The Kansas City Star, and The Wichita Eagle, among other outlets, as one of the first electoral tests of the Trump administration. The closer-than-expected result contributed to broader national narratives about political competitiveness in traditionally Republican-leaning districts during the 2017–2018 election cycle.

As the longest-serving current member of Kansas's U.S. House delegation, Estes holds the position of dean of the delegation, a designation given to the member with the longest continuous service.