Tracey Mann

Tracey Mann
Born	Tracey Robert Mann 17 12, 1976
Birthplace	Gove County, Kansas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	U.S. Representative from Kansas's 1st congressional district; 50th Lieutenant Governor of Kansas
Education	Kansas State University (BS)
Children	4
Awards	NAWG Wheat Leader of the Year (2025)
Website	[Official congressional website Official site]

Tracey Robert Mann (born December 17, 1976) is an American businessman and politician serving as the U.S. representative from Kansas's 1st congressional district since January 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Mann represents the sprawling district popularly known as "the Big First," which encompasses parts of 63 counties across central and western Kansas and ranks as the seventh-largest congressional district in the nation among those that do not cover an entire state. Before entering Congress, Mann served as the 50th Lieutenant Governor of Kansas from February 2018 to January 2019, having been appointed by Governor Jeff Colyer after Colyer ascended to the governorship following Sam Brownback's resignation. A former real estate professional with deep roots in rural Kansas, Mann has focused much of his congressional career on agricultural policy, housing issues, and representing the interests of the farming communities that dominate his district.

Early Life

Tracey Robert Mann was born on December 17, 1976, in Gove County, a sparsely populated county in northwestern Kansas. Growing up in the rural heartland of the state, Mann's upbringing was shaped by the agricultural economy and small-town values that characterize western Kansas. Gove County, with a population of fewer than 3,000, is representative of the rural communities that would later form the core of Mann's political constituency.

Mann's background in rural Kansas informed his later career in both business and politics. The region's dependence on agriculture, particularly wheat farming and cattle ranching, would become central themes in his political platform and legislative priorities.

Education

Mann attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. During his time at Kansas State, Mann was active in student governance, serving as student body president — a role that provided early experience in representative leadership. His involvement in student government at the university foreshadowed his later entry into Kansas politics.

Career

Business Career

Before entering public office, Mann built a career in the commercial real estate industry. He worked as a real estate operator in Kansas, gaining experience in the private sector that he would later cite as informing his approach to economic and business policy. His business background distinguished him from career politicians and became a part of his political identity as he sought elected office.

Early Political Career

Mann's first foray into electoral politics came during the 2010 Kansas primary elections. He appeared on the ballot in the Republican primary, gaining early exposure to the state's political landscape. Though this initial campaign did not result in election to office, it established Mann as a figure in Kansas Republican politics and laid the groundwork for his future political endeavors.

Lieutenant Governor of Kansas

On February 14, 2018, Governor Jeff Colyer appointed Mann as the 50th Lieutenant Governor of Kansas. The appointment came after Colyer himself ascended from the lieutenant governorship to the governorship following the resignation of Governor Sam Brownback, who left office to serve as the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.

As lieutenant governor, Mann served under Colyer during a transitional period in Kansas state government. Colyer's tenure as governor proved brief; he lost the Republican gubernatorial primary in August 2018 to Kris Kobach, who subsequently lost the general election to Democrat Laura Kelly. Mann's term as lieutenant governor ended on January 14, 2019, when Kelly and her lieutenant governor, Lynn Rogers, took office.

Despite the relatively short duration of his service as lieutenant governor, the position raised Mann's political profile considerably and provided him with executive branch experience that would prove valuable in his subsequent campaign for Congress.

2020 Congressional Campaign

Following the announcement by incumbent U.S. Representative Roger Marshall that he would run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Pat Roberts, Kansas's 1st congressional district became an open seat. Mann announced his candidacy for the district in 2019, entering what would become a competitive Republican primary.

In a September 2019 interview, Mann outlined his motivations for running, stating that "DC Democratic pursuits terrify me," signaling his alignment with conservative opposition to the policy agenda of the Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives at that time.

Mann won the Republican primary election, securing the party's nomination for the seat. In the heavily Republican 1st district, the primary victory effectively positioned Mann as the front-runner in the general election. He went on to win the November 2020 general election, succeeding Roger Marshall as the representative for "the Big First."

U.S. House of Representatives

Mann took office on January 3, 2021, at the start of the 117th United States Congress. Since entering Congress, he has focused on issues central to his rural Kansas constituency, with particular emphasis on agriculture, water resources, housing, and fiscal policy.

Agricultural Policy

Agriculture has been a defining focus of Mann's congressional tenure, reflecting the economic importance of farming and ranching to Kansas's 1st district. The district is one of the nation's leading producers of wheat, cattle, and other agricultural commodities, and Mann has positioned himself as a leading advocate for agricultural interests in Congress.

Mann serves as co-chair of the Congressional FFA Caucus alongside Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA). In February 2026, Mann and Panetta led 58 of their congressional colleagues in honoring National FFA Week, recognizing the role of Future Farmers of America in agricultural education and youth development.

In January 2026, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) recognized Mann's advocacy for the wheat industry by awarding him the 2025 Wheat Leader of the Year Award. The award highlighted Mann's work on behalf of wheat growers, a constituency of particular importance in Kansas, which consistently ranks among the top wheat-producing states in the nation.

Mann has also engaged in oversight of agricultural organizations' international relationships. In February 2026, Mann joined Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman David Schweikert in calling on the Future Farmers of America to explain its ties to the Chinese Communist Party, reflecting broader congressional concern about foreign influence in American agricultural and educational institutions.

Housing Policy

Drawing on his background in commercial real estate, Mann has also pursued housing-related legislation in Congress. In February 2026, he introduced H.R. 7468, the First-Time Home Buyer Empowerment Act, aimed at addressing barriers to homeownership for first-time buyers. The bill reflected Mann's interest in expanding access to homeownership, an issue with relevance to both urban and rural communities within his district and across the country.

Fiscal and Budgetary Policy

Mann has been an advocate for fiscal conservatism and government spending reform during his time in Congress. In June 2025, he expressed support for the legislative package referred to as President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," writing that it was "inefficient, fiscally irresponsible and morally wrong to oppose work requirements for some government" assistance programs. His support for work requirements in government benefit programs aligned with longstanding Republican policy positions.

In October 2025, Mann addressed the issue of government funding and the passage of a continuing resolution to keep the federal government operating. He discussed the impacts of government shutdowns on his constituents, reflecting the practical concerns of federal employees, military personnel, and government services within his district.

SNAP and Nutrition Policy

In September 2025, Mann joined fellow Kansas Representative Ron Estes in sending a letter to Governor Laura Kelly urging her to protect the integrity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for Kansans. The bipartisan letter reflected Mann's engagement with state-level policy implementation of federal nutrition programs and his interest in ensuring that the programs served their intended purposes.

Legislative Priorities in the 119th Congress

In January 2026, Mann published an opinion piece outlining his priorities for the first session of the 119th Congress, describing what he characterized as "important strides for Kansans" made over the course of the legislative session. His stated priorities continued to center on agricultural support, economic growth, and conservative fiscal policy.

Personal Life

Mann and his family reside in Kansas. He and his wife have four children. Mann maintains connections to the rural Kansas communities where he grew up, and his personal background in agriculture and real estate has remained central to his public identity.

Recognition

Mann's work in Congress has earned recognition from agricultural industry organizations. In January 2026, the National Association of Wheat Growers awarded him the 2025 Wheat Leader of the Year Award in recognition of his advocacy for wheat producers and the broader agricultural sector. The award underscored Mann's prominence as a congressional voice for farming interests.

His role as co-chair of the Congressional FFA Caucus has also brought attention to his work in supporting agricultural education and youth programs across the country.

Mann's congressional career, legislative record, and financial disclosures are publicly documented through official sources, including the Federal Election Commission and the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. His floor speeches and committee appearances are archived by C-SPAN.