Ron Estes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ron Estes
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas's 4th district |
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| Assumed office April 25, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Pompeo |
| 39th Kansas State Treasurer | |
| In office January 10, 2011 – April 25, 2017 |
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| Governor | Sam Brownback |
| Preceded by | Dennis McKinney |
| Succeeded by | Jake LaTurner |
| Treasurer of Sedgwick County | |
| In office 2004–2010 |
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| Preceded by | Jan Kennedy |
| Succeeded by | Linda Kizzire |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ronald Gene Estes
July 19, 1956 Topeka, Kansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Susan Estes |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Tennessee Technological University (BS, MBA) |
Ronald Gene Estes (born July 19, 1956) is an American politician. He has been a U.S. Representative for Kansas since April 2017. He is a member of the Republican Party. Before this, he was the Kansas State Treasurer from 2011 to 2017.
Ron Estes is a fifth-generation Kansan. He studied engineering and business at Tennessee Tech. He started his career as a consultant and manager in different industries. Estes was elected treasurer of Sedgwick County in 2004. He was reelected in 2008. He then became Kansas State Treasurer in 2010 and was reelected in 2014. After U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo left his job, Estes won a special election to take his place. He was sworn into office on April 25, 2017.
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Early Life and Education
Estes was born in Topeka, Kansas. His family has lived in Kansas for five generations. He earned two degrees from Tennessee Technological University. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He also has a Master of Business Administration (MBA). While at college, he was chosen to join a special leadership honor society.
Career Highlights
Business Experience
Before entering politics, Estes worked in business. He was a consultant and manager for several companies. These companies were in different fields. Some of these fields included aerospace, oil and gas, and car manufacturing. He worked for well-known companies like Procter & Gamble and Koch Industries.
Serving Sedgwick County
In 2004, Estes was elected treasurer for Sedgwick County, Kansas. This county is where the city of Wichita is located. He was reelected for this role in 2008. During this time, he also helped lead the Kansas County Treasurer's Association. He also held important positions within the Republican Party in Kansas.
Kansas State Treasurer
Estes ran for Kansas State Treasurer in 2010. He won against the person who held the job before him. He was the first statewide official from Wichita in 20 years. He was reelected as State Treasurer in 2014.
As State Treasurer, Estes managed a lot of public money. He worked to keep his office's spending under budget. One of his main goals was to help Kansans find unclaimed money. This included money from forgotten bank accounts. By 2016, his office had returned $100 million in unclaimed property.
U.S. House of Representatives
How He Was Elected
2017 Special Election
Mike Pompeo was the U.S. Representative for Kansas's 4th congressional district. He left his job in January 2017 to become the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Ron Estes was chosen by the Republican Party to run in the special election. This election was held to find Pompeo's replacement. Estes won the Republican nomination on February 9, 2017.
The Democratic candidate in this special election was James Thompson. Many important Republicans supported Estes. These included President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. He also received support from the local newspaper, The Wichita Eagle. Estes won the special election on April 11, 2017. He received 52.2% of the votes.
Later Elections
In the 2018 election, Estes ran for reelection. He won the Republican primary with 81.4% of the vote. He then defeated James Thompson again in the general election. Estes won with 59.4% of the votes. He has continued to be reelected in later elections.
What He Does in Congress
Estes was sworn into office on April 25, 2017.
In December 2017, Estes voted for a new tax law. He said he believed it would help families and businesses in Kansas. He thought it would create more jobs and lead to bigger paychecks.
In July 2017, Estes was noticed for interrupting another representative. He explained he was following committee rules about time limits.
Committees and Groups
Estes is part of important groups in the House of Representatives.
- Committee on Ways and Means: This committee deals with taxes and other money matters.
- Subcommittee on Social Security
- Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support
- Congressional Western Caucus: A group focused on issues important to western states.
- Republican Study Committee: A large group of conservative Republican members.
Political Views
Economic Ideas
Estes supports a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. This means the government should not spend more money than it takes in. He also wants to lower taxes for businesses and some individuals.
Health Care
During his 2017 election campaign, Estes spoke about health care. He wanted to completely get rid of the Affordable Care Act. He felt that the proposed new health care law did not go far enough.
2020 Election Lawsuit
In December 2020, Estes was one of many Republican House members. He supported a lawsuit about the 2020 presidential election results. The lawsuit was filed at the U.S. Supreme Court. However, the Supreme Court decided not to hear the case.
Personal Life
Ron Estes is married to Susan Estes. They have three children. His family also runs a farm in Osage County, Kansas. His wife, Susan Estes, is also a politician. She is a member of the Kansas House of Representatives.
Images for kids
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Ron Estes's official photo.
