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Rep. Ron Estes Faces Primary Challenge From Ron Estes

Incumbent’s campaign says challenger with same name is making an ‘attempt to deceive Kansas voters’

Kansas Rep. Ron Estes leaves the House Republican Conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club in May. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Kansas Rep. Ron Estes leaves the House Republican Conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club in May. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

One of Republican Rep. Ron Estes’ primary opponent in Kansas’ 4th District is Ron Estes, and that doesn’t mean he’s running against himself.

The non-congressman Ron M. Estes announced Thursday he would challenge the elected Estes, the Wichita Eagle reported.

The challenger Estes said he decided to run against the incumbent Estes because the elected Estes was avoiding town hall events.

The primary challenger hinted at the shared name in his announcement.

“I believe Kansas Republicans deserve a Rep. Ron Estes who will show up and represent Fourth District Kansans. I feel compelled to run in and win this primary to defend our Kansas values,” he said.

But Rep. Estes’ spokesman Josh Bell said it was “an attempt to deceive Kansas voters.”

“Kansans know that Congressman Ron Estes is fighting for them in Washington. Rep. Ron Estes looks forward to discussing with voters how to keep this positive economic momentum going — it’s starting to have a big impact for Kansas families,” he said.

The challenger Estes will appear on the ballot as Ron M. Estes.

Rep. Estes won his seat last year in a special election to replace Mike Pompeo when he Pompeo became CIA Director for President Donald Trump’s administration.

Kansas’ primary will be held on August 7.

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race for Kansas’ 4th District as Solid Republican

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