2017 Kansas's 4th congressional district special election

{{main|Kansas's 4th congressional district}}

Kansas's 4th congressional district is located in the south-center region of the state, centering on the city of Wichita and Sedgwick County, which contain approximately two-thirds of the district's voters.{{cite web |last=Isbell |first=Matthew |date=April 10, 2017 |url=http://mcimaps.com/what-to-watch-for-in-the-kansas-4th-district-special-election/ |title=What to Watch for In the Kansas 4th District Special Election (Updated with Results) |website=MCI Maps |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728111348/http://mcimaps.com/what-to-watch-for-in-the-kansas-4th-district-special-election/ |archive-date=July 28, 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=February 26, 2019 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news |last=Lefler |first=Dion |date=May 2, 2012 |url=https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article1091470.html |title=Kansas Senate's Congressional district map doesn't divide any major cities |newspaper=The Wichita Eagle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226222348/https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article1091470.html |archive-date=February 26, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=February 26, 2019}} Sixteen other counties make up the rest of the district, including Barber, Butler, Chautauqua, Comanche, Cowley, Edwards, Elk, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Kiowa, Pratt, Stafford, and Sumner counties, as well as a portion of southwestern Pawnee County.{{cite map |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd115/cd_based/ST20/CD115_KS04.pdf |title=Kansas - Congressional District 4 |date=April 2017 |series=115th Congress of the United States |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 26, 2019}} Regarded as a conservative district,{{cite news |last=Hegeman |first=Roxana |agency=Associated Press |date=April 11, 2017 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/republicans-hold-onto-kansas-house-seat-2017-4 |title=Republicans hold on to Kansas House seat in a close special election |newspaper=Business Insider |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215225226/https://www.businessinsider.com/republicans-hold-onto-kansas-house-seat-2017-4 |archive-date=February 15, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=February 26, 2019}} the seat is considered to be safe for Republicans;{{#tag:ref|For example, Harry Enten, covering the race for FiveThirtyEight, wrote that "It's a Republican district, full stop."{{cite news |last=Enten |first=Harry |author-link=Harry Enten |date=April 11, 2017 |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-republicans-are-worried-about-kansas/ |title=Why Republicans Are Worried About Kansas |newspaper=FiveThirtyEight |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031002250/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-republicans-are-worried-about-kansas/ |archive-date=October 31, 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=February 26, 2019}}|group=Note}} the Fourth District had a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+15 following the 2016 presidential election.{{Cite web |url=http://cookpolitical.com/file/Arranged_by_State_District.pdf |title=Partisan Voting Index Districts of the 115th Congress by The Cook Political Report (Arranged by State/District) |year=2017 |website=The Cook Political Report |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607150217/http://cookpolitical.com/file/Arranged_by_State_District.pdf |archive-date=June 7, 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 26, 2019}} Going into the election, the seat had not been held by a Democrat in more than twenty years, since Dan Glickman lost his reelection campaign in the 1994 midterms.{{cite news |last=Clarkin |first=Mary |date=December 18, 2016 |url=http://www.hutchnews.com/d2ba0832-8d00-58e6-b3be-77ed480452dd.html |title=Pompeo's move would bring another election in 4th Congressional District |newspaper=The Hutchinson News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226235310/http://www.hutchnews.com/d2ba0832-8d00-58e6-b3be-77ed480452dd.html |archive-date=February 26, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=February 26, 2019}} At the time of the special election, the Republican Party held about a 2-to-1 advantage in voter registration in the district, with 186,850 registered Republicans to 95,788 registered Democrats.{{cite web |url=https://www.sos.ks.gov/elections/17elec/2017_Special_Election_Voter_Registration_and_Party_Affiliation_Numbers.xlsx |format=XLS |title=2017 Special Election – Certified Voter Registration and Party Affiliation Numbers |publisher=Kansas Secretary of State |access-date=February 26, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Lefler |first1=Dion |last2=Lowry |first2=Bryan |last3=Salazar |first3=Daniel |last4=Shorman |first4=Jonathan |agency=McClatchy News |date=April 11, 2017 |url=https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/election/article144065034.html |title=Republican Ron Estes wins in 4th District congressional race |newspaper=The Wichita Eagle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204085623/https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/election/article144065034.html |archive-date=February 4, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=February 26, 2019}} Republican Donald Trump won the district by a 27-point margin in the 2016 presidential election, receiving 60% of the vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton's 33%. Republican Mitt Romney defeated Democrat Barack Obama by a similar 26-point margin in 2012, taking approximately 62% of the vote to Obama's 36%.{{cite web |last=Nir |first=David |date=November 19, 2012 |url=https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2012/11/19/1163009/-Daily-Kos-Elections-presidential-results-by-congressional-district-for-the-2012-2008-elections |title=Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2016, 2012, and 2008 |website=Daily Kos |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218124957/https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2012/11/19/1163009/-Daily-Kos-Elections-presidential-results-by-congressional-district-for-the-2012-2008-elections |archive-date=February 18, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=February 26, 2019}}

On January 23, 2017, the U.S. representative for Kansas's 4th congressional district, Mike Pompeo, resigned after being nominated by President Donald Trump as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He was confirmed by the United States Senate. Gov. Sam Brownback had five days to declare a special election to be held between 45 and 60 days after being called.{{cite web|url=http://www.kwch.com/content/news/If-Rep-Mike-Pompeo-takes-over-CIA-how-is-his-House-seat-replaced-401925096.html|title=If Rep. Mike Pompeo takes over CIA, how is his House seat replaced?|first=Scott|last=Evans|access-date=December 1, 2016}} The day following Pompeo's resignation, Brownback declared a special election to take place on April 11.{{cite web|url=http://ksn.com/2017/01/25/governor-sets-april-11-election-to-fill-pompeos-seat/|title=Governor sets April 11 election to fill Pompeo's seat|agency=Associated Press|date=January 25, 2017|access-date=February 9, 2017}}

Nominees for each party were selected by a district convention of party activists. Independent candidates were eligible to gain ballot access upon submitting 3,000 signatures within the first 25 days after the election was called.{{cite web|last=Hancock|first=Peter|url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2017/jan/12/kansas-house-passes-bill-special-elections-congres|title=Kansas House passes bill on special elections for Congress as Pompeo stands for confirmation for CIA|work=Lawrence Journal-World|date=January 12, 2017|access-date=February 6, 2017}}

Although not initially expecting a close race, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spent $100,000 on advertising in the last week of the campaign, and Republican politicians Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, President Donald Trump, and Vice President Mike Pence recorded robocalls or campaigned in person supporting their nominee Ron Estes.{{cite news|last=Bradner |first=Eric |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/10/politics/kansas-house-special-election/ |title=GOP cavalry heads to Kansas ahead of close House election |publisher=CNN |date=2017-04-10 |access-date=2017-09-27}}{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/328193-trump-records-robocall-for-kansas-special-election/ |title=Trump records robocall for Kansas special election |publisher=The Hill |date=2017-04-10 |access-date=2017-09-27}} On April 10, the Cook Political Report moved the rating of the district to Lean Republican.{{cite web |url=http://cookpolitical.com/story/10306 |title = KS-04 Moves to Lean Republican, GA-06 to Toss Up |access-date=2017-04-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410213136/http://cookpolitical.com/story/10306 |archive-date=April 10, 2017 |df=mdy-all }} Estes won the election by 6.2% over political newcomer James Thompson. This not only marked a dramatic shift from the 61.6%–29.6% margin that Pompeo had been re-elected by in the previous year's regularly-scheduled election, but this was also the closest race in the district since incumbent Todd Tiahrt, who held the seat from 1995 to 2011, edged out Democrat Randy Rathburn by 3% in 1996.

The Republican Party selected a nominee at a convention held on February 9, 2017.

• Ron Estes, State Treasurer{{cite web|url=http://ksn.com/2017/01/25/state-treasurer-ron-estes-announces-run-for-4th-congressional-district-seat/|title=State Treasurer Ron Estes announces run for 4th Congressional District seat|first=Ksn|last=Tv|date=January 25, 2017|access-date=February 9, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article131878264.html|title=Estes wins GOP nomination for Pompeo seat|work=The Wichita Eagle|last=Lefler|first=Dion|date=February 9, 2017|access-date=February 12, 2017}}

• Joseph Ashby, former radio talk show host{{cite web|url=http://www.derbyinformer.com/news/derby_news/congressional-seat-sought-by-derby-man/article_1114a890-e7e5-11e6-9d5c-5f0886542cae.html|title=Congressional seat sought by Derby man|work=The Derby Informer|last=Dinell|first=David|date=February 1, 2017|access-date=February 9, 2017}}
• George Bruce, attorney{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article125653929.html|work=The Wichita Eagle|title=Wichita lawyer George Bruce announces run for Congress|date=January 10, 2017|access-date=January 13, 2017|first=Daniel|last=Salazar}}
• Alan Cobb, former Donald Trump campaign staffer{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article128456794.html|title=Here's the latest on who's running for Pompeo's seat in Congress|access-date=February 9, 2017}}
• Todd Tiahrt, former U.S. representative{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article128513964.html |title = Kansas governor sets April 11 election to fill Pompeo's seat {{!}} McClatchy DC |access-date=2017-01-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127155903/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article128513964.html |archive-date=January 27, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}

• Eric Kidwell, attorney{{cite web|url=http://www.kwch.com/content/news/Eric-Kidwell--412341583.html|title=Eric Kidwell announces bid for 4th Congressional District seat|work=KWCH|date=January 31, 2017|access-date=February 9, 2017}}
• Pete Meitzner, Wichita city councilman{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article126070989.html|work=The Wichita Eagle|title=Wichita council member Pete Meitzner to run for Pompeo's seat|date=January 12, 2017|access-date=January 14, 2017|first=Kelsey|last=Ryan}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kake.com/story/34461345/meitzner-withdraws-from-congressional-race|title=Meitzner withdraws from Congressional race|work=KAKE|date=February 8, 2017|access-date=February 9, 2017}}

• Willis Hartman, businessman
• Mark Hutton, state representative{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article118000428.html|title=Field narrows again in race to replace Pompeo|work=The Wichita Eagle|date=November 30, 2016|access-date=December 2, 2016}}
• Mark Kahrs, state representative{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article119464818.html|title=Former U.S. Rep. Tiahrt exploring whether to seek old seat|access-date=February 9, 2017}}
• Ty Masterson, state senator
• Michael O'Donnell, Sedgwick County commissioner
• Susan Wagle, president of the state senate{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article128456794.html|title=Here's the latest on who's running for Pompeo's seat in Congress|work=The Wichita Eagle|last=Lowry|first=Bryan|date=January 24, 2017|access-date=February 9, 2017}}

{{Endorsements box

| title = Ron Estes

| list =

Federal Politicians

• Ted Cruz, Texas senator
• Mike Pence, vice president of the United States
• Donald Trump, president of the United States

}}

The Democratic Party selected a nominee at a convention held on February 11, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://kmuw.org/post/kansas-parties-select-candidates-4th-district-special-election|title=Kansas Parties To Select Candidates For 4th District Special Election|work=KMUW|last=Faulx|first=Nadya|date=February 8, 2017|access-date=February 9, 2017}}

• James Thompson, attorney and U.S. Army veteran{{Cite news|url=http://www.kwch.com/video?vid=412238743|title=James Thompson announces campaign for 4th Congressional District|last=matthew.heilman|language=en|access-date=February 2, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article132183819.html|title=Lawyer James Thompson wins Democratic nomination for Congress|work=The Wichita Eagle|last=Lefler|first=Dion|date=February 11, 2017|access-date=February 12, 2017}}

• Laura Lombard, entrepreneur{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article126328039.html|title=Laura Lombard to run as Democrat for Pompeo's seat|work=The Wichita Eagle|last=Ryan|first=Kelsey|date=January 13, 2017|access-date=January 17, 2017}}
• Dennis McKinney, former Kansas State Treasurer and former Minority leader of the Kansas House of Representatives{{cite web|url=http://www2.ljworld.com/weblogs/capitol-report/2017/jan/24/former-lawmaker-dennis-mckinney-to-annou/|title=Former lawmaker Dennis McKinney to announce bid for Congress - Statehouse Live / LJWorld.com|access-date=February 9, 2017}}
• Robert Tillman, nominee for this seat in 2012 and candidate for this seat in 2016
• Charlie Walker, police officer{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/charliewalkerKS|title=Charlie Walker 4 KS (@charliewalkerKS) - Twitter|access-date=February 9, 2017}}

• Kevass Harding, former Wichita School Board member

• Carl Brewer, former mayor of Wichita{{cite web|url=http://kmuw.org/post/several-kansas-democrats-interested-running-4th-district-seat|title=Several Kansas Democrats Interested In Running For 4th District Seat|work=KMUW|last=Eckels|first=Carla|date=December 13, 2016|access-date=December 16, 2016}}
• Dan Giroux, attorney and nominee for this seat in 2016{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article115639338.html|title=Who wants to replace Mike Pompeo in Congress?|work=The Wichita Eagle|access-date=December 1, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/jeff-sessions-mike-pompeo-congress-vacancies-231627|title=Trump appointments have Republicans lining up for Senate, House vacancies|access-date=December 1, 2016}}
• Henry Helgerson, state representative
• Jim Ward, state representative

{{Endorsements box

| title = James Thompson

| list =

U.S. senators

• Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator from Vermont

Organizations

• Our Revolution

}}

The Libertarian Party selected a nominee at a convention held on February 11, 2017.

• Chris Rockhold, educator{{cite web|title=15 things you need to know about the race to replace Pompeo|last=Lefler|first=Dion|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article130968234.html|work=The Wichita Eagle|date=February 6, 2017|access-date=February 6, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Chris Rockhold|last=Rockhold|first=Chris|url=https://www.facebook.com/chrisforkansas|work=Facebook|date=January 25, 2017|access-date=February 6, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article132211814.html|title=Chris Rockhold earns Libertarian nod for 4th District special election|work=The Wichita Eagle|last=Finger|first=Stan|date=February 11, 2017|access-date=February 12, 2017}}

• Gordon Bakken, candidate for this seat in 2016
• John Kostner, farmer and rancher

The Associated Press called the election for Estes while he was leading by 6% with 88% of precincts reporting. The lead was 6.2% when all the votes were tallied.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/328362-live-results-kansas-special-election/ |title=Live results: Kansas special election |publisher=The Hill |access-date=2017-09-27}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/kansas-house-special-election-district-4|title=Live Results: Republicans Defend House Seat in Kansas Special Election|access-date=April 12, 2017}}

{{Election box begin

| title =Kansas's 4th congressional district special election, 2017{{cite web |title=Kansas Secretary of State. 2017 General Election Official Vote Totals |url=http://www.kssos.org/elections/17elec/2017_Special_Election_Official_Results.pdf |publisher=www.kssos.org |access-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709045923/http://www.kssos.org/elections/17elec/2017_Special_Election_Official_Results.pdf |archive-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=live}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| candidate =Ron Estes

| change =-8.5%

| party =Republican Party (US)

| votes =64,044

| percentage =52.2%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate =James Thompson

| change =+16.4%

| party =Democratic Party (US)

| votes =56,435

| percentage =46.0%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate =Chris Rockhold

| change =-1.1%

| party =Libertarian Party (US)

| votes =2,115

| percentage =1.7%

}}

{{Election box total

| change =

| votes =122,594

| percentage =100.0%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner =Republican Party (US)

| loser =Democratic Party (US)

}}

{{Election box end}}

• List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives
• 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Kansas
• 2005 Ohio's 2nd congressional district special election

{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

{{reflist|30em}}

Official campaign websites

• [http://estesforcongress.com/ Ron Estes (R) for Congress]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20181110112356/http://www.chrisrockhold.com/ Chris Rockhold (L) for Congress]
• [http://www.votejamesthompson.com/ James Thompson (D) for Congress] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131195729/http://www.votejamesthompson.com/ |date=January 31, 2017 }}

{{2017 United States elections}}

Category:April 2017 in the United States

Kansas 2017 04

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2017 04 Special

Kansas 04 Special

United States House of Representatives 04 Special

United States House of Representatives 2017 04