Eric Jenkins, a Republican, is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Kansas's 3rd Congressional District. The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.

Jenkins won the Republican primary on Aug. 4, 2026, with approximately 79% of the vote, defeating Chase LaPorte, according to the Kansas Reflector. He faces Sharice L. Davids, a Democrat, and Steven A. Hohe, a Libertarian, in the general election.

Candidate information

  • Party: Republican
  • Birthplace: Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, according to his campaign website
  • Education: Bachelor's in history, Missouri State University (1970); master's in geography, University North Carolina-Charlotte (1976), according to BallotReady profile data. Also attended the U.S. Army War College, according to his campaign website.

Experience and public service

Jenkins served as a colonel in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 2009, according to BallotReady profile data. During his Army career, Jenkins said on his campaign website that he commanded a Special Forces A-Team and a Military Police Battalion and earned the Legion of Merit, which he described as one of the nation's highest non-combat military decorations.

He also worked as a manager at the Federal Emergency Management Agency from 1976 to 2005 and has served as president of PRMiT Consultants since 2010, according to BallotReady.

In local government, Jenkins served as Shawnee City Council member for Ward 2 from 2015 to 2023, according to BallotReady profile data. He served as council president from 2021 to 2023 and on the Shawnee Planning Commission, according to his campaign website. Jenkins lost his 2023 reelection bid to Jeanie Murphy, according to the Johnson County Post.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Jenkins' campaign website and his responses on BallotReady. They reflect the candidate's own stated views.

Taxes and the economy: Jenkins said he wants to extend and make permanent the Trump-era tax cuts for working families. He said he opposes any new broad-based tax increases on Kansas residents and supports a balanced budget framework. He said he would work to cut government regulations that burden small businesses and families and reduce the regulatory burden on Kansas businesses and farmers. He said he wants to eliminate wasteful and duplicative federal programs and fight for trade deals that protect Kansas agriculture and manufacturing. He also said he wants to expand broadband access in underserved parts of the district.

Defense and veterans: Jenkins said he supports fully funding and modernizing the U.S. military, strengthening Fort Leavenworth and other Kansas military installations, and providing veterans with quality health care and benefits. He said he would hold allies accountable for meeting their own defense commitments and oppose foreign entanglements that drain American resources.

Immigration and border security: Jenkins said he supports completing and maintaining a secure southern border, ending catch-and-release policies, defunding cities that obstruct federal immigration enforcement and stopping the flow of fentanyl and dangerous narcotics across the border. He said he also supports legal immigration pathways while cracking down on illegal entry.

Energy: Jenkins said he supports American energy independence through oil, gas, nuclear and renewable sources. He said he opposes the Green New Deal and energy policies he says raise household costs.

Civil liberties and the judiciary: Jenkins said he wants to protect free speech, defend Second Amendment rights against unconstitutional restrictions and support the appointment of constitutionalist judges. He said he opposes federal mandates that strip states and individuals of their autonomy.

Candidate responses were collected through the candidate's campaign website and BallotReady questionnaire. Responses reflect the candidate's stated positions.