Esau Freeman

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Esau Freeman

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Ross Hill High School

Bachelor's

Wichita State University, 2006

Personal

Birthplace

Wichita, Kan.

Profession

Manager

Contact

Campaign website

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Esau Freeman (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Kansas' 4th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Freeman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Esau Freeman was born in Wichita, Kansas. Freeman earned a high school diploma from Ross Hill High School and a bachelor's degree from Wichita State University. His career experience includes working as a business representative for Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 513.

Elections

2024

See also: Kansas' 4th Congressional District election, 2024

Kansas' 4th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Democratic primary)

Kansas' 4th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Kansas District 4

Incumbent Ron Estes defeated Esau Freeman in the general election for U.S. House Kansas District 4 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ron Estes (R)	65.0	198,465
		Esau Freeman (D)	35.0	106,632

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 305,097
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Kansas District 4

Esau Freeman advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Kansas District 4 on August 6, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Esau Freeman	100.0	10,641

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,641
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Michael Soetaert (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Kansas District 4

Incumbent Ron Estes advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Kansas District 4 on August 6, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ron Estes	100.0	40,100

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 40,100
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Freeman received the following endorsements.

• AFL-CIO

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Esau Freeman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Freeman's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Esau Freeman is running for the US House of Representatives in Kansas’s 4th Congressional district.

A third-generation Kansan, Freeman has dedicated his life to advocating for workers’ rights, healthcare reform, and sensible drug policies. He is currently employed as a Business Representative for Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 513 in Wichita, KS.

Esau lives in Sedgwick, Kansas with his wife and daughter.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Abortion. Decisions concerning contraception and abortion should rest with individuals, rather than with politicians or the government. To make well-informed choices, individuals require access to (1) comprehensive and easily understandable information, (2) reliable birth control methods, (3) constitutionally protected abortion services, and (4) safeguards against discrimination based on personal decisions regarding contraception, childbirth, or abortion.
• Gun Violence Prevention. Our government can and should do more to prevent gun violence. We need common-sense gun violence prevention measures including closing background check loopholes, keeping violent offenders from purchasing weapons, raising the legal age to purchase to 21+, and implementing a 3-day waiting period for the purchase of guns.
• Adult-Use Cannabis. After decades of a failed and racist war on drugs, it’s past time we righted previous wrongs. Adult-use cannabis should be allowed at the federal level, and non-violent cannabis-only convictions should be overturned and expunged.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Pro abortion legislation, gun violence prevention, the legalization of adult-use cannabis, fair taxation, and expanding the ACA.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My grandfather, Emerson Freeman. I wish to follow his lead because he was very honest and compassionate and empathetic.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Loyalty -- to both my constituents and my country. Integrity -- doing the work that was promised in my platform, and sticking to it. Honesty -- being honest about potential votes I'd have to make, and the justification of such. Transparency -- financial, no back-door deals for votes.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Honesty. I have been told that I am honest -- sometimes to a fault.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Upholding the United States Constitution. Sustaining the promise to fight for freedom for all -- whether the elected official agrees or disagrees with the person. Commitment to the work of representing their district with fairness and compassion.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I wish to leave things better than I found them.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Reagan's attempted assassination, when I was 8 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Rose Hill IGA, a grocery store. I worked there for 4 years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I have two, the first is Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, because of the coming of age vibes. The second book is Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, which reflects on enjoying the mundane normalcies of life when in time of severe struggle.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Garfield, because I hate Monday's and love lasagna.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Being financially stable, ensuring my family has a solid foundation to rely on.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

More specific representation for all communities, with 435 representatives from 50 states, as opposed to 100 in the Senate. The US House of Representatives feels more localized, in a way.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I do not believe it should be a requirement, however I think it is beneficial for anyone who wants to represent their district in government to have a basic understanding of how such institutions work, and that experience can be gained through previous experience in politics.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Navigating foreign policy issues, maintaining a strong economy and preparing for the future.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes. It gives voters and constituents a chance to have their voices heard about who they want representing them.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Depending on the position -- term limits are incredibly important for higher power positions, such as for the executive branch. As for the position I am running for, US House of Representatives -- I believe that the term limit is the election itself. Should I be elected to serve my district, I believe that the next election is when voters decide if I continue.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Dan Glickman, who has held the office I am running for and was also the United States Secretary of Agriculture.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

As the business representative for SEIU local 513, I have heard many stories of people overcoming strife and adversity in the workplace. One in particular would be when a man in our union fell on financial hard times due to medical issues and debt, everyone in the union rallied behind him to help pay his bills, help his family out with transportation, meals, etc. It is that kind of coming together and community that drives me to want to help.

Tell us your favorite joke.

My grandfather used to tell me this joke about two skunks -- The mama skunk was looking for her two baby skunks one was named "In", and the other was named "Out", when the mama skunk asked the turtle if he had seem them, the turtle said "How can you tell them apart?" mama replies "In stinked"!

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes, compromise is absolutely necessary for policymaking. With the two-party system our nation recognizes, it is difficult to find a middle ground on specific issues to move our nation forward. Compromise from both sides of the aisle is necessary.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

If elected, I think my priorities would change very little as a large part of my platform is based around financial transparency.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

I believe that Congress' investigatory role is an important part of making sure Washington works for average Americans. Through select investigatory committees, the House ensures that taxpayer money is spent efficiently, policy is implemented in an effective manner, and regulates compliance with important federal laws. Additionally, I oppose the politicization of investigatory committees designed to score political points and produce sound bites for cable news networks. These efforts provide little value to voters and distract from Congress' mandate to improve the lives of Americans.

What committees interest you?

Agriculture, Education and the Workforce, Committee on Oversight and Accountability

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

If a person is in a place where they are making legal decisions about others' personal financial situations, (whether it be the amount of taxes owed, how they spend/save their money, where/how they bank) there is a responsibility owed that they themselves are transparent about how they handle such matters. Government accountability is incredibly important to prevent corruption and ensure that public officials remain answerable and accessible to the people they serve.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Freeman’s campaign website stated the following:

“	Abortion Access We believe every woman in America deserves the freedom to make her own healthcare decisions, particularly those involving reproductive health, without government intervention. Affordable Healthcare Our healthcare system has been overpriced and unfair for decades. We must expand the Affordable Care Act to ensure that all Kansans have access to quality and affordable healthcare. Gun Violence Gun violence has become a leading cause of death among our children and adolescents, a tragic reality we cannot accept. We support common-sense gun reform while still maintaining our Second Amendment rights. Cannabis Reform Cannabis reform through the legalization of cannabis offers numerous benefits, including economic growth, criminal justice reform, and improved public health. We support the responsible legalization of cannabis.	”
—Esau Freeman’s campaign website (2024)

2012

See also: Kansas' 4th Congressional District elections, 2012

Freeman ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Kansas' 4th District. Freeman sought the nomination on the Democratic ticket. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run was June 11, 2012. The date was originally set for June 1, but a delay in the redistricting process caused the state to push back the filing deadline.. The primary elections were held on August 7, 2012. Freeman was defeated by Robert L. Tillman in the Democratic primary on August 7, 2012.

Primary results

The primary took place on August 7.

Democratic Primary

Kansas' 4th Congressional District Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Robert Tillman	70.8%	11,224
Esau Freeman	29.2%	4,618
Total Votes		15,842

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Esau Freeman campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House Kansas District 4	Lost general	$78,395	$76,065
Grand total			$78,395	$76,065
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

See also

2024 Elections

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Candidate

U.S. House Kansas District 4

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Footnotes

[show]

Kansas' current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Roger Marshall (R)

Jerry Moran (R)

Representatives

District 1

Tracey Mann (R)

District 2

Derek Schmidt (R)

District 3

Sharice Davids (D)

District 4

Ron Estes (R)

Republican Party (5)

Democratic Party (1)