With the general election less than three weeks away, Republican state Sen. Bud Estes has been hospitalized with an undisclosed illness.
The Dodge City Daily Globe on Thursday reported that Estes, a legislator since 2013, was in the hospital.
It was not known how long he had been in the hospital or when he might be released.
“He’s in the hospital and laying low and getting better before the next (legislative) session,” Estes’ wife, Renae, told the newspaper.
“He’s doing great and doing better and he will be back, he always does.”
Efforts to reach Renae Estes for comment on Thursday were unsuccessful.
The newspaper reported that Estes’ last public appearance was July 23 in Dodge City.
Estes is facing Democratic lawyer Edgar Pando in the general election.
Earlier this week, Pando issued a statement calling on Estes to participate in a forum set to be held by Smoky Hills PBS.
“My opponent has not participated in a forum since July and has been absent from numerous public events since that event,” Pando said.
“This is a great opportunity for us to safely reach voters and talk about our platforms.”
In an interview, Pando said he had not been notified by anyone affiliated with Estes’ campaign about the senator’s illness.
“I don’t know if I will ever hear from them,” Pando said of his rival’s campaign.
“There have been faint rumblings that he’s been in – more than out – of the hospital for some time now,” Pando said. “I’ve never followed the thread too far.”
Pando said he hears rumors about Estes’ health but doesn’t put much stock in them.
Estes, 74, served in the Kansas House from 2013 through 2016. He was elected to the Senate representing District 38 in 2016.
The district is heavily Republican. Kris Kobach carried it by about 23 percentage points in the 2018 governor’s race over Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.
It generally should not be a seat Republicans need to worry about as they defend their supermajority in the Senate.
Pando raised about $7,500 during the first half the year compared to the $8,900 that Estes raised. But Estes had about $28,000 in the bank as of July 23.
Three years ago, Estes received a kidney transplant from his daughter-in-law.
Earlier this year, he told the Capital-Journal that he was convinced he had come down with COVID-19 after suffering from extreme fatigue, coughing and chest tightness.
He confined himself to his Topeka apartment and felt well after about three weeks.
