WICHITA -In addition to a visit by Texas Senator Ted Cruz , President Donald Trump stepped into a special congressional race in Kansas by recording a call urging prospective voters to cast their ballots for Republican candidate Ron Estes.

The Associated Press obtained a recording of the call Monday as the Estes campaign started using it ahead of Tuesday’s election.

The recording was provided by a person close to the campaign who didn’t want to be identified because the recording was released ahead of an official announcement. The person said it was recorded over the weekend.

Trump said in the call: “Republican Ron Estes needs your vote and needs it badly.”

Estes is in a tougher-than-expected race in the 4th Congressional District of southern Kansas against Democrat James Thompson. They’re seeking to replace Mike Pompeo after Trump named Pompeo CIA director.

——-

WICHITA— Texas Sen. Ted Cruz appeared in Kansas Monday to campaign for Republican candidate Ron Estes ahead of Tuesday’s special congressional election.

Cruz appeared with the candidate during a Monday afternoon rally at Yingling Aviation.

Estes is the state treasurer and he’s running to replace Mike Pompeo after Pompeo’s appointment as CIA director.

The Democratic candidate is civil rights attorney James Thompson. Flight simulator instructor Chris Rockhold is running as a Libertarian.

Cruz won the state’s presidential caucuses last year. Estes initially backed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio but is a longtime Republican activist.

The 4th Congressional District of south-central Kansas includes Barber, Butler, Chautauqua, Comanche, Cowley, Edwards, Elk, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Kiowa, Pratt, Sedgwick, Stafford, and Sumner and a portion of Pawnee County. The largest city in the district is Wichita.