Eric Jenkins spent over three decades in military service, retiring as a Colonel with deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He commanded Special Forces A-Team and a Military Police Battalion, earning the Legion of Merit. Jenkins has extensive experience in government efficiency and bureaucracy, having worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and serving on the Shawnee City Council and Planning Commission for over 20 years. His professional background includes managing institutional risk in high-finance before transitioning to public service. Jenkins is married with five children and is an active member of his community.

Eric Jenkins blends a staunch military background with a pragmatic local governance approach, advocating for fiscal discipline while simultaneously supporting robust military funding. His policy stances reveal an intriguing convergence of conservative fiscal principles with a protectionist economic outlook, particularly in his opposition to the Green New Deal and support for American energy independence. Jenkins's rhetoric consistently emphasizes the rule of law and constitutional rights, yet his stance on defunding cities that obstruct federal immigration enforcement hints at a selective federalism. This juxtaposition of local autonomy with federal enforcement creates a nuanced and thought-provoking political identity.