kirkpatrick was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1892 to the fifty-third congress. he was then elected as a republican to the fifty-fourth congress (march 4, 1895 – march 3, 1897). he ran for reelection to the fifty-fifth congress and for election to the fifty-sixth and fifty-seventh congresses but was unsuccessful. kirkpatrick served as member of the kansas state house of representatives 1903-1905.