Jonathan Shell

Republican | Kentucky

Candidate Profile*

Conservative

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Jonathan Shell


Party

Republican


Election Year

2023


Election

Primary


Race

Commissioner of Agriculture


Incumbent

No


Links

Jonathan Shell websites FacebookX

EDUCATION

Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, BS, 2010

WORK & MILITARY

Candidate did not provide

AFFILIATIONS

Pilot Knob Missionary Baptist Church, Sunday School Director, National Rifle Association

Member, Sen. Mitch McConnell 2020 Re-election, Chairman

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Kentucky State House Majority Leader, 2017-2018

Kentucky State Representative, 2018

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Candidate did not provide

Race

Previous Races

SCORECARDS

CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS


LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (2)

*Kentucky Right to Life Association (KRTL)

Kentucky Right to Life Victory PAC

OTHER (1)

Warren Beeler

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)

Mr. Kentucky Agriculture Warren Beeler, former executive director of the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy

Kentucky Right to Life

Adair County Judge/Executive Larry Bryant

Anderson County Judge/Executive Orbrey Gritton

Barren County Judge/Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)

Daniel Cameron (2019)

James Comer Jr. (2015)

Ryan F. Quarles (2014)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (19)

Bluegrass Committee (2018)

Bob DeWeese (2016)

BrettPac (2013)

Chris Girdler (2021)

Commonwealth Political Action Committee (2022)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)

International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2018)

Kentucky Justice Association (2018)

OTHER INFORMATION

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

The right to life is sacred and must be protected. I’m proud to be 100% pro-life to have earned the endorsement about Kentucky Right to Life. As Kentucky’s first Republican House Majority Leader, I led the passage of our state’s first pro-life laws.

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Agree

I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Strongly Disagree


ECONOMY

What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?

Our tax code should encourage opportunity, investment and economic growth. Kentuckians should be able to keep more of their hard-earned dollars to invest in their own future. When Republicans took the state House in 2016, I was proud to lead the charge to make Kentucky a pro-growth state.

What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?

The radical left is trying to force its woke agenda on Kentucky and destroy our way of life. We must defend our values and oppose big government tax and spend policies.

Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.

Strongly Disagree


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Strongly Disagree

Under what circumstances can government close churches?

The freedom to practice our faith is fundamental to our nation, and the government should not infringe on this right. This governor’s brazen disregard for religious liberty was an outrageous power grab that must never happen again.


HEALTHCARE

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.

Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.

Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?

I strongly oppose COVID vaccine mandates, and I believe personal medical decisions should be made my individuals and their doctors.


NATIONAL SECURITY

What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?

I fully support the courageous men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. While the Agriculture Commissioner does not have a formal role in this area, I believe we must continue to strengthen our national security to keep every Kentucky family safe. Any threat to Americans or our interest should be met with a forceful response.

I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.

Strongly Disagree


IMMIGRATION

The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.

Strongly Agree

Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

The disaster at the Southern Border is a policy and humanitarian failure of the Biden Administration. We must continue President Trump’s work to secure the border immediately. Our country is made stronger by an efficient and effective system of legal immigration paired with robust border security. However, amnesty proposals undermine our entire immigration system and should be rejected.


EDUCATION

Do you support a constitutional amendment that would allow Kentucky’s educational dollars to follow children to the school of their choice?

Yes


VALUES

Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.

Strongly Agree

I support adding gender identity and sexual orientation as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.

Strongly Disagree

I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.

Strongly Disagree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

My Christian faith is the driving force in my life. My wife and I take all major decisions—including to run for office—to the Lord in prayer asking for guidance. While coastal elites may look down on people of faith, I will stand strong for Kentuckians who live their beliefs every day.

Parental rights are a fundamental right. Stronger legal protections are needed to ensure that parents are empowered to protect their right to direct their children’s upbringing, education, and healthcare.

Strongly Agree

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Strongly Agree


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?

We must promote the integrity and security of every election. I fully support strong voter ID laws and other policies that make it easy to vote and hard to cheat.


EQUALITY

Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?

Kentucky should be a welcoming place for people of all backgrounds. I believe we most foster an equality of opportunity for all people to have the chance to succeed.

Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.

Strongly Disagree


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.

Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy.

I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.

Strongly Agree


ABOUT YOU

What do you think is the general purpose of government?

It’s the government’s job to protect and secure Americans’ rights, not to undermine them. As Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner, I’ll proudly defend our values from those who want big government to take over every aspect of our lives.

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Very Conservative

Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).

a. https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/jonathan-shell-officially-files-for-kentucky-ag-commissioner b. Endorsed by Kentucky Right to Life: https://fb.watch/jtu0_PCPJ3/ c. My website is https://www.shellforky.com/

Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.

No.

What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?

I’m optimistic about the future of Kentucky because of the hardworking men and women who make this Commonwealth great. This campaign is about supporting farm families and ensuring that all Kentucky communities, from the most rural to the most urban, understand the importance of our agriculture industry. I’m going to defend agriculture and conservative Kentucky values on every front. This will be an aggressive campaign built on homegrown values I’ve learned on the family farm. I’m pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-growth and pro-farmer, and I live these values every day.


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.

Strongly Agree

I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.

Strongly Disagree


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

As a gun owner, avid sportsman, and member of the NRA, I don’t believe we should infringe on Kentuckians’ Second Amendment rights.

Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.

Strongly Disagree


OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES

Do you support the expansion of gambling in Kentucky?

No

The LGBTQ+ agenda’s advocacy for puberty blockers, biological males competing on girls’ sports teams, and allowing biological males into girls’ restrooms, locker rooms, and showers threatens the wellbeing of our children.

Strongly Agree

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