

Jonathan Shell
Republican | Kentucky
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Jonathan Shell
Party
Republican
Election Year
2023
Election
Primary
Race
Commissioner of Agriculture
Incumbent
No
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
2018
83%
2015
63%, 76% (cum.)†
2018
89%, 75% (cum.)†
2015
|63%, 76% (cum.)†
2018
|89%, 75% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS*
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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