James Peden
Republican | Kentucky
Candidate Profile*
Leans Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
James Peden
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Senator, Dist. 26
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Louisville, Louisville, MA in Teaching
University of Louisville, Louisville, BA in History
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Highview Fire Department, Asst Chief
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Louisville Metro Council, 19
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
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)
*Freedoms Heritage Forum
Kevin Bratcher
LIBERAL (1)
*Better Schools Kentucky
OTHER (2)
*Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police
Sonja Minch
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
James Comer Jr. (2014)
State Republican Party Organizations (2022)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Hal Heiner (2022)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2014)
Nicholas X. Simon (2010)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Better Schools Kentucky (2022)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2006)
International Brotherhood of Teamsters (2010)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Mothers life is in jeopardy, conception due to rape or incest
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Do you support the proposed Yes for Life amendment to the Kentucky Constitution, which makes clear that there is no state constitutional right to abortion?
Choose not to answer
Unfamiliar with this proposal
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Neutral
I support death with dignity but need details on a specific law to commit to support
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I favor consumption taxes over income or production taxes but we need protections for the indigent due to basic life costs being a high percentage of expenditures
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
The state budget for which I would like to have a vote and the city budget where I currently have a vote are already balanced, with minimal debt outside of pension obligations
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
If the hypothetical program you were referring to included more than college I may move to neutral. But it is unfair to charge tax payers so a student can major in classical studies while the individual worker has to pay for their own plumbing classes or learning how to weld or other trades. The only exception I might approve of is in careers where drastic shortages occur, like doctors in Eastern Kentucky. Pay their way to school and then they have to serve a specific area.
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?
Never
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.
Somewhere between B and C but I also believe the providers need to be more public with their pricing schemes
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Pre-covid child vaccination regimes are adequate with provided religious or medical exemptions. I do not support government requirements for adults. I do support a private business to be able to create it's own policies.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The first thing to ward off terrorism within our country is to better secure the borders. Keep those out that would do us harm. Much like my answer to the immigration question, I am not against immigration, but create a set of rules to protect us and then stick to them.
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.
Neutral
I am for whatever Israel and the Palestinian territories workout. Although Israel is our ally, this is none of our business
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
It should not be a who question, it should be a how question. A consistent federal immigration policy needs to be created, around worker needs and refugee status, and then enforce those rules
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child instead of the bureaucracy, through a program which allows parents the freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Agree
I believe state dollars should follow the student within districts and even across jurisdictional boundaries or to private schools. I am not sure about tax dollars for homeschoolers outside of reimbursing for curriculum materials needed to educate. Local money should stay within that local jurisdiction
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Neutral
I was baptized at 12. Raised in the church. Still go weekly, even during covid. I strongly believe in Freedom of Religion. This question does not.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Did not answer
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Neutral
I personally agree with the sentiment above, but it stopped being a strictly religious institution when laws for tax advantages, insurance programs, and banking advantages were created just for married couples. Now freedom of religion applies to marriage as well.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Laws requiring a photo ID are a definite. Also, all absentee and early votes should be counted prior to election day. Although the totals should be withheld so as not to influence outcomes, those numbers should be reported the moment the poles close. Not counted overnight in secret. The credibility of elections is just as important as accuracy.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism exists in individuals but it only becomes a security issue when anti-descrimination laws and rioting laws are not enforced
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.
Somewhere between A and B. Many times the rules are too costly (jobs, money) for minimal benefit but I also remember when some rivers were so polluted they caught fire. Some level of minimal regs are necessary for the bad actors in the world.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To provide protections and services that are best done as a cooperative group like public safety or building roads or education
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?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
.
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?
We must shore up public safety and make Kentucky more attractive to 21st century businesses and those that start them
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
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?
No new laws are needed.
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?
Yes
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.
Agree
