
Shannon Denniston
Republican | Kentucky
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Shannon Denniston
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 74
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
Morehead State University, Morehead, Bachelor of Business Administration, 1997-2001
WORK & MILITARY
Denniston Enterprises, Inc., President, 2001-
Denniston Properties, Owner, 2003-
Denniston Realty, Principal Broker, 2020-
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Magistrate, 2005-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Kentucky State Representative, 74th District, 2026-
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (3)
Freedoms Heritage Forum
Make Liberty Win
Republican Liberty Caucus of Kentucky
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (9)
Make Liberty Win - Young Americans For Liberty
Republican Liberty Caucus
US Congressman Thomas Massie
Kentucky State Representative TJ Roberts
Kentucky State Representative Savannah Maddox
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
None.
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
It means you are free to worship whoever and whatever without government interference.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes, it is important because Israel is an ally, but we should stop funding them. If they need our military to defend them, they need to reimburse us for that.
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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
D) Remove government from health care. Let the free market sort it all out.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
None of government's business. Medical history should be private.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
These are the foundation for the American Dream and must be protected at all costs.
What is your position on the minimum wage?
Abolish minimum wage. The market establishes values. Not the role of government.
I support using taxpayer funds to lobby the state legislature.
Strongly Disagree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
1. I am going to cut the budget to stop waste. There is an enormous amount of fraud we can and must remove. 2. Sell surplus property and terminate unused real estate building and ground leases. 3. Offer pension buyouts to reduce the unfunded pension liabilities. 4. Prevent government retirees from double-dipping on benefits and pensions. 5. Consolidate redundant offices/programs, reducing administrative overhead, and making agencies prove results like a private business would.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
America ONLY.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
To settle disputes that we cannot settle ourselves and to get justice for victims.
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
The government should use automated-enforcement cameras to track speeding and criminal activity.
Strongly Disagree
No, No, No. Automatic License Plate Readers, such as Flock cameras, violate the 4th Amendment of our Constitution.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Law-abiding citizens' right to buy arms should not be infringed. I wouldn't add any additional restrictions other than what Kentucky already imposes.
ABOUT YOU
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
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No.
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I gave my life to Christ at age 13 at the First Church of God in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. I am powered by Jesus.
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
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Neutral
I do not support predatory gambling, but gambling is already here so we must tax and regulate to protect citizens from predatory gambling.
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's upbringing, including their religious, health, and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
Attempts to transition or encourage a child to transition to the opposite sex constitutes child abuse.
Strongly Agree
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear and solar. Also, natural gas and coal appear to be doing a good job and are readily available and reliable.
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
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