Brett Guthrie


Steven Brett Guthrie is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for. Located in central Kentucky, the district covers Fort Knox, Owensboro, Bowling Green and Danville. He previously served as a Republican member of the Kentucky Senate.

Early life, education, and career

Guthrie was born in Florence, Alabama, the son of Carolyn P. and Lowell M. Guthrie. He earned his Bachelor of Science in mathematical economics from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1987 and his Master's of Public and Private Management from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1997.
Guthrie is a former vice president of Trace Die Cast, Inc., an automotive parts supplier based in Bowling Green. Guthrie has previously served as a field artillery officer in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Kentucky Senate

Guthrie represented the 32nd district in the Kentucky Senate from 1999 to 2008, where he served as vice chairman of the Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee, and was chairman of the Transportation Committee.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

;2008
In the 2008 congressional general election, he defeated his Democratic opponent, State Senator David Boswell, for the right to succeed the retiring Republican U.S. Representative Ron Lewis. Lewis announced his retirement on the last day for candidates to file for the seat in 2008, in hopes of steering the Republican nomination to his chief of staff, Daniel London. Guthrie, however, filed his papers and defeated London for the party nomination.
This set up the closest race in the 2nd in 14 years. While Democrats have a large advantage in registration, the voters are very conservative on social issues. This was a major reason Lewis had been able to hold on to the district with little trouble since winning it in a 1994 special election. Ultimately, Guthrie prevailed by 15,500 votes, mostly on the strength of rural voters. Guthrie may have been boosted by voters being more motivated to come to the polls due to the Presidential election and the Senate election that were held at the same time. Republican candidate John McCain carried the district with 60 percent of the vote and won all but one county entirely within the district. The incumbent Republican Senator Mitch McConnell also carried the 2nd district easily.
;2010
The 2nd reverted to form in 2010, and Guthrie defeated Democratic candidate Ed Marksberry by a large margin.
;2012
Guthrie won reelection in 2012 with over 64% of the vote.
;2018
Guthrie filed for re-election on November 27, 2017. Two Democratic challengers filed against Guthrie: Grant Short and Brian Pedigo, both of whom ultimately lost to Democratic candidate Hank Linderman in the 2018 primaries.

Tenure

;2011
In 2011, Guthrie voted for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 as part of a controversial provision that allows the government and the military to indefinitely detain American citizens and others without trial. In July 2013, Guthrie voted against the move to defund the National Security Agency due to the alleged privacy violations reported by whistleblower Edward Snowden.
;2013
Guthrie voted in favor to end the United States federal government shutdown of 2013.
In September, Guthrie introduced the Missing Children's Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2013, authorizing the continued funding of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children through fiscal year 2018 and to strengthen additional programs that prevent the abduction and sexual exploitation of children.
;2017
Guthrie introduced, alongside Virginia Foxx, the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success and Prosperity through Education Reform Act, an act that would eliminate Public Service Loan Forgiveness and would reduce federal funding made available to for-profit colleges.
On December 19, Guthrie voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Prior to his vote, Guthrie said that he was "willing to accept" criticism about the bill making American businesses more competitive on a global scale.

Committee assignments

Interest group ratings

Guthrie has an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association for his pro-gun rights voting history.
In 2016, Guthrie received a "D" rating from marijuana legalization advocacy group NORML for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes.

Health care

Guthrie supports the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act.

Abortion

Guthrie is pro-life. In 2008, Kentucky Right for Life endorsed him. He has a 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee for his voting record on abortion-related matters.

Electoral history

Personal life

With his family, Guthrie attends the Lehman Avenue Church of Christ in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as reported by the Christian Chronicle; Michael Greene, former minister of the Lehman Avenue congregation, said that he has no doubt "Guthrie's faith will play a positive role" in representation of the 2nd district.