Guthrie faces three challengers in U.S. 2nd District race

Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie will face three challengers Tuesday in the race for the U.S. 2nd Congressional District seat.

The district covers 22 counties, including Hardin, LaRue, Meade, Grayson, Breckinridge and Nelson.

•  Guthrie, a resident of Bowling Green, first was elected to the seat in 2008 when he garnered 52.6 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat David E. Boswell from Owensboro, according to the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website.

Guthrie serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he is the subcommittees for health, communication and technology, and commerce, manufacturing and trade, according to his website.

Guthrie’s campaign said he could not be reached for comment last week. However, officials released the following statement in an email: “Congressman Guthrie is fighting in Washington for pro-job policies, to repeal Obamacare, and for a balanced budget. We are concerned with solving those big problems for the people of the Second District and are confident that (Rep.) Guthrie’s solutions-oriented leadership will be well received by the voters on Election Day.”

Guthrie’s challengers are Democrat David Lynn Williams of Glasgow, Libertarian Craig Astor of Hodgenville and Independent Andrew Beacham of Indiana.

• Astor, who previously served as chairman of the Republican Party in LaRue County, said  in an email he is running for the seat because he believes the parties have failed American citizens.

“Both parties polarized America over hot-button issues that they manipulate with political rhetoric to keep Americans voting over single issues,” he wrote.

Astor said he refuses to “tickle the ears” of voters over issues such as abortion or a balanced budget amendment, knowing such legislation will not pass at federal or state levels.

If elected, Astor said he would support legislation to remove job-killing regulations and taxes that discourage business growth and entrepreneurship, stop wars on terrorism and drugs, and bring home troops.

“The voters of the 2nd District should take a serious look at me when voting because I’ve experienced and understand the hardships and struggles that the majority of families have to endure,” Astor wrote. “From when I received $100 per week as a minister when we were first married to working two jobs to make ends meet raising four children, I sympathize for those struggling to keep the bills paid or trying to find a job.”

• Williams has run for office nearly every year since 2006, according to the Barren County Clerk’s Office.

In 2006 and 2010, he ran for mayor of Glasgow and lost, according to the clerk’s office. He also ran two unsuccessful campaigns for commissioner of agriculture, losing to Richie Farmer in 2007 and losing in the primary in 2011.

In 2008, he ran in the primary for U.S. Senate, losing to Democrat Brian Lunsford, according to the secretary of state’s website.

According to the website, he previously ran for the 2nd District congressional seat in 2002, losing to former Republican Rep. Ron Lewis from Hardin County.

•  Beacham is a “full-time pro-life missionary and activist for Christian policies in government,” according to his website.

His campaign recently has gained attention in the media for airing advertisements featuring images of an aborted fetus.

According to Beacham’s website, “You can be sure that Andrew’s TV commercials against Obama will have a withering effect on Obama’s base, and will garner extensive media coverage in Indiana, Kentucky, and across the nation.”

Sarah Bennett can be reached at (270) 505-1750 or sbennett@thenewsenterprise.com.