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Brett Guthrie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of theHouse Energy and Commerce Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromKentucky's2nd district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Ron Lewis |
| Member of theKentucky Senate from the32nd district | |
| In office January 1, 1999 – January 6, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Nicholas Kafoglis |
| Succeeded by | Mike Reynolds |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Steven Brett Guthrie (1964-02-18)February 18, 1964 (age 61) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Beth Clemmons |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | United States Military Academy (BS) Yale University (MBA) |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1987–1990[1] |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 101st Airborne Division |
Steven Brett Guthrie (born February 18, 1964) is an American businessman and politician serving as theU.S. representative forKentucky's 2nd congressional district since 2009. The district is in central Kentucky and includesFort Knox,Owensboro,Bowling Green, and a portion of easternLouisville. Guthrie previously served as aRepublican member of theKentucky Senate.
Guthrie was born inFlorence,Alabama, the son of Carolyn P. (née Holt) and Lowell M. Guthrie.[2] He earned hisBachelor of Science inmathematical economics at theU.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1987[3] and his Master's of Public and Private Management at theYale School of Management in 1997.
Guthrie is a former vice president of Trace Die Cast, Inc., an automotive parts supplier based inBowling Green. He previously served as afield artillery officer in the101st Airborne Division atFort Campbell, Kentucky.
Guthrie represented the 32nd district in theKentucky Senate from 1999 to 2008, serving as vice chair of the Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee and chairing the Transportation Committee.
In the 2008 congressionalgeneral election, Guthrie defeatedDemocratic nominee State SenatorDavid Boswell for the right to succeed the retiring U.S. RepresentativeRon 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 defeated London for the nomination.
This set up the closest race in the 2nd in 14 years. Democrats had a large advantage in registration, but voters had been very conservative on social issues. This was a major reason Lewis had been able to hold the district with little trouble since winning it in a 1994 special election. Guthrie prevailed by 15,500 votes, mostly on the strength of rural voters. He may have been boosted by voters being more motivated to come to the polls due to the presidential and Senate election held at the same time. Republican presidential nomineeJohn McCain carried the district with 60% of the vote and won all but one county entirely within the district. Incumbent Republican SenatorMitch McConnell also carried the 2nd district easily.
The 2nd reverted to form in 2010, and Guthrie defeated Democratic nominee Ed Marksberry by a large margin.
Guthrie won reelection in 2012 with over 64% of the vote.
Guthrie filed for reelection on November 27, 2017. Two Democratic challengers filed against Guthrie: Grant Short and Brian Pedigo, both of whom ultimately lost to Democratic candidateHank Linderman in the primary.[4][5]
In 2011, Guthrie voted for theNational 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.[6] In July 2013, he voted against defunding the National Security Agency due to the alleged privacy violations reported by whistleblowerEdward Snowden.[7]
Guthrie voted in favor of ending the2013 United States federal government shutdown.[8]
In September, Guthrie introduced theMissing Children's Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2013, authorizing the continued funding of theNational Center for Missing and Exploited Children through fiscal year 2018 and to strengthen additional programs that prevent the abduction and sexual exploitation of children.[9]
Guthrie andVirginia Foxx introduced the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act, an act that would eliminatePublic Service Loan Forgiveness and reduce federal funding made available to for-profit colleges.[10]
On December 19, Guthrie voted for theTax Cuts and Jobs Act.[11] Before his vote, he said he was "willing to accept" criticism about the bill making American businesses more competitive on a global scale.[4]
In August 2022, Guthrie criticized PresidentJoe Biden for forgiving up to $10,000 of student loan debt for eligible borrowers. Guthrie was criticized for hypocrisy because he had $4.3 million of debt from hisPPP loan forgiven.[12]
For the119th Congress:[13]
Guthrie supports the repeal and replacement of theAffordable Care Act ("Obamacare").[4] He also co-sponsored, along with RepresentativesGreg Murphy andDon Davis, a bill to reduce the power ofMedicare to negotiate drug prices.[20]
He married Beth Clemmons and has three children and three grandchildren.[21]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brett Guthrie | 13,493 | 50.24 | |
| Democratic | Ron Murphy | 13,363 | 49.76 | |
| Total votes | 26,856 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brett Guthrie (incumbent) | 19,498 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 19,498 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brett Guthrie (incumbent) | 21,695 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 21,695 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | S. Brett Guthrie | 158,936 | 52.57 | |
| Democratic | David E. Boswell | 143,379 | 47.43 | |
| Total votes | 302,315 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | S. Brett Guthrie (incumbent) | 155,906 | 67.89 | |
| Democratic | Ed Marksberry | 73,749 | 32.11 | |
| Total votes | 229,655 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | S. Brett Guthrie (incumbent) | 181,508 | 64.30 | |
| Democratic | David Lynn Williams | 89,541 | 31.72 | |
| Independent | Andrew R. Beacham | 6,304 | 2.23 | |
| Libertarian | Craig R. Astor | 4,914 | 1.74 | |
| Total votes | 282,267 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | S. Brett Guthrie (incumbent) | 156,936 | 69.19 | |
| Democratic | Ron Leach | 69,898 | 30.81 | |
| Total votes | 226,834 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | S. Brett Guthrie (incumbent) | 251,825 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 251,825 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | S. Brett Guthrie (incumbent) | 171,700 | 66.72 | |
| Democratic | Hank Linderman | 79,964 | 31.07 | |
| Independent | Thomas E. Loecken | 5,681 | 2.21 | |
| Total votes | 257,345 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brett Guthrie (incumbent) | 255,735 | 70.9 | |
| Democratic | Hank Linderman | 94,643 | 26.3 | |
| Libertarian | Robert Lee Perry | 7,588 | 2.1 | |
| Populist | Lewis Carter | 2,431 | 0.7 | |
| Write-in | 2 | 0.0 | ||
| Total votes | 360,399 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brett Guthrie (incumbent) | 170,487 | 71.9 | |
| Democratic | Hank Linderman | 66,769 | 28.1 | |
| Total votes | 237,256 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brett Guthrie (incumbent) | 252,826 | 73.1 | |
| Democratic | Hank Linderman | 93,029 | 26.9 | |
| Total votes | 345,855 | 100.0 | ||
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromKentucky's 2nd congressional district 2009–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Chair of theHouse Energy Committee 2025–present | |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 67th | Succeeded by |
