2022 midterm elections: U.S. House candidates in 3 Kentucky races talk abortion, inflation

Kentucky's six seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for election on Nov. 8.

We put together a voter guide focused on three of those races:

• The 2nd Congressional District, which now includes part of Jefferson County thanks to redistricting and Bullitt County;

• The 3rd Congressional District, based wholly in Jefferson County;

• The 4th Congressional District, which covers Oldham, Shelby and Spencer counties as well as Northern Kentucky.

More:Everything you need to know about how to vote in Kentucky and who's on the ballot

We sent three questions to candidates in those races to help readers make their choices. Here's what they said.

Note: Some answers have been edited for clarity or accuracy.

2nd Congressional District

Rep. Brett Guthrie (Republican)

Declined to participate.

Hank Linderman (Democrat)

Age: 69

Occupation: Musician, recording engineer and producer

Political offices held: None

Contact information: hanklinderman@mac.com; (270) 925-9498; (310) 251-4587 (personal cell)

Do you support Kentucky’s near-total trigger ban on abortion, and, if elected, would you:

• Vote to expand nationwide access to abortion by passing a federal law;

• Vote to restrict nationwide access to abortion via federal law;

• Oppose any proposed federal law that would instate nationwide rules on abortion, regardless of if they expand or restrict access?

Linderman: "I oppose (Constitutional) Amendment 2, I would vote to expand nationwide access. That said, I would encourage families with higher wages and safer workplaces for working people, with adequate time off so parents can care for their children, a national child care and preschool program, and a health care system that won't bankrupt a family when someone gets sick. I believe Republican women will help to defeat this amendment, some may even vote for Democrats."

What, if any, federal policies would you support to reduce inflation?

Linderman: "Inflation would matter less if working people were paid fairly, so again, higher pay for working people. I support raising taxes on the wealthiest, price controls on energy, punishment for corporate price gouging during inflation. We must also prevent inflation, with a national industrial policy that looks beyond next quarter's profits and that demands the well-being of those of us who work. As we re-industrialize, we must rebuild the American working middle class."

What is the No. 1, specific bill you would push to pass in Congress next year if you’re elected?

Linderman: "America's needs are greater than one bill, I will support any or all of these: single payer health care, rescheduling and legalization of cannabis, free or very inexpensive higher education, term limits, tighter restrictions on government officials trading in the market or owning businesses, common sense gun safety, support for unions, immigration reform that includes work visas, humane and effective control of our nation's borders, balancing the needs of our people, businesses and national security."

3rd Congressional District

Morgan McGarvey (Democrat)

Age: 42

Occupation: Attorney

Political offices held: Kentucky State Senate, District 19 (2012-present); Kentucky Senate Minority Leader (2018-present)

Contact information: info@morganmcgarvey.com

Stuart Ray (Republican)

Age: 60

Occupation: President/Founder/CEO of The Peregrine Co., The Peregrine Transportation Co.

Political offices held: None.

Contact information: stuart@stuartrayforcongress.com; (502) 437-9053

Do you support Kentucky’s near-total trigger ban on abortion, and, if elected, would you:

• Vote to expand nationwide access to abortion by passing a federal law;

• Vote to restrict nationwide access to abortion via federal law;

• Oppose any proposed federal law that would instate nationwide rules on abortion, regardless of if they expand or restrict access?

McGarvey: "I believe in a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions. I do not support Kentucky’s trigger ban on abortion, a ban so extreme it doesn’t even include exceptions for rape and incest. If elected, I will vote for the Women’s Health Protection Act to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade into law. I oppose any national abortion ban, including the bill that Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham introduced this summer."

Ray: "I support the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to return the decision of abortion to the states. I also support this decision being placed on the ballot as a Kentucky Constitutional Amendment for the citizens of Kentucky to choose and vote on in November.

In reference to the first two bullet points: "I believe in the decision by (the) U.S. Supreme Court that this should be a decision made by the state and at the state level."

In reference to the third bullet point: "Yes, this would be my position."

More:On Election Day, you'll decide whether to ban abortion in Kentucky. Here's what to know

What, if any, federal policies would you support to reduce inflation?

McGarvey: "Inflation is a problem for all of us and we need leaders who are actually interested in solutions. Democrats are working to ease the burden of rising costs on American consumers – by passing the Inflation Reduction Act, which reduces the deficit and lowers prescription drug costs, and by introducing the Gas Price Gouging Prevention Act to investigate oil companies making record profits while Americans feel the pain at the pump. Not a single Republican voted for either measure."

Ray: "I would be in favor of repealing the “Inflation Reduction Act,” which added an additional $750 billion of spending and debt in as wasteful areas as 87,000 additional IRS (agents)! This bill has proven to neither reduce inflation or the debt and has considerable spending on a green initiative which is adding to the inflationary burden experienced by families both in the grocery store and at the gas pump!"

What is the No. 1, specific bill you would push to pass in Congress next year if you’re elected?

McGarvey: "I would immediately work to establish universal pre-K in all public schools. We know the educational benefits of getting kids ready for kindergarten, and we know the economic benefits of allowing parents to re-enter the workforce while saving on child care. My wife and I both work full time and have a 4-year-old. Believe me when I say I understand the importance of this change to our public education system!"

Ray: "As your congressperson, my first bill will support education by empowering "Parent Voice, Parent Choice." I will secure funding for pre-K and trade schools while proposing a freeze on tuition. Funding pre-K provides parents reassurance their kids are safe, equipping them to return to the workforce. Freezing tuition and fees at public universities for each class allows better budgeting for their education, protects grants/scholarships from depreciating, makes higher education more accessible, and reduces student debt."

For subscribers:How Stuart Ray's life shaped his approach to these issues in his bid for Congress

For subscribers:Abortion, pre-K and preemies: How Congress hopeful Morgan McGarvey came to his views

4th Congressional District

Matt Lehman (Democrat)

Age: 45

Occupation: Medical technology research and development

Political offices held: None.

Contact information: info@lehman4kentucky.org; (859) 905-0402

Thomas Massie (Republican)

Age: 51

Occupation: U.S. Representative, farmer, inventor, entrepreneur

Political offices held: Lewis County Judge/Executive (2010-12); U.S. Representative, KY-04 (2012-Present)

Contact information: (859) 363-5836

Ethan Keith Osborne (Independent)

Age: 40

Occupation: Wildland firefighter

Political offices held: None

Contact information: oz2022us@protonmail.com

Do you support Kentucky’s near-total trigger ban on abortion, and, if elected, would you:

• Vote to expand nationwide access to abortion by passing a federal law;

• Vote to restrict nationwide access to abortion via federal law;

• Oppose any proposed federal law that would instate nationwide rules on abortion, regardless of if they expand or restrict access?

Lehman: "I oppose Kentucky's near-total ban on abortion. Who should decide if a 10-year-old girl, impregnated through incest, should carry her pregnancy to term? Who should decide if a woman seeking fertility treatment should end an unviable ectopic pregnancy that could take her life? Politicians? No.

"I’ll work in Congress to support clear, consistent rights for women to have control over their bodies and policies to reduce unwanted pregnancies, including education, affordable health care and good jobs."

Massie: "I have and will support legislation to prevent what is obviously the taking of a life, and I will vote for legislation to prevent taxpayer funding of abortion. For instance, I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1080, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act."

Osborne: "I vehemently oppose Kentucky’s near-total trigger ban on abortion. I believe reproductive rights are human rights, and I would absolutely vote to expand nationwide access to abortion by passing a federal law codifying (Roe v. Wade). I also support free and easy access to contraception to help limit the need for abortion. I support free and on demand access to abortion without apology!"

What, if any, federal policies would you support to reduce inflation?

Lehman: "Congress must prioritize reducing inflation. Discretionary federal spending, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, supply chain disruption due to China's totalitarian pandemic policies and domestic labor shortages are factors.

"Congress can mitigate inflation by curtailing discretionary spending without cutting critical infrastructure investments. Longer term, Congress must support policies that return energy and chemical production stateside for our economic and national security. We must also fund rehabilitation for people battling addiction so they can return to the workforce."

Massie: "Reduce domestic spending, eliminate funding for foreign wars, roll back the hurtful regulations on production of food and energy, stop printing money."

Osborne: "I support the nationalization of natural resources and too big to fail corporations and believe their opportunistic price gouging and their monopolization of industries as well as our inefficient unchecked capitalistic supply chains are the root causes of inflation. Nationalization of industries and more localized supply chains would be key to reducing inflation."

What is the No. 1, specific bill you would push to pass in Congress next year if you’re elected?

Lehman: "We must fight the opioid epidemic with a comprehensive strategy. Opioids have drained the resources of law enforcement, emergency services, courts and health care workers and handicapped our workforce. Opioids have enriched violent drug cartels. Worst of all, they have wrecked countless families.

"A few U.S. pharmaceutical companies created this nightmare by illegally marketing opioids to profit from our suffering. We can begin to beat this crisis by investing adequate resources in treatment and rehabilitation."

Massie: "If we are in the majority, I am hopeful that we can defund all of (President Joe) Biden’s unscientific and immoral vaccine mandates. H.R. 3860, my bill to prohibit COVID vaccine mandates on members of our military, already has 91 cosponsors in the House."

Osborne: "I think the number one specific bill I would push to pass in Congress next year if I’m elected would be one that creates single payer universal health care and decriminalization of drugs. Addiction should be treated as a medical, not criminal, issue and health care is a human right. Decriminalization of cannabis would help Kentucky’s economy, which is the fourth poorest state in the country."

More:Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie vs. Democrat Matt Lehman: 3 issues in race for Congress

Reach reporter Morgan Watkins at mwatkins@courierjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter: @morganwatkins26.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 2022 midterm elections: Candidates in 3 Kentucky U.S. House races