GOP's Jonathan Shell wins Kentucky agriculture commissioner race in political comeback

Former Republican state representative Jonathan Shell made a political comeback as Kentucky’s next agriculture commissioner.

Shell received 59% of the votes, according to the Kentucky Secretary of State's Office.

Shell, 35, defeated Democrat Sierra Enlow. That will put Shell back in office, after losing a primary bid for the state House of Representatives in 2018.

"I’m so honored by the trust placed in me by the people of Kentucky to be the next commissioner of agriculture," Shell said in a statement Tuesday evening. "I’ll work every day to support Kentucky’s farmers, protect our rural communities and defend our way of life. My wife, Brooke, and I are grateful to everyone who supported our campaign and worked tirelessly to build a better commonwealth for our families and our children."

Shell is a fifth-generation farmer in Garrard County who ran on a campaign of bucking against President Joe Biden's "inflationary policies" and EPA regulation. As head of the state Department of Agriculture, the commissioner is tasked with promoting agricultural products, expanding related markets and increasing rural economic development.

Election results: Follow the race for governor, agriculture commissioner and other state offices by clicking here

"I want to serve my fellow Kentuckians who feel like they’re looked down on by Washington and just can’t get ahead in Biden’s economy," he told The Courier Journal, ahead of the election. "Our culture, our communities, and many generations of Kentucky families have ties to agriculture. I want to preserve our way of life for future generations."

Shell was once considered a rising star among Kentucky Republicans. He was in the state House of Representatives from 2013-18 and rose to become majority leader of the chamber. That took a turn in 2018 when he was part of a Republican leadership team that angered teachers when it crafted and passed pension, tax and budget bills late in the 2018 session. He then lost his primary bid that May to R. Travis Brenda, a math teacher from Berea.

Election results: Follow the races for Louisville Metro Council and a local wet/dry vote by clicking here

His opponent, Enlow, 35, is from of Hodgenville and talked of growing up working on her fifth-generation family farm in LaRue County. She is an economic development consultant and said Kentucky needs an agriculture commissioner who "lets the farmer do the farming."

Shell will serve the statewide office for a four-year term, and he will replace Ryan Quarles, who has served two terms in the office.

This story may be updated.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KY election 2023: Shell defeats Enlow for agriculture commissioner