Shelby Hunt

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Shelby Hunt

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

April 28, 2020

Personal

Birthplace

Amarillo, Texas

Religion

Independent Baptist

Profession

Small business owner

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

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Shelby Hunt (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Ohio's 15th Congressional District. He lost in the Republican primary on April 28, 2020.

Hunt completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Shelby Hunt was born in Amarillo, Texas. He pursued his undergraduate education at Columbus State Community College and Ohio Dominican University. Hunt’s career experience includes working as a police officer and small business owner.

Elections

2020

See also: Ohio's 15th Congressional District election, 2020

Ohio's 15th Congressional District election, 2020 (April 28 Republican primary)

Ohio's 15th Congressional District election, 2020 (April 28 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Ohio District 15

Incumbent Steve Stivers defeated Joel Newby and Shane Hoffman in the general election for U.S. House Ohio District 15 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Steve Stivers (R)	63.4	243,103
		Joel Newby (D)	36.6	140,183
		Shane Hoffman (American Solidarity Party) (Write-in)	0.0	75

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 383,361
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Ohio District 15

Joel Newby defeated Daniel Kilgore in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Ohio District 15 on April 28, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joel Newby	65.6	28,503
		Daniel Kilgore	34.4	14,916

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 43,419
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Ohio District 15

Incumbent Steve Stivers defeated Shelby Hunt in the Republican primary for U.S. House Ohio District 15 on April 28, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Steve Stivers	88.1	41,749
		Shelby Hunt	11.9	5,627

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 47,376
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Shelby Hunt completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hunt's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Born in Texas, but from Central Ohio since age 7, I have eclectic past in a diverse set of roles providing me a broad perspective grounded on faith . From police officer to small business entrepreneur, I have a wealth of experience to offer as a Representative to the 15th District.

I'm an average American trying to encourage other average Americans to get politically involved. My candidacy is grassroots born without any establishment influence and if I can be an example to other concerned Americans, especially those of faith, to run and serve; then this campaign will be a success no matter what the outcome on primary election day.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I steadfastly believe most; if not all, of the problems facing Ohio and the United States would be solved with a return to Christian values.
• The First Amendment is increasingly under attack and must be defended. The open exchange of competing ideas is essential to our Constitutional Republic.
• Healthcare's focus needs to be philanthropic and not solely profit driven.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Healthcare: Much of the American healthcare system was built by religious institutions. I would convene religious leaders to explore what can be done to give churches more direct control of administering philanthropic health care services with the aim at reducing costs and expanding access.

Immigration: One pair of my grandparents were immigrants from Mexico, but they followed the law and became citizens the proper way. So, I expect others to do the same. Those same grandparents taught me to appreciate our Mexican heritage, but to be a proud American and simply that "American"...no hyphen.

Economy: One of the biggest threats to the Ohio and National economy is the continued over-spending at the Federal level, so I support a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Free Speech: The First Amendment is increasingly under attack; whether it be from the censoring of conservative voices on college campuses to Big Tech collusion deplatforming or shadow-banning independent journalists. I would seek to pursue Antitrust actions against tech companies as relating to this issue.

Second Amendment: While the outcry against gun-violence, as demonstrated in "mass-shooting" crimes is understandable, the emphasis should be on the perpetrator. I would like to explore the link between anti-depressants (SSRIs) and the killers in many of the shootings.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

1. As a Christian, I look-up to Jesus and strive to be Christ-like.

2. My Maternal Grandfather, Andres Delgado who was a Reverend. He first exposed me to church and to humbly live in faith.

3. My uncle Manuel Gonzalez. He was like a second father to me and taught me the value of hard-work. He is also an immigrant, but served in the U.S. Air Force and re-enforced my pride to be an American.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

There are a great many leadership principles to be gained in several books of the Bible in both Old and New Testament. For me in particular, Ecclesiastes.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Faith without judgement

Morals without self-righteousness
Decisiveness without equivocation

Boldness tempered by humility

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Most importantly I lead and live by faith. Besides that compass to guide me, I have been successful in my various business ventures by practicing a reputation of honesty and trustworthiness. In my police career, I was known to be tough but fair. I believe these qualities will make me a successful officeholder.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Have a servant spirit and be willing to listen and assist constituents where and whenever possible. But being one person serving hundreds of thousands, to assemble a staff of like-minded people to help with the task.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. I was 13 years old at the time and remember asking and being permitted to stay home from school the days after to follow breaking news.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Driving an ice-cream bike and working on a maintenance crew at the age of 14 until I was 16.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Holy Bible, I gain insights each time I read a passage or book.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Old School (TOS) Captain James T. Kirk

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Theme from Dukes of Hazzard TV show - was looking something up on YouTube and heard it.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The House is unique in that it demonstrates the diversity of of the United States .

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

It is beneficial from a process sense, but not from an effectiveness stand-point.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

I steadfastly believe most; if not all, of the problems facing the United States would be solved with a return to Christian values. So many of issues originate and branch-off from the diminishing of morals of we the general public. As our second President, John Adams said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." With that said here are specifics:

Healthcare costs and access
National Debt

Globalism versus Nationalism

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Appropriations

Financial Services
Homeland Security
Science, Space & Technology

Small Business

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

I could see a three or four year term being more efficient.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I do believe in term-limits since unlimited terms leads to complacence and corruption.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

I would be interested in the role of whip, but think current Minority Whip Steve Scalise is doing a great job.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I would model characteristics from several. From the past, Ron Paul and currently Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, Devin Nunes and Troy Balderson.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Several business owners have expressed concern, that in the current anti-Trump vehemence from people on the left, that if it were to be openly known they support the President; it would negatively impact sales within their business.

But, most the impactful are stories of navigating the healthcare system.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2020 Elections

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Government

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External links

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Footnotes

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Ohio's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Jon Husted (R)

Bernie Moreno (R)

Representatives

District 1

Greg Landsman (D)

District 2

David Taylor (R)

District 3

Joyce Beatty (D)

District 4

Jim Jordan (R)

District 5

Bob Latta (R)

District 6

Michael Rulli (R)

District 7

Max Miller (R)

District 8

Warren Davidson (R)

District 9

Marcy Kaptur (D)

District 10

Michael Turner (R)

District 11

Shontel Brown (D)

District 12

Troy Balderson (R)

District 13

Emilia Sykes (D)

District 14

David Joyce (R)

District 15

Mike Carey (R)

Republican Party (12)

Democratic Party (5)