Jonathan Shell

Jonathan Shell (born December 1, 1987) is an American politician and the agriculture commissioner of Kentucky. A Republican, he is a former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives. He represented District 71 which comprises Garrard, Rockcastle, and a portion of Madison Counties.^[1][2] He served as the Majority Leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives and was the youngest member of the General Assembly.

Jonathan Shell
36th Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2024
Governor	Andy Beshear
Preceded by	Ryan Quarles
Majority Leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives
In office January 3, 2017 – January 1, 2019
Speaker	Jeff Hoover David Osborne (acting)
Preceded by	Rocky Adkins
Succeeded by	Bam Carney
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
In office January 1, 2013 – January 1, 2019
Preceded by	Lonnie Napier
Succeeded by	Travis Brenda
Constituency	36th district (2013–2015) 71st district (2015–2019)
Personal details
Born	(1987-12-01) December 1, 1987 (age 37) Danville, Kentucky, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	Eastern Kentucky University (BS)
Website	Campaign website

He was defeated by Travis Brenda, a teacher at Rockcastle County High School, in the 2018 Republican primary.^[3][4]

In August 2022, Shell announced his candidacy in the 2023 Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky election.^[5]

Education

Shell earned his BA in agricultural business from Eastern Kentucky University.

2012 Election

When District 36 Representative Lonnie Napier retired and left the seat open, Shell won the May 22, 2012, Republican Primary with 2,102 votes (59.8%)^[6] and won the November 6, 2012, general election with 11,933 votes (63.3%) against Democratic nominee Bradley Montgomery.^[7]