In November 2023, Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) announced he was retiring from Congress.
Wenstrup has held the seat since 2013. He was re-elected to his latest term in 2022 by winning the general election 74.5% to 24.5%.
Wenstrup said in a video announcing his retirement, in part:
“Sadly, all too often the frantic pace of Washington has kept me away from our home. I’m ready to change that. So I want you to hear it from me first: I’ll be retiring from Congress at the end of next year.”
Citation
Two candidates will be on the general election ballot this November to replace Wenstrup for Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District.
Those two candidates are:
Republican: David Taylor – Website
Democrat: Samantha Meadows – Website
The D.C. Beat contacted both candidates and asked them the exact same questions. While we do NOT edit candidates’ answers, we asked them to try to keep their answers to 100 words or less.
The four questions we asked were:
- What is the biggest issue facing your District, and what do you propose as a solution to the problem?
- Do you believe there is a problem at the southern border, and if so, how do you propose fixing it?
- Do you believe the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade was a good or bad opinion by the court?
- What forms of gun control, if any, do you believe Congress should pass? Briefly explain why or why not.
Responses are shown in the order in which we received them from the candidates.
David Taylor responses (Republican Party Candidate)
Question 1: What is the biggest issue facing your District, and what do you propose as a solution to the problem?
“Broadband availability – Southern Ohio is one of the most underserved areas in the country. Limited access negatively impacts an individual’s ability and opportunity to access education, jobs, and telehealth.
Drug epidemic – Southern Ohio has been hit hard by illegal drugs. We need to do a better job of getting people treatment and hope. When it comes to drugs, I support cracking down on the southern border and pursuing maximum sentences against dealers.
Loss of jobs – We must invest more in workforce training and access to technology. This will help ensure
individuals and businesses stay in southern Ohio.”
Question 2: Do you believe there is a problem at the southern border, and if so, how do you propose fixing it?
“We have a crisis at the southern border.
I will work to see we finish the wall that President Trump began and hold the Biden administration accountable for their failures. Make no mistake, Biden’s border policies are making our communities less safe. Biden’s disastrous “catch and release” policy has allowed unvetted illegal immigrants to be released, many of whom then commit serious crimes. Open borders serve the Democrats’ purpose to swell the number of Democratic voters and expand Democrat presence in Congress.
We also need to treat fentanyl for what it is – a weapon of mass destruction. Fentanyl has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans, and it is flooding into our country because of weak and ineffective border policies.”
Question 3: Do you believe the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade was a good or bad opinion by the
court?
“First off, I am pro-life. I also believe it was the correct opinion by the court. Roe was a decision that lacked any constitutional basis, and the Dobbs decision rightfully returned decision making to state legislatures.”
Question 4: What forms of gun control, if any, do you believe Congress should pass? Briefly explain why or why not.
“The Second Amendment was enshrined in the Constitution by the founders for a reason; to protect citizens from tyranny. I oppose efforts to restrict the constitutional rights of citizens.
Left wing gun control initiatives assume that criminals who commit crimes with guns will suddenly give them up if these laws are passed. The idea that we should disarm law abiding citizens while keeping criminals armed makes every American less safe.”
Note: Taylor’s responses were received on 5/24/2024 at 2:55 p.m. M.T.
Samantha Meadow’s Responses (Democrat Party Candidate)
Question 1: What is the biggest issue facing your District, and what do you propose as a solution to the problem?
“The biggest issue is a combination of three issues that are intertwined: poverty, opportunity, and opioid addiction. We need meaningful treatment solutions, not the patchwork system currently in place. I propose that we have a streamlined system from detox to sustained recovery. This requires an increased component of accountability of care providers and business owners.
Many of our communities continue to suffer due to low investment in the region. Job opportunities are slowly growing but we need to create more interest in the region. With a focus on these two issues, we would see a decline in the poverty rate.”
Question 2: Do you believe there is a problem at the southern border, and if so, how do you propose fixing it?
“Yes, there is a problem at the southern border. Fixing it starts with electing members of Congress who will work across the aisle to get legislation passed. Today, Republican Senators killed their own border deal that had been negotiated by both parties.
Too many politicians are using immigration as a campaign hot button topic to raise money. We hear members of Congress vilifying immigrants but I have yet to hear them mention the Trade NAFTA visa workers. We have a path forward if Congressional members would actually vote on the content of the bill, not just along party lines.”
Question 3: Do you believe the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade was a good or bad opinion by the
court?
“Overturning Roe v Wade was the most devastating decision handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court in my lifetime. It was a devastating blow, not only to women, but to our entire country.
The court’s decision laid the foundation for other constitutional rights to be stripped away. Restricting or denying a woman’s right to reproductive healthcare is a violation of her constitutional rights. Roe’s protections need to be restored by codifying it into law.”
Question 4: What forms of gun control, if any, do you believe Congress should pass? Briefly explain why or why not.
“Let me be clear, AR-style weapons should not be in our communities. There needs to be, in the least, a moratorium on their sales. In this country, we must value the lives of our children more than the desire to own a gun that belongs on a battlefield. I support responsible gun ownership and meet regularly with rural folks in my district who feel the same way.
Protecting the 2nd Amendment and our children are not mutually exclusive. We can do both but we must get members of Congress in office who are willing to work across the aisle, like me.”
Note: Meadow’s responses were received on 5/24/2024 at 4:06 p.m. M.T.
The 2024 election will take place on November 5th, 2024.
