U.S. House, Kentucky 2nd Congressional District · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District?
Brett Guthrie has the strongest record in Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District. Brett Guthrie scores 71 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Brett Guthrie's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Thomas Loecken (0 of 15 criteria) and Megan Wingfield (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Brett Guthrie
On the ballot as S. Brett Guthrie
71 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 81
Independent
Thomas Loecken
On the ballot as Thomas A. Loecken
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Megan Wingfield
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Brett Guthrie
- On the record2025-03-23
SOKY Indivisible held a "Brett Guthrie No-Show" town hall in Bowling Green in March 2025 after asking him to hold one; he did not attend.
- On the record2021-01-07
Voted Nay on the January 2021 objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's certified electoral votes, which Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy supported.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
- Credit2025-12-01
Sponsored H.R. 2483, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025, renewing federal opioid and substance use programs; signed into law Dec. 1, 2025.
Thomas Loecken
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Megan Wingfield
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Brett Guthrie. Annual financial disclosures are on the House Clerk index through 2025 (filed May 14, 2026); the index lists no periodic transaction reports for him in 2019 to 2026. No House Ethics Committee matter or FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Committee on Ethics site search for Guthrie, FEC administrative fines search
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and House candidate disclosures appear on the Clerk index for 2025 and 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Brett Guthrie. Voted Nay on the January 2021 objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's electoral votes, which House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and Whip Steve Scalise supported.
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Brett Guthrie. No public record found.
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Brett Guthrie. Army officer, Kentucky senator from 1999 to 2008 and in the U.S. House since 2009. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee conduct finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Brett Guthrie, House Committee on Ethics site search for Guthrie
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Brett Guthrie. Served in the Army after West Point and has held sworn state and federal office since 1999. Voted Nay on both January 2021 objections and is not on the Texas v. Pennsylvania House amicus list.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Brett Guthrie, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Brett Guthrie. In the U.S. House since 2009, after nine years in the Kentucky Senate.
Source: GovTrack, Brett Guthrie
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. Works as a mechanic with an automotive technology degree from Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, and as a caregiver and activist. Has not held public office.
Source: Campaign site, home page
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Brett Guthrie. Chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee and was primary sponsor of 16 enacted bills, most recently the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025.
Source: GovTrack, committee membership
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. Publishes a platform with general positions on wages, health care, childcare and veterans, and a few specific items such as a 2.5-year design patent window for car parts.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Brett Guthrie. Offers an e-newsletter, publishes key issue pages and gave a long-form Spectrum News interview in February 2026. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Office site, home page, Spectrum News 1, Feb. 17, 2026
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. Publishes a platform page in plain language. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Platform and Values, Ballotpedia, Megan Wingfield
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Brett Guthrie. Born in Florence, Alabama; joined his family's Bowling Green manufacturing business after the Army and represented the 32nd District in the Kentucky Senate. FEC by-state contribution totals were not retrievable at check time.
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. Born and raised in Bowling Green, the district's largest city. FEC by-state contribution totals were not retrievable at check time.
Source: Campaign site, home page
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Brett Guthrie. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Source: FEC candidate page
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Source: FEC candidate page
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Brett Guthrie. Legislative Effectiveness Score 2.34 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 1.49, exceeds expectations. Primary sponsor of 16 enacted bills.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Brett Guthrie. Missed 76 of 10,869 roll call votes, 0.7 percent, from January 2009 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Brett Guthrie. Runs a Bowling Green district office and regional offices in Radcliff and Owensboro, and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Brett Guthrie. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of 0.02155 for the 118th Congress (2023), ranked 125 of 436, a positive score outside the top quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Brett Guthrie. No public record found.
Thomas Loecken. No public record found.
Megan Wingfield. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District?
Brett Guthrie has the strongest record in Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District. Brett Guthrie scores 71 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Brett Guthrie's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Thomas Loecken (0 of 15 criteria) and Megan Wingfield (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District in 2026?
S. Brett Guthrie (Republican, incumbent), Thomas A. Loecken (Independent), Megan Wingfield (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Brett Guthrie a good candidate for Congress?
Brett Guthrie scores 71 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 81 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Thomas Loecken a good candidate for Congress?
Thomas Loecken has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Megan Wingfield a good candidate for Congress?
Megan Wingfield has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Kentucky race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Kentucky 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.