Kent is one of eight candidates challenging Herrera Beutler for her 3rd Congressional District seat

VANCOUVER – Jaime Herrera Beutler’s campaign today (July 14) called on congressional candidate Joe Kent to be forthright with voters and stop covering up his plan to cut Social Security benefits for seniors.

Kent, who stated status as a Republican, is one of eight candidates challenging Herrera Beutler for her 3rd Congressional District seat. Other candidates stating Republican filing status include Heidi St. John, Vicki Kraft and Leslie French. Candidates stating Democrat status include Davy Ray and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Oliver Black prefers the American Solidarity Party and Chris Byrd filed as an Independent.

According to the Herrera Beutler campaign, Kent had been prominently featuring his plan to cut Social Security by raising the retirement age for benefit eligibility on his campaign website for several months.  Herrera Beutler began running a campaign ad in recent weeks highlighting Kent’s plan to take Social Security benefits away – and now that ballots are being mailed to voters, the Herrera Beutler campaign claimed Kent’s campaign quietly removed any reference to his plan from his campaign website.

The Internet Archive website details the “Kent cover up”:

• June 4, 2022 (Joe Kent website archive): “We must balance our budget, end needless spending, and dramatically change entitlement spending by raising the age that citizens receive social security.”

• Today (July 14), after the Kent cover up (Joe Kent website): “We must balance our budget, end needless spending, and dramatically change entitlement spending by expanding options for younger workers.”

“Southwest Washington seniors want a representative who is transparent and honest, not a politician who tries to hide his plans to cut Social Security benefits for millions until he scoots through an election.  Joe Kent probably got an earful from seniors who would be hurt by his plan to cut their Social Security benefits, realized the harm he would do, and figured a cover up would be his most politically convenient option.  If Joe Kent wants to slash Social Security benefits for seniors, he needs to be forthright about his plans rather than trying to deceive voters,” stated Herrera Beutler’s campaign.