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West Virginia

Created by the West Virginia Stance on Science team. Please contact wv.stanceonscience@gmail.com with any questions.

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West Virginia will face many challenges in the coming years, and it is increasingly critical that our policymakers understand the importance of evidence-based decision-making. The goals of this resource are to:

  1. Provide voters with clear, accessible information so they can see how candidates value science in decision-making.
  2. Hold candidates accountable by sharing their responses publicly on our website and via local media.
  3. Encourage thoughtful engagement between communities and policymakers on science policy-related topics in our state.

Through Stance on Science, we hope to help West Virginians understand how their elected representatives will utilize science to improve the state that they love. Learn more about this initiative on the home page.

How to use this resource

This webpage houses the responses to 5 questions crafted by the West Virginia Stance on Science team.

Only official candidates who will appear on ballots were contacted.

Candidates were contacted in October 2026 (with a follow-up to those who did not initially respond) and given the opportunity to answer all questions. Only the responses of candidates who answered the questions are included. None of the candidates' responses were modified in any way before being published on this resource page.

The questions posed
  1. Technology Infrastructure / Data Centers: What role should local communities play in approving large infrastructure or technology projects (like data centers or renewable energy infrastructure), and should the state prioritize that economic benefits from new technologies stay in local communities? (see "Artificial Intelligence", "Energy", "Environment", and "Jobs and Workforce")
  2. Flooding / Scientific Consultation: West Virginia has faced significant flooding over the last decade. To what extent, if any, will you consult with scientists and experts to prevent/mitigate future flooding risk and damage? (see "Climate", "Environment", and "Trust in Science")
  3. Trust in Science: Do you think elected officials have a role in working with local scientists or physicians to build the general public’s trust in science? If so, what plans do you have to work with those experts? (see "Policymaking Process", "Science Diplomacy", and "Trust in Science")
  4. Water Quality / Environmental Regulation: West Virginia faces significant ongoing environmental challenges with industry contaminating groundwater and streams. What policies, if any, would you implement or better enforce to address our state’s water quality degradation and why? (see "Agriculture", "Environment", and "Public Health")
  5. Healthcare Access: Federal medicaid cuts have strained many rural hospitals and left thousands of previously covered West Virginians without insurance. In a state with one of the highest reliances on Medicaid funding to support its constituents, what can you do to help ensure that West Virginians have the healthcare access they need? (see "Jobs and Workforce" and "Public Health")

Disclaimer

The responses of candidates shared on this webpage do not reflect the views of the West Virginia Stance on Science team or the Scientist Network for Advancing Policy (SNAP) Coalition. SNAP is a non-partisan organization (please see more about SNAP here). SNAP and the West Virginia Stance on Science team do not endorse any candidates. The goals of this initiative can be found here. Please contact wv.stanceonscience@gmail.com with any questions.

To find your districts for state and federal races and see who is on your ballot, please visit the WV Secretary of State Sample Ballots page.

November Election

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