CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) – As election season heats up, the fate of the U.S. House of Representatives rests with voters as all 435 districts go up for election. There are two electoral districts in West Virginia, one of which is open without an incumbent running for re-election.
Five candidates are vying for the West Virginia House District 1 seat currently held by Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV1). The district is made up of 28 counties, including Kanawha and Cabell counties.
Miller was first elected to Congress in 2018 and is currently seeking re-election. In her interview, she touted her ability to work across the aisle and is dedicated to solving problems, she said.
“I can work with Democrats in each state who have the same type of demographics to craft good, forward-looking legislation that supports good health care, trade, and energy security. We are an energy nation. ” she said.
Fellow Republican Derrick Evans is running against Miller. He served three months in federal prison for his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
“I will use my personal experience with January 6th and the weaponization of our government to bring that experience to Congress to prevent what happened to me from happening to other Americans across this country. I want to,” he said.
Evans was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 2020, but resigned the following January after his arrest. In the interview, he highlighted the differences between himself and Mr. Miller on energy, foreign aid and border control, and urged voters to do the same.
“I'm America first, Carol Miller is Ukraine first…I want to secure our borders. Carol Miller voted to prioritize securing other countries' borders while her own are being invaded. ” he said. “If voters understand the difference between me and Carol Miller, they will make the right decision.”
On the Democratic ballot, Chris Bob Reed and Jim Umberger are competing to flip the seat. 13 News asked both candidates about their views on the fentanyl epidemic that has hit West Virginia and border control.
“The border is our biggest crisis, and we're putting off solving it because Donald Trump asked us to. I think that's a mistake,” Umberger said. . “As far as fentanyl goes, I think the vast majority of fentanyl is not being transported across the border…Fentanyl is killing West Virginians, so we need to do whatever we can to crack down on it.” There's no question about it. It's not a debate.”
“I think there's a lot more of this fentanyl out there just in the day-to-day trade between Mexico and the United States,” Reed said. “I think we should end sanctions on Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, which are driving up significant immigration.”
Both candidates said that apart from their political views, their backgrounds are another factor up for discussion. Reed, a Charleston resident and former educator, said he is a strong supporter of public education and works to help at-risk youth.
Umberger, also a Charleston native, is a Vietnam veteran who previously worked in the mental health field. If elected, he wants to focus on economic development, health care and the environment.
Regardless of who wins the Democratic and Republican primaries, he will face independent candidate Wes Holden in the November general election.