CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – As election season heats up, the fate of the U.S. House of Representatives rests with voters as all 435 districts are up for election. There are two districts up for election in West Virginia, one of which is open and the incumbent is not running for re-election.
There are five candidates vying for West Virginia’s Congressional District 1 seat, currently held by Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV1). The district consists of 28 counties including Kanawha and Cabell.
Miller was first elected to Congress in 2018 and is now seeking re-election. In an interview, she praised her ability to work across the aisle and said she was all about solving problems.
“I can work with Democrats who have the same demographics in their states to pass good, positive legislation that will give us good health care and good trade and good energy. We are an energy state,” she said.
Fellow Republican Derrick Evans is running against Miller. He served three months in federal prison for his role in the attacks on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
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Evans was elected to the WV House of Representatives in 2020, but resigned the following January following his arrest. During an interview, he highlighted the different views on energy, foreign aid and border control between himself and Miller and urged voters to do the same.
“I am America first, Carol Miller is Ukraine first… I want to secure our border, Carol Miller voted to prioritize and secure other countries’ borders while our own border is being invaded,” he said. “I think if voters see the differences between me and Carol Miller, they will make the right decision.”
On the Democratic ballot, Chris Bob Reed and Jim Umberger are running against each other in hopes of flipping the seat. 13 News asked both candidates about the fentanyl epidemic plaguing West Virginia and their stance on border enforcement.
“The border is our biggest crisis and we are delaying its solution because Donald Trump asked us to. I think that’s a mistake,” Umberger said. “When it comes to fentanyl, I think the majority of fentanyl doesn’t come across the border… We need to do everything we can to increase enforcement because fentanyl is killing West Virginians.” There’s no doubt about that. This is not a debate.”
“I think more of this fentanyl alone is found in everyday commerce in Mexico and the United States,” Reed said. “I think we should lift our sanctions on Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, which are driving much of the immigration.”
Aside from their political views, both candidates said their backgrounds were another factor they brought to the table. Reed, a retired educator who lives in Charleston, said he is a mighty supporter of public education and works to aid at-risk youth.
Umberger, also from Charleston, is a Vietnam veteran who previously worked in the mental health field. If elected, he would like to focus on economic development, health care and the environment.
Whoever wins the Democratic and Republican primaries will face independent candidate Wes Holden in the November general election.
