Who's running in West Virginia's 1st congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Carol Miller currently holds this seat
Low confidenceLow confidenceOnly one weak source, dated material, or indirect evidence. Treat specifics with caution.What would raise it: An official filing record and at least one independent report about this candidate would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Support for coal, oil, gas and other resource extraction industries.
Repealing EPA power plant regulations.
Economic opportunity to bring former West Virginians and their families back.
Support for President Trump's agenda.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for West Virginia's 3rd District 2019–2023 and 1st District since 2023; reelected with 66.4% in 2024.
Won the May 12, 2026 Republican primary with about 72%.
Raised more than $1.38 million this cycle through March 31, 2026, including $977,388 from political committees, many in health care and energy, per the Charleston Gazette-Mail.
Voted for the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Endorsed by President Trump and the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, per Wikipedia.
Arguments in favor
President Trump and the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce have endorsed Miller for re-election.
— Listed endorsements, Wikipedia's race page
Arguments against
Miller 'basically has ignored us, her entire tenure in congress'; with one of the state's largest Medicaid populations in southern West Virginia, 'to vote to cut Medicaid, she is basically sentencing her constituents to death.'
— Gina Milum, Huntington protester opposing the 2025 budget bill (WCHS)
Miller's fundraising advantage is 'driven by contributions from political action committees for health care and fossil fuel energy industry groups', including a PAC for drug wholesaler Cardinal Health, which paid West Virginia $20 million over the opioid crisis.
— Charleston Gazette-Mail reporting
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Miller by her Democratic opponent Vince George, or by the DCCC, was found in a loaded source.
Her campaign website address could not be confirmed from a loaded page.
Whether debates will be held had not been reported in a loaded source.
Won the May 12, 2026 Democratic primary over Brit Aguirre with about 53%.
Had no FEC campaign finance reports on file as of April 2026, per the Charleston Gazette-Mail.
Endorsed by Progressive Democrats of America–West Virginia, per Wikipedia.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
George's specific policy positions could not be found in a loaded source; he did not respond to a Gazette-Mail request for comment before the primary. No argument for or against him was found. Searched: 'Vince George' with Miller, West Virginia, endorsement and criticism; WV Watch, Gazette-Mail, WSAZ and WCHS coverage.
His campaign website and fundraising were not found.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
November 3, 2026 is West Virginia's general election, decided by plurality; there is no runoff. The map did not change for 2026: the two districts drawn after West Virginia lost a seat in the 2020 census remain in use, and no redraw or pending congressional map case was found. Primaries were held May 12, 2026. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia, Politics1 and Wikipedia: Republican Rep. Carol Miller, who beat Larry Jackson with about 72%; Democrat Vince George, who beat Brit Aguirre with about 53%; and Constitution Party nominee Belinda Fox-Spencer. Independent Isaiah Rucker was disqualified. The Secretary of State's certified general election list was not loaded. The district covers southern West Virginia, including Charleston, Huntington, Beckley, Bluefield, Lewisburg and Princeton. Miller won 66.4% in 2024. The candidate order here follows the published candidate listings, with the incumbent first; it is not verified ballot order and implies no ranking.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A West Virginia ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at West Virginia Secretary of State.