State

Member, House of Delegates, District 18

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: One of the 100 members of the West Virginia House of Delegates, which writes state laws and passes the state budget; each delegate represents one single-member district.

Candidates Compare by issue

Jonathan Hersman

Democratic

Point Pleasant

The gist

Opposes requiring WV police to work with ICE.
Supports ending cannabis prohibition in West Virginia.
Opposes West Virginia's near-total abortion ban.
Supports reinstating the death penalty.
Opposes civilian review boards for police incidents.
Supports restoring voting rights after incarceration.

More about Jonathan

View sources (1)

Opposes requiring WV police to work with ICE.
2026 Legislative Candidate Questionnaires: candidate responses
Candidate questionnaire · ACLU of West Virginia · Mar 31, 2026 · Response: Oppose · e.infogram.com
“Do you support forcing WV law enforcement to work with ICE?”
Supports ending cannabis prohibition in West Virginia.
2026 Legislative Candidate Questionnaires: candidate responses
Candidate questionnaire · ACLU of West Virginia · Mar 31, 2026 · Response: Support · e.infogram.com
“Do you support ending the prohibition of cannabis in West Virginia?”
Opposes West Virginia's near-total abortion ban.
2026 Legislative Candidate Questionnaires: candidate responses
Candidate questionnaire · ACLU of West Virginia · Mar 31, 2026 · Response: Oppose · e.infogram.com
“Do you support the near-total ban on abortion in West Virginia?”
Supports reinstating the death penalty.
2026 Legislative Candidate Questionnaires: candidate responses
Candidate questionnaire · ACLU of West Virginia · Mar 31, 2026 · Response: Support · e.infogram.com
“Do you support reinstating the death penalty in West Virginia?”
Opposes civilian review boards for police incidents.
2026 Legislative Candidate Questionnaires: candidate responses
Candidate questionnaire · ACLU of West Virginia · Mar 31, 2026 · Response: Oppose · e.infogram.com
“Do you support the use of civilian review boards to review police incidents and policies?”
Supports restoring voting rights after incarceration.
2026 Legislative Candidate Questionnaires: candidate responses
Candidate questionnaire · ACLU of West Virginia · Mar 31, 2026 · Response: Support · e.infogram.com
“restoring voting rights to people released from correctional institutions”

Jim Butler

RepublicanIncumbent

Gallipolis Ferry

The gist

Sponsored the West Virginia Refugee Absorptive Capacity Act.In office
Sponsored an election reform and protections bill.In office
Sponsored privacy protections for medical treatments.In office
Sponsored child-support restitution in intoxication manslaughter cases.In office
Sponsored hunting license exemption for nonresident landowners.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Jim

View sources (1)

Sponsored the West Virginia Refugee Absorptive Capacity Act.
Jim Butler, member page, West Virginia House of Delegates
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 4863 · wvlegislature.gov
“The West Virginia Refugee Absorptive Capacity Act”
Sponsored an election reform and protections bill.
Jim Butler, member page, West Virginia House of Delegates
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 4864 · wvlegislature.gov
“Providing for election reform and protections”
Sponsored privacy protections for medical treatments.
Jim Butler, member page, West Virginia House of Delegates
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 4757 · wvlegislature.gov
“Establishing privacy regarding medical treatments”
Sponsored child-support restitution in intoxication manslaughter cases.
Jim Butler, member page, West Virginia House of Delegates
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 5099 · wvlegislature.gov
“Relating to restitution payments for the support of a child whose parent or guardian is a victim of intoxication manslaughter”
Sponsored hunting license exemption for nonresident landowners.
Jim Butler, member page, West Virginia House of Delegates
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 4494 · wvlegislature.gov
“Providing an exemption for a non-resident landowner, their spouse and their children from the requirement of purchasing a non-resident hunting hicense while hunting on their”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 5 issues covered in this race.