State

Member, House of Delegates, District 45

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

Joseph Golden

Democratic

Beckley

The gist

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

More about Joseph

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?”
Opposes ending cannabis prohibition in West Virginia.
2026 Legislative Candidate Questionnaires: candidate responses
Candidate questionnaire · ACLU of West Virginia · Mar 31, 2026 · Response: Oppose · 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?”
Opposes reinstating the death penalty.
2026 Legislative Candidate Questionnaires: candidate responses
Candidate questionnaire · ACLU of West Virginia · Mar 31, 2026 · Response: Oppose · e.infogram.com
“Do you support reinstating the death penalty in West Virginia?”
Supports civilian review boards for police incidents.
2026 Legislative Candidate Questionnaires: candidate responses
Candidate questionnaire · ACLU of West Virginia · Mar 31, 2026 · Response: Support · 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”

Eric Brooks

RepublicanIncumbent

Mount Hope

The gist

Supports school choice and medical freedom.
Sponsored death penalty for killing police or first responders.In office
Sponsored increasing the homestead property tax exemption.In office
Sponsored eliminating net metering in West Virginia.In office
Sponsored full cash bail for defendants rearrested on bond.In office
Sponsored barring COVID-19 vaccine requirements for state programs.In office

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

More about Eric

View sources (2)

Supports school choice and medical freedom.
Brooks4House
Campaign website · Brooks4House · brooks4house.com
“I believe in school choice for our children, medical freedom for all of us and fighting to protect our Seniors”
Sponsored death penalty for killing police or first responders.
Eric Brooks, member page, West Virginia House of Delegates
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 4661 · wvlegislature.gov
“Allowing death penalty for intentionally killing law-enforcement officer or first responder in line of duty”
Sponsored increasing the homestead property tax exemption.
Eric Brooks, member page, West Virginia House of Delegates
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 4564 · wvlegislature.gov
“Increasing the Homestead Property Tax Exemption”
Sponsored eliminating net metering in West Virginia.
Eric Brooks, member page, West Virginia House of Delegates
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 4556 · wvlegislature.gov
“Eliminate net metering in WV”
Sponsored full cash bail for defendants rearrested on bond.
Eric Brooks, member page, West Virginia House of Delegates
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 4519 · wvlegislature.gov
“Require full cash bail for offenders who are rearrested for certain crimes while out on bond and enhanced criminal penalties”
Sponsored barring COVID-19 vaccine requirements for state programs.
Eric Brooks, member page, West Virginia House of Delegates
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 4510 · wvlegislature.gov
“Prohibit the requirement of a COVID-19 vaccination as a prerequisite for any state funded program or activity”

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; 7 issues covered in this race.