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Member, House of Delegates, District 78

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

What this office does: One of the 100 members of the House of Delegates, the lower chamber of the West Virginia Legislature, which writes state laws and passes the state budget.

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Photo of Michael Wendell
Michael WendellWendell for WV

Michael Wendell

Democratic

Software developer · Morgantown

The gist

  • Proposes limiting the Hope Scholarship program
  • Opposes tax breaks for AI data centers
  • Supports prioritizing safe, clean drinking water
  • Supports stronger workplace safety legislation
More about Michael
View sources (1)

  1. Proposes limiting the Hope Scholarship program

    Wendell for WV

    Campaign website · Michael Wendell campaign · wendellforwv.com

    “We need to limit legislation like the Hope scholarship that severely defund our public schools.”

  2. Opposes tax breaks for AI data centers

    Wendell for WV

    Campaign website · Michael Wendell campaign · wendellforwv.com

    “We should be fighting datacenters, not giving them tax breaks.”

  3. Supports prioritizing safe, clean drinking water

    Wendell for WV

    Campaign website · Michael Wendell campaign · wendellforwv.com

    “We need to make this a top priority in Charleston in the coming year, and we need to fix the problem”

  4. Supports stronger workplace safety legislation

    Wendell for WV

    Campaign website · Michael Wendell campaign · wendellforwv.com

    “We need to strengthen legislation that keeps workers safe, and encourages a balanced relationship between labor and management.”
Photo of Geno Chiarelli
Geno ChiarelliWest Virginia Legislature

Geno Chiarelli

RepublicanIncumbent

Morgantown

The gist

  • Sponsored age verification for certain websites, signedIn office
  • Sponsored bill making syringe exchange programs unlawfulIn office
  • Sponsored life sentence for fentanyl dealersIn office
  • Sponsored extension of TANF applicant drug screening, signedIn office
  • Sponsored camping ban on certain public propertyIn office

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

More about Geno
View sources (1)

  1. Sponsored age verification for certain websites, signed

    Geno Chiarelli, House of Delegates member page

    Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 4412 · wvlegislature.gov

    “Require certain websites to utilize age verification methods to prevent minors from accessing content”

  2. Sponsored bill making syringe exchange programs unlawful

    Geno Chiarelli, House of Delegates member page

    Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 4413 · wvlegislature.gov

    “Making syringe exchange service programs unlawful”

  3. Sponsored life sentence for fentanyl dealers

    Geno Chiarelli, House of Delegates member page

    Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 4988 · wvlegislature.gov

    “To impose a life sentence on fentanyl dealers”

  4. Sponsored extension of TANF applicant drug screening, signed

    Geno Chiarelli, House of Delegates member page

    Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 5582 · wvlegislature.gov

    “Extending program for drug screening of applicants for TANF”

  5. Sponsored camping ban on certain public property

    Geno Chiarelli, House of Delegates member page

    Government record · West Virginia Legislature · Sponsored Legislation, 2026: HB 5319 · wvlegislature.gov

    “Camping ban on certain public property.”

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; 6 issues covered in this race.