State

State Senator, 13th Senatorial District

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 3
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator votes on West Virginia laws and the state budget in the State Senate; each of the 17 senatorial districts elects two senators to staggered four-year terms.

District covers parts of Marion and Monongalia counties (West Virginia Legislature Senate roster). Regular four-year term. The district's other senator, Joey Garcia, is not up this year.

Candidates Compare by issue

John Williams

Democratic

Financial advisor · Morgantown

The gist

Voted against 2025 certified microgrid program law (HB 2014).
Supports more affordable, accessible child care options.
Supports making the PSC more accountable to ratepayers.
Voted against 2026 personal income tax reduction (SB 392).In office
Voted against the 2026 state budget bill (SB 250).In office
Voted for 2026 teacher and State Police pay raise.In office
Sponsored bill tying minimum wage increases to inflation.In office
Sponsored bill giving PERS and TRS retirees cost-of-living raises.In office

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

More about John

View sources (6)

Voted against 2025 certified microgrid program law (HB 2014).
House roll call 308: HB 2014, Certified Microgrid Program (passage, April 1, 2025)
Government record · West Virginia House of Delegates · Apr 1, 2025 · NAYS: Williams · wvlegislature.gov
“Certified Microgrid Program”
John Williams for State Senate
Campaign website · Williams for State Senate · williamsforstatesenate.com
“I am against data centers being recklessly forced on communities that don’t want them.”
Supports more affordable, accessible child care options.
John Williams for State Senate
Campaign website · Williams for State Senate · williamsforstatesenate.com
“We need more options for affordable, accessible childcare in our communities.”
Supports making the PSC more accountable to ratepayers.
John Williams for State Senate
Campaign website · Williams for State Senate · williamsforstatesenate.com
“Changes need to occur that force the PSC to prioritize the interests of the ratepayers over political and corporate interests.”
Voted against 2026 personal income tax reduction (SB 392).
House roll call 526: SB 392, Relating to personal income tax reduction (passage, March 13, 2026)
Government record · West Virginia House of Delegates · Mar 13, 2026 · NAYS: Williams · wvlegislature.gov
“Relating to personal income tax reduction”
Voted against the 2026 state budget bill (SB 250).
House roll call 354: SB 250, Budget Bill (passage, March 5, 2026)
Government record · West Virginia House of Delegates · Mar 5, 2026 · NAYS: Williams · wvlegislature.gov
“Budget Bill”
Voted for 2026 teacher and State Police pay raise.
House roll call 130: HB 4765, Teacher, School Personnel, and State Police Pay Raise (passage, February 19, 2026)
Government record · West Virginia House of Delegates · Feb 19, 2026 · YEAS: Williams · wvlegislature.gov
“Teacher, School Personnel, and State Police Pay Raise”
Sponsored bill tying minimum wage increases to inflation.
John Williams: member page, West Virginia Legislature
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · HB 5671 · wvlegislature.gov
“Increasing the minimum wage based upon increases in the consumer price index”
Sponsored bill giving PERS and TRS retirees cost-of-living raises.
John Williams: member page, West Virginia Legislature
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · HB 5360 · wvlegislature.gov
“Providing a cost-of-living provision for certain persons retired under the Public Employees Retirement System and the Teachers Retirement System”

Taylor Richmond

Libertarian

Morgantown

The gist

Supports cutting the income tax and wasteful spending.
Pledges to abolish the business inventory tax.
Pledges to repeal Certificate of Need laws.
Pledges to shrink state bureaucracy and return power locally.
Supports Second Amendment and free speech protections.

More about Taylor

View sources (1)

Supports cutting the income tax and wasteful spending.
Richmond for WV Senate
Campaign website · Richmond 4 Senate · richmond4senate.com
“Taylor supports cutting the income tax burden, eliminating wasteful spending, and ensuring every tax dollar is justified by real need.”
Pledges to abolish the business inventory tax.
Richmond for WV Senate
Campaign website · Richmond 4 Senate · richmond4senate.com
“Taylor will abolish the Business Inventory Tax, repeal Certificate of Need laws, and cut the red tape strangling small business.”
Pledges to repeal Certificate of Need laws.
Richmond for WV Senate
Campaign website · Richmond 4 Senate · richmond4senate.com
“Taylor will abolish the Business Inventory Tax, repeal Certificate of Need laws, and cut the red tape strangling small business.”
Pledges to shrink state bureaucracy and return power locally.
Richmond for WV Senate
Campaign website · Richmond 4 Senate · richmond4senate.com
“Taylor will fight to shrink bureaucracy, eliminate waste, and return authority to counties, municipalities, and individuals.”
Supports Second Amendment and free speech protections.
Richmond for WV Senate
Campaign website · Richmond 4 Senate · richmond4senate.com
“From the Second Amendment to free speech, Taylor stands for the principle that government exists to protect liberty”

Mike Oliverio

RepublicanIncumbent

Financial advisor · Morgantown

The gist

Supports raising the homestead property tax exemption.
Proposed road funding formula favoring high-traffic areas.
Supports modernizing the school funding formula for special education.
Voted for 2026 personal income tax reduction (SB 392).In office
Voted for the 2026 state budget bill (SB 250).In office
Voted for 2026 teacher and State Police pay raise.In office
Voted for 2025 certified microgrid program law (HB 2014).In office
Sponsored law setting a 30-foot buffer around first responders.In office

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

More about Mike

View sources (6)

Supports raising the homestead property tax exemption.
Mike Oliverio's Priorities
Campaign website · Friends of Mike Oliverio · mikeoliverioforwv.com
“I strongly support increasing the Homestead Exemption to reduce the burden of property taxes on our seniors.”
Proposed road funding formula favoring high-traffic areas.
Mike Oliverio's Priorities
Campaign website · Friends of Mike Oliverio · mikeoliverioforwv.com
“I have proposed a new funding formula that prioritizes high traffic areas to ensure we can fix our roads more effectively and efficiently.”
Supports modernizing the school funding formula for special education.
Mike Oliverio's Priorities
Campaign website · Friends of Mike Oliverio · mikeoliverioforwv.com
“I advocate for modernizing the public school funding formula to enhance special education and establish greater accountability”
Voted for 2026 personal income tax reduction (SB 392).
Senate roll call 652: SB 392, Relating to personal income tax reduction (concur and pass, March 14, 2026)
Government record · West Virginia Senate · Mar 14, 2026 · Y OLIVERIO · wvlegislature.gov
“Relating to personal income tax reduction”
Voted for the 2026 state budget bill (SB 250).
Senate roll call 358: SB 250, Budget Bill (concur as amended and pass, March 5, 2026)
Government record · West Virginia Senate · Mar 5, 2026 · Y OLIVERIO · wvlegislature.gov
“Budget Bill”
Voted for 2026 teacher and State Police pay raise.
Senate roll call 715: HB 4765, Teacher, School Personnel, and State Police Pay Raise (recede and pass, March 14, 2026)
Government record · West Virginia Senate · Mar 14, 2026 · Y OLIVERIO · wvlegislature.gov
“Teacher, School Personnel, and State Police Pay Raise”
Voted for 2025 certified microgrid program law (HB 2014).
Senate roll call 591: HB 2014, Certified Microgrid Program (concur and pass, April 12, 2025)
Government record · West Virginia Senate · Apr 12, 2025 · Y OLIVERIO · wvlegislature.gov
“Certified Microgrid Program”
Sponsored law setting a 30-foot buffer around first responders.
Michael A. Oliverio II: member page, West Virginia Legislature
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · SB 4 · wvlegislature.gov
“Relating to crimes against public justice”
Mike Oliverio's Priorities
Campaign website · Friends of Mike Oliverio · mikeoliverioforwv.com
“which established a 30ft perimeter to protect First Responders while allowing them to safely do their jobs”

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.