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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.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • John WilliamsDemocratic

    • Voted against 2026 personal income tax reduction (SB 392).In office
    • Voted against the 2026 state budget bill (SB 250).In office

  • Taylor RichmondLibertarian

    • Supports cutting the income tax and wasteful spending.
    • Pledges to abolish the business inventory tax.

  • Mike OliverioRepublican

    • Supports raising the homestead property tax exemption.
    • Voted for 2026 personal income tax reduction (SB 392).In office
    • Voted for the 2026 state budget bill (SB 250).In office

Public safety

  • John WilliamsDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Taylor RichmondLibertarian

    • Supports Second Amendment and free speech protections.

  • Mike OliverioRepublican

    • Sponsored law setting a 30-foot buffer around first responders.In office

Education

  • John WilliamsDemocratic

    • Voted for 2026 teacher and State Police pay raise.In office

  • Taylor RichmondLibertarian

    No documented position found.

  • Mike OliverioRepublican

    • Supports modernizing the school funding formula for special education.
    • Voted for 2026 teacher and State Police pay raise.In office

Economy & jobs

  • John WilliamsDemocratic

    • Voted against 2025 certified microgrid program law (HB 2014).
    • Sponsored bill tying minimum wage increases to inflation.In office

  • Taylor RichmondLibertarian

    No documented position found.

  • Mike OliverioRepublican

    • Voted for 2025 certified microgrid program law (HB 2014).In office

Roads & infrastructure

  • John WilliamsDemocratic

    • Supports making the PSC more accountable to ratepayers.

  • Taylor RichmondLibertarian

    No documented position found.

  • Mike OliverioRepublican

    • Proposed road funding formula favoring high-traffic areas.

Health & human services

Government & transparency

  • John WilliamsDemocratic

    • Sponsored bill giving PERS and TRS retirees cost-of-living raises.In office

  • Taylor RichmondLibertarian

    • Pledges to shrink state bureaucracy and return power locally.

  • Mike OliverioRepublican

    No documented position found.

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.