Former House Finance Chair Announces Bid for W.Va. Senate

A longtime Republican member of the West Virginia House of Delegates is vying for a seat in the state Senate. Del. Eric Nelson of Kanawha County made the announcement Tuesday outside the state Capitol.

Nelson, who was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2010, served as the House Finance Chair for four legislative sessions.

In late 2018, Nelson made an unsuccessful bid to lead the House as Speaker.

Following Del. Roger Hanshaw taking over the speaker’s gavel in the lower chamber, Nelson was moved off the Finance Committee and appointed chairman of the House Banking and Insurance Committee.

In a press release from Nelson’s campaign, he touts himself as a job creator and community leader, who has worked to diversify West Virginia’s economy by creating more jobs, attracting small businesses and entrepreneurial growth.

“I’m running for State Senate because I want to serve and help more of Kanawha County,” Del. Nelson said. “I’ve served House District 35, which encompasses parts of Kanawha County, for over nine years. I’m a leader who knows how to create jobs, grow our existing businesses and attract new ones, which is what the Kanawha Valley needs most right now.”

Nelson said if elected to the state Senate, his priorities include job creation, expansion of high-speed broadband, improvement of state and local infrastructure, and improving public and higher education.

The District 17 seat in the West Virginia Senate up for grabs in 2020 is currently held by Democrat Corey Palumbo, who has yet to decide whether to run for reelection.