(A News and Sentinel Op-Ed - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

It has been the honor of my life to serve West Virginia as your United States Senator, fighting for the concerns of our communities and making sure the voices of West Virginians are heard loud and clear in Washington, D.C. As a lifelong native of the Mountain State, I know how diligent and determined the people of our state are, and they deserve representation that works as hard as they do. I’m proud to announce that I’m running for reelection in 2026 to continue my hard work on behalf of West Virginia in the U.S. Senate.

With President Trump’s endorsement of my reelection, it is my goal to continue working with him to deliver on America First policies that strengthen our country and state, ensuring that West Virginia always has a seat at the table.

Since I first came to the Senate, we’ve made significant strides in areas that matter most to West Virginians: strengthening our economy and lowering taxes, securing our borders, providing support for our veterans and law enforcement officers, connecting our communities with broadband access, unleashing American energy through our state’s vast natural resources, and fighting to protect the values, rights, and freedoms that matter most to our people. While these are important successes that I’m proud we’ve accomplished together, I believe there is much more work to be done.

I have risen in the ranks of Senate Republican leadership to the fourth highest position in the U.S. Senate and have never been in a better place than I am now to serve our state and to deliver for West Virginia. Through my leadership on the Senate Appropriations Committee, we have seen tremendous progress in responsibly delivering resources for West Virginia that strengthen our families, authorize critical research, and help local projects reach completion. As Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I have led the charge on investments into our state’s roads, bridges, and drinking water infrastructure, and fought for American energy dominance and those in West Virginia who power our state and our nation.

Every decision I make is steered by the perspectives and stories I hear from constituents along our main streets, in our classrooms, at small businesses, and around kitchen tables. Your concerns shape my priorities, and your resilience inspires my determination. As we move forward, I remain committed to hard work and transparent leadership that ensures your voice is always heard in the halls of Congress, and that West Virginia’s priorities are always put first.

The road ahead is not without challenges, and West Virginians can trust that I will continue to display proven, conservative leadership that meets our country’s most pressing issues head-on. I am dedicated to continuing the fight for solutions that reflect our shared values and protect the principles that matter most to our people, our families, and our communities.

I ask for your support once again, not just for my campaign, but for the work we can do together to build the future that West Virginians deserve. I have never taken for granted the trust that the people of our state have placed in me, and I look forward to earning your vote and continuing our work together in the U.S. Senate.