Why I’m Running and What’s at Stake for West Virginia: Pushkin talks re-election bid

By Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha

When I first ran for the West Virginia House of Delegates, I did so because I believed government should work for everyone, not just the wealthy, the well-connected, or those with powerful lobbyists looking out for their interests.

I believed then, as I do today, that every West Virginian deserves a fair shot at a better life, regardless of where they come from, or the mistakes they may have made along the way.

That belief has guided my work in the Legislature.

As someone who has been in recovery for more than two decades, I understand that people are capable of changing their lives. I also understand how difficult that can be when society refuses to give them another chance.

That’s why I sponsored the Second Chance for Employment Act, creating a pathway for people convicted of certain nonviolent offenses to have their records expunged. A mistake made years ago shouldn’t become a lifetime sentence that prevents someone from finding a job, supporting their family, or contributing to their community.

“As someone who has been in recovery for more than two decades, I understand that people are capable of changing their lives.”

– Del. Mike Pushkin

It’s also why I’m proud to have served on the House Judiciary subcommittee that’s created the Jobs & Hope program, which connects people in recovery with the education, job training, transportation, and other resources they need to break the cycle of addiction and build productive lives.

And it’s why I helped lead the fight for West Virginia’s medical cannabis law, recognizing that suffering patients deserve access to treatment options that can improve their quality of life

These issues may seem different, but they’re connected by a simple principle: Government should help people overcome obstacles, not create more of them.

Unfortunately, over the past decade, West Virginia’s government has taken a hard turn to the right. We’ve watched legislative leaders dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion, eliminate funding for the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs, and make decisions that undermine public education and access to health care. Most recently, they’ve rolled out the red carpet for massive AI data centers, stripping counties and local communities of control over what happens in their own backyards while putting tens of millions of dollars in local tax revenue at risk.  

That’s why we need legislators who will fight against these extremists and their destructive policies rather than appease them.  And it’s why the biggest cheerleaders for AI Data Centers – Patrick Morrisey, the Manufacturers Association, and the State Chamber of Commerce – are desperate to defeat me and my Democratic colleagues in the legislature. Meanwhile, families are struggling with rising prices, declining employment opportunities, child care and growing uncertainty about access to health insurance and SNAP benefits. These aren’t abstract political debates. They affect whether families can afford groceries, whether children receive a quality education, and whether people can get medical care when they need it. I’m proud of my record of standing up for people who too often go unheard at the Bad Idea Factory- your State Capitol. I’m equally proud that I haven’t changed my principles simply because the political winds have shifted.

“Democracy works best when everyone participates.”

– Del. Mike Pushkin

I first ran for office because I believed ordinary West Virginians deserved a voice in their government. That’s still what motivates me today. The stakes in this election are high. The decisions made in the legislature will shape our schools, our health care, our communities, and the opportunities available to the next generation. Whatever your political affiliation, I encourage you to examine the candidates’ records, ask difficult questions, and make your voice heard on November 3.

Democracy works best when everyone participates.

And West Virginia’s future belongs to all of us.

MORE ABOUT THE CANDIDATE: Mike Pushkin is a lifelong resident of Charleston. He was first elected in 2014 and serves as Minority Chair of the House Committee on Health and Human Resources. He is currently the Chair of the WV Democratic Party and works for an agency that provides care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.