Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, was elected by the people of West Virginia to serve as a U.S. Senator in 2014, and she was re-elected in 2020. Making history as the first female Senator from West Virginia, Capito secured an impressive victory in 2020, winning over 70 percent of the vote and carrying all 55 counties. This surpassed her previous record set in 2014 when she won over 62 percent of the vote and carried all counties.
With a strong background in public service, Capito represented West Virginia’s Second Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for 14 years. Prior to that, she served in the West Virginia House of Delegates for four years. Determined to be an even stronger advocate for her state, Capito ran for Senate, aiming to restore order to a Senate hindered by gridlock. She firmly believes that bipartisan solutions and cooperation across party lines are necessary to address the challenges faced by West Virginia and the entire country.
Accessibility and responsiveness to fellow West Virginians are top priorities for Senator Capito. She regularly travels within the state, taking appropriate health and safety precautions, to listen to and meet with constituents.
Capito serves on several influential committees, including the Appropriations Committee, the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and the Rules and Administration Committee. This committee portfolio empowers her to create new opportunities in West Virginia and fight for the state’s priorities, jobs, and families.
As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Capito ensures that West Virginia’s interests are represented in national funding decisions. She has held leadership positions within the committee, including chairing the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, and the Homeland Security Subcommittee. Currently, she serves as the top Republican on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, overseeing funding for various programs within these departments.
On the EPW Committee, Capito serves as the Ranking Member, leveraging her position to protect West Virginia’s energy and manufacturing jobs and promote investment in the state’s infrastructure. She advocates for a commonsense regulatory strategy, affordable and reliable energy production, infrastructure development, and economic growth.
Capito’s role on the Commerce Committee allows her to address critical issues for West Virginia, notably broadband expansion. She has been a leading voice in advocating for improved connectivity throughout her tenure in Congress.
A lifelong West Virginian, Capito was born in Glen Dale, Northern Panhandle. She holds a B.S. in Zoology from Duke University and an M.Ed. from the University of Virginia. Capito and her husband Charles L. Capito Jr. reside in Charleston. They have three adult children—two sons, Charles and Moore, and one daughter, Shelley—and are blessed with eight grandchildren.
Through her steadfast dedication and commitment to her state, Senator Shelley Moore Capito continues to be a strong advocate for West Virginia’s interests and a prominent voice in the United States Senate.
For more information on US Senator Shelley Moore Capito please visit: https://www.capito.senate.gov/