Ray Canterbury
Republican | West Virginia
Candidate Profile*
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Ray Canterbury
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
House of Delegates, Dist. 47
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, BA, Mathematics, 1991
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, MBA, 1995
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
West Virginia House of Delegates, 2001 - 2016
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (3)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
West Virginia Citizens Defense League
West Virginia Farm Bureau
LIBERAL (4)
West Virginia AFL-CIO
*United Mine Workers of America - UMWA
American Federation of Teachers West Virginia AFT WV
West Virginia Building and Construction Trades
OTHER (1)
UAW Region 2B
OTHER INFORMATION
The Real WV interview with Ray Canterbury.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
I am pro-life, and I think that any exceptions are inconsistent with the basic premise.
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Choose not to answer
There isn't an option here that matches my view, so I chose "not to answer," but my position is this: I am opposed to abortion drugs. They are not safe for the unborn under any circumstances.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
Canada has turned euthanasia into a cost reduction program. There are reported incidents of people being pressured to "choose" death, and the government's clear motive is financial. Now four percent of all deaths in Canada are due to euthanasia. Sadly, this abomination is the logical conclusion of socialized health care. This will be the outcome here if we permit it.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
None.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Israel is one of our most important allies both geopolitically and economically. They are currently engaged in self-defense against a determined enemy, and it is in our interest to provide them with any necessary support to help them bring this war to a swift and successful end. While the media focuses on civilian casualties in Gaza, remember that this began with the brutal murder of Israeli civilians. The best way to end this carnage is to bring a final end to Hamas.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
C) I should point out, though, that the Federal Government also provides health insurance for veterans, and I think this should be included along with the other two in this category. None of these are controlled at the state level. To the extent that state policy affects health care, I will search for market based solutions.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Absolutely none. I know people who were seriously harmed by the mRNA vaccines. I believe that financial liability should exist for any business or government entity that imposes a vaccine mandate that results in harm to any person.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What is your position on the minimum wage?
The state should not try to exceed the Federal minimum wage. California recently did this in their food service sector, and the results have been devastating on affected small businesses and the newly displaced workers.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
If Argentinian President Javier Milei were an American politician he could say it best: Close the border, damn it! Or, if the Google Spanish translator works, Cerrar La Frontera Carajo! I'm not sure about the punctuation, but I'm sure you get the sentiment.
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Strongly Agree
I have always been a strong supporter of freedom in education, and in West Virginia that has mostly been homeschooling, but no options are excluded. This freedom is now more important than ever.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Strongly Disagree
That would be absolutely nuts. We also must continue to offer our police officers the immunity that is required for them to do their jobs without fear of frivolous legal actions.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
None. You are the best guarantor of your own safety, and I do not support restrictions on anyone's Second Amendment Rights. I proudly voted FOR Constitutional Carry in 2016, and I was also a sponsor of other legislation that would have allowed individuals to carry firearms in places that were off limits at that time. I have a rock solid record as a defender of the Second Amendment, and I will support any policy that will help you stay safe wherever you are.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
Training to handle the unique hazards of public shooting situations might be required, but I think it would be easy to find teachers who would gladly take that kind of training. Armed teachers should also get extra pay for their strong commitment to student safety.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No.
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
I think that the best government is the one that governs least. It basic purpose is to provide for the common defense and law and order. Everything else should be mostly up to us, and regulation always kept to a minimum. Even the thorough and efficient education that our state is constitutionally required to provide should be provided in the manner most consistent with respect for private choice.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
I only chose Conservative because even conservatives can argue about what "Very Conservative" means sometimes. I think I might lean toward very conservative in many respects, but I also have a libertarian view of government interventions. I will leave everyone some leeway to decide for themselves where I fit on that spectrum.
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Agree
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Strongly Agree
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Christian.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Photo ID should be mandatory at the polls.
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Strongly Disagree
Small states like West Virginia will lose a lot of influence in national elections under this arrangement.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No, but it seems to be an excuse for the left to marginalize their political opposition. The real threat to national security is from those same leftists who have thrown open our southern border and opened us up for an invasion for no other reason than to advance their own tyrannical goals.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
CRT is just repackaged Marxism. CRT and its derivative, DEI are nothing more than gaslighting with some pseudointellectual pretense. If you don't know what gaslighting is, look it up. These are forms of psychological warfare. Their ultimate aim is simply to make you unable or unwilling to think for yourself.
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.
A) and C) both apply. The purpose of the climate change narrative is to justify the introduction of a regulatory regime that allows politically preferred firms to shut down their competition and profit from their favored monopoly positions.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
An industrial economy MUST have cheap baseload power. Honestly, the best choice for this is still coal. The Chinese obviously know this. After coal, nuclear is the most likely option for baseload, and natural gas is the best fit for peak power.
