Joseph (Joe) Earley
Republican | West Virginia
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Joseph (Joe) Earley
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary and Municipal General
Race
State Senate, District 12
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Marshall University, Huntington, WV, MS, Technology Management; Information Security, 2012-2016
University of Louisville, Louisville, BS, Training Development, 2003-2007
WORK & MILITARY
US Army, First Sergeant, 1982-2002
AFFILIATIONS
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Life Member & National Legislative Committee Member, -
American Legion, Member
Gun Owners of America, Member
Together With Veterans - North Central West Virginia Rural Veteran Suicide Prevention Team, Member /Contributor
West Virginia Citizens Defense League, Member
National Rifle Association, Life Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
None
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
WV State Senate - District 12, 2026-
US House- WV 2nd District, 2023-2024
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (9)
Toby Heaney (2025)
Bernie Moreno (2024)
Donald Trump (2024)
Save America (2024)
Team Morrisey (2024)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
WinRed (2024)
OTHER INFORMATION
WV Statewire Article January 27, 2026.
Earley signed U.S. Term Limits Pledge.
The BobCast interview Jan. 13, 2024.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Taxpayer dollars should never be used to subsidize abortion providers. Public funds should instead support healthcare services that respect life and provide real assistance to women, mothers, and families without funding or promoting abortion.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Elective abortion should not be permitted. The only circumstance in which a pregnancy may need to be medically terminated is when the life of the mother is in immediate peril. In such rare cases, every effort should be made to preserve both the life of the mother and the unborn child whenever medically possible. These situations are not elective abortions but necessary medical interventions to address a life-threatening condition.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Every human life is inherently valuable and should be protected under the law from conception until natural death. A just society defends the most vulnerable among us, including the unborn, while supporting families and life-affirming alternatives that uphold human dignity.
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
Life is Life and Life begins at conception. I strongly agree. Human life deserves protection and dignity from its earliest stage, including embryos created through artificial means. The intentional destruction of human embryos is inconsistent with the principle that every human life has inherent value and should be treated with respect under the law.
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
West Virginia has enacted strong protections for the unborn through the West Virginia Unborn Child Protection Act, reflecting the will of our citizens. Allowing abortion pills to be shipped into our state by out-of-state prescribers or manufacturers who face no accountability undermines both state law and the safety of women. I support enforcing existing federal law while ensuring that states like West Virginia retain the authority to protect life and uphold their duly enacted pro-life statutes
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
To me, separation of church and state means government cannot establish an official religion or favor one faith over another. At the same time, it must protect the free exercise of religion. Americans should be free to live out their beliefs in public life without government interference.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
In a free market economy, consumers have many choices and businesses compete to serve them. Government should not compel an individual or business owner to participate in an activity that violates their moral or religious beliefs. Protecting freedom of conscience is a core American principle, and the marketplace already provides alternatives.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
The CCP operates as a hostile state-run enterprise undermining U.S. security, markets, and freedom.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
The United States’ relationship with Israel is important. As two sovereign nations built on liberty and democratic self-government, cooperation supports regional stability and deterrence in a hostile Middle East. A respectful partnership helps both nations pursue security and the long-term goal of peace.
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.
Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. Healthcare should move toward patient choice and market competition rather than expanding taxpayer-funded programs, while responsibly protecting seniors and those truly in need.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
Government should not track citizens’ medical conditions in centralized databases. Protecting medical privacy and individual liberty must remain a priority. Healthcare reform should focus on transparency, competition, and patient choice—not expanding government oversight of personal health information.
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
Wages should rise with opportunity, not artificial mandates that hurt workers or small businesses. Any minimum wage changes should track the cost of living, protecting purchasing power while avoiding job loss, reduced hours, and higher prices.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Protecting private property is fundamental to a strong economy and personal freedom. When individuals are free to own property, invest, and build businesses, innovation and opportunity grow—creating jobs, strengthening communities, and ensuring lasting economic freedom and prosperity for future generations.
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
Eliminate duplicative agencies and programs by conducting regular performance and sunset reviews to consolidate overlapping functions across state government. Strengthen oversight and accountability through independent audits, performance metrics, and transparency requirements to identify waste, fraud, and abuse. Modernize government operations through technology improvements that reduce administrative costs and improve efficiency.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
The American criminal justice system protects the liberty and safety of law-abiding citizens while upholding due process and constitutional rights. The Justice System must hold offenders accountable, support rehabilitation when possible, and defend the rights of victims. Those who commit violent crimes must face long-term incarceration to protect society, and for the most heinous violent crimes, capital punishment remains a lawful and appropriate option.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Government has a responsibility to protect children from exploitation, particularly online. Internet and cellular service providers should implement systems that block known CSAM and make adult content accessible only through verified opt-in access. This approach protects minors while preserving the freedom of adults and empowering parents to control what their children can access online.
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
Sharia Law is not compatible with the US Constitution and the American Justice System.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
None. The Second Amendment protects the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. Criminals who use firearms are already violating existing laws. Creating additional restrictions on lawful gun owners will not stop criminal activity. Public safety is best protected by enforcing current laws and holding violent offenders accountable.
ABOUT YOU
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?
Very Conservative
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
Never
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
Never
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
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
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Disagree
WV has already instituted gambling as a business model for revenue thru its Hot Spots and Lottery Enterprise. This should be the limit of expansion.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in God and the Holy Trinity and profess faith in Jesus Christ. I was raised in the Catholic tradition, which shaped my early understanding of faith. As I have grown older, I have come to see denominations as secondary to what matters most—a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I also believe the biblical family is the foundation of a Christ-centered life, where faith, responsibility, and love are lived out daily in service to God.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Pass the SAVE Act
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
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
Psalm 139: 13-16. 13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
Man-made climate change is a man-made up philosophy to assert control and siphon money thru taxes from hardworking American to enrich Global Elites.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Coal singularly provides for baseload power and in the near future (~25 Years), I see intrinsically safe Small Modular Reactors to power some larger cities to supplement a coal-fired energy supply grid.
