Steve Williams

Democrat | West Virginia

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Candidate Profile*

Steve Williams — Governor (West Virginia General | November 5, 2024)
State Representative, District 24 West Virginia General | November 3, 2026
Ratings & research below apply to this race only — Select to see 1 other races

Leans Liberal

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, Master's Public Administration, 1978-1980

Marshall University, Huntington, WV, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, 1974-1978

WORK & MILITARY

City of Huntington, WV, Mayor, 2013-2024

Huntington Investment Corp - subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares, Regional Manager, 2007-2012

Citizens Wealth Management, Senior Vice President, 2004-2006

Chase Investments - WV, Ky, Ohio, Illinois-Indiana, Regional Manager, 1993-2004

Russell, Rea, and Zappala Investment Bankers, Senior Vice President, 1986-1992

City of Huntington, WV, City Manager, 1984-1986

Putnam County Development Authority, Executive Director, 1981-1984

AFFILIATIONS

Trinity Episcopal Church, Vestry Member, 1995-2026

Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, Sunday School Teacher, 1984-2026

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Mayor, City of Huntington, WV, 2013-2024

At Large Council Member, City of Huntington, WV, 2009-2012

Member, WV Democratic Executive Committee, 2026-

Member, WV House of Delegates, 1987-1994

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Democratic Nominee for Governor of the State of West Virginia, 2024-

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
LIBERAL (5)

West Virginia AFL-CIO

West Virginia Education Association

*United Mine Workers of America UMWA COMPAC

Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic

Communications Workers of America CWA District 2-13

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)

WV AFL-CIO

CWA-COPE

Coal Miners PAC

LAWPAC

WV Democratic Party

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)

David Vitter (2010)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)

LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)

State Democratic Party Organizations (2025)

Deborah Stiles (2024)

Democratic Governors' Association (2024)

Democrats 2024 (2024)

Steve William (2024)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (16)

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (2026)

Building Trades Councils (2026)

Communication Workers of America (2026)

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (2026)

Local, County, and District Democratic Organizations (2026)

OTHER INFORMATION

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Disagree

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

When a female patient consults her physician and others of whom she would seek guidance.

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Disagree

Conception should be protected. Medical advice should also be protected.

The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.

Disagree

The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.

Disagree

Prescriptions necessarily need to be prescribed by a doctor.


ECONOMY

What is your position on the minimum wage?

I support it.

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Strongly Agree

List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.

Incentivize prosperity. Build infrastructure. Strengthen public and higher education


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

The First Amendment -"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or the free exercise thereof, ..."

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Disagree


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.

B.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Agree

I agree data is necessary to properly regulate, implement and encourage effective medical treatment.


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?

Yes. Our nations must assure mutual support.


IMMIGRATION

I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.

Strongly Disagree

I served 12 years as the Mayor of my community. I refused to ever discuss much less considered to support sanctuary cities protection of undocumented persons.


EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Strongly Disagree

The U.S. Department of Education should be an active participating partner to states and communities.

Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.

Agree


VALUES

Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.

Agree

Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.

Neutral

I believe the parents have the right to make decisions for their children. Federal and state authorities should be prohibited from interfering with parental rights.

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Disagree

I support the expansion of gambling in my state.

Disagree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I am a Christian and believe that I have been placed on this earth at this time to be a hand of God to provide love and compassion to those whom I encounter within my daily journey. I serve by the scripture in Jeremiah 29..."seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have been carried. Pray to the LORD for it, because as it prospers you too will prosper." I believe I have a responsibility to support families and churches to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Public Service is my ministry.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Agree


EQUALITY

Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.

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.

Agree

Such provisions should be enforced by local authorities and agencies.


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.

Disagree

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

Fossil fuels are the most reliable energy source.


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?

Lean Conservative

I am conservative on economic issues and moderate on social issues. My guide of economic policy is driven by the following principles... * Individual Freedom * Rule of Law * Fiscal responsibility * Limited government * Free markets.

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


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?

Protection of families, neighborhoods, communities, states and nation. I believe in and support law enforcement and pledge to support them in their efforts to protect our communities.

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Strongly Agree

Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.

Agree


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

None. Gun ownership is a constitutional assurance.,,,"the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

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