Bill Hamilton (West Virginia politician)

William David Hamilton (born July 14, 1950 in Buckhannon, West Virginia) is an American politician. He is a member of the West Virginia Senate from the 11th district. He was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates representing District 45[2] from January 12, 2013 to December 1, 2018. Hamilton served consecutively from January 2003 until January 2013 in the District 39 seat.

Bill Hamilton
Member of the West Virginia Senate
from the 11th district
Assumed office
December 1, 2018
Serving with John Pitsenbarger
Preceded byRobert L. Karnes
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
from the 45th[1] district
In office
January 12, 2013 – December 1, 2018
Preceded byLarry Williams
Succeeded byCarl Martin
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
from the 39th district
In office
January 2003 – January 2013
Preceded byDale Riggs
Succeeded byRon Walters
Personal details
Born (1950-07-14) July 14, 1950 (age 74)
Buckhannon, West Virginia
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)Buckhannon, West Virginia
Alma materPotomac State College

Personal life

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Hamilton graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School and attended Potomac State College. He formerly worked as an insurance agent at Loudin Insurance Agency.[3][4]

Political career

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In 2000, Hamilton ran in the Republican primary for the 39th district of the West Virginia House of Delegates. He was defeated by the incumbent Dale F. Riggs.[5] In 2002, Hamilton ran against Riggs again. He was endorsed by the state chapters of the United Mine Workers and the AFL-CIO,[6][7] and won with 55% of the vote.[8] Hamilton was unopposed in the general election.[9]

In 2018, Hamilton challenged Robert L. Karnes for his seat in the West Virginia Senate. Karnes opposed unions, supported Right-to-work laws, and stated that teachers' strike earlier in the year "[held] kids hostage".[10][11] Hamilton defeated Karnes in the primary, with much of his campaign contributions coming from organized labor.[11]

Elections

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West Virginia Senate District 11 (Position A) election, 2018[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Hamilton 23,718 70.44%
Democratic Laura M. Finch 9,953 29.56%
Total votes 33,671 100.0%
  • 2012 Redistricted to District 45, and with District 45 incumbent Larry Williams redistricted to District 52, Hamilton was unopposed for both the May 8, 2012 Republican Primary, winning with 2,490 votes,[13] and the November 6, 2012 General election, winning with 5,669 votes.[14]
  • 2000 Hamilton challenged District 39 incumbent Representative Dale Riggs in the 2000 Republican Primary but lost to Representative Riggs, who was re-elected in the November 7, 2000 General election.
  • 2002 Hamilton challenged Representative Riggs again in the 2002 Republican Primary and won, and was unopposed for the November 5, 2002 General election.
  • 2004 Hamilton was unopposed for the 2004 Republican Primary and won the November 2, 2004 General election against Democratic nominee Teresa Khan.
  • 2006 Hamilton was unopposed for the 2006 Republican Primary and won the November 7, 2006 General election against Democratic nominee Ryan Thorn.
  • 2008 Hamilton was challenged in the May 13, 2008 Republican Primary but won with 2,233 votes (80.9%),[15] and was unopposed for the November 4, 2008 General election, winning with 6,285 votes.[16]
  • 2010 Hamilton was challenged in the three-way May 11, 2010 Republican Primary but won with 1,386 votes (62.9%),[17] and was unopposed for the November 2, 2010 General election, winning with 4,765 votes.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Bill Hamilton". Charleston, West Virginia: West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  2. ^ "Bill Hamilton's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  3. ^ "Senator Bill Hamilton Named Chairman of Natural Resources Committee". West Virginia Legislature. November 4, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  4. ^ Bowers, Barbara (June 2002). "Insuring victory". Best's Review. Oldwick: Independent Insurance Agents of America. ProQuest 205493336. Retrieved July 30, 2020 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ "2000 Primary Election" (PDF). sos.wv.gov. Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  6. ^ "AFL-CIO endorses 93 in May primaries". Charleston Daily Mail. May 29, 2000. ProQuest 331910032. Retrieved July 30, 2020 – via ProQuest.
  7. ^ "UMW announces primary endorsements". Charleston Daily Mail. April 11, 2002. ProQuest 331883972. Retrieved July 30, 2020 – via ProQuest.
  8. ^ "2002 Primary Election" (PDF). sos.wv.gov. Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  9. ^ "2002 General Election" (PDF). sos.wv.gov. Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  10. ^ Jilani, Zaid (May 11, 2018). "West Virginia Republican Said Teachers Won't "Have Any Significant Effect" On Elections. Then They Voted Him Out". The Intercept. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  11. ^ a b Zuckerman, Jake (May 31, 2018). "Will WV teachers 'remember in November'?". Tribune Content Agency. ProQuest 2020196592. Retrieved July 30, 2020 – via ProQuest.
  12. ^ "Statewide Results: General Election - November 6, 2018". West Virginia Secretary of State. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  13. ^ "Statewide Results Primary Election May 8, 2012 Official Results". Charleston, West Virginia: Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  14. ^ "Statewide Results General Election November 6, 2012 Official Results". Charleston, West Virginia: Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  15. ^ "Statewide Results Primary Election May 13, 2008 Official Results". Charleston, West Virginia: Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  16. ^ "Statewide Results General Election November 4, 2008 Official Results". Charleston, West Virginia: Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  17. ^ "Statewide Results Primary Election May 11, 2010 Official Results". Charleston, West Virginia: Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  18. ^ "Statewide Results General Election November 2, 2010 Official Results". Charleston, West Virginia: Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
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