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Michael Folk
Michael Folk (Republican Party) (also known as Mike) was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 63. He assumed office on December 1, 2012. He left office on December 1, 2018.
Folk (Republican Party) ran for election to the West Virginia State Senate to represent District 15. He lost in the Republican primary on May 14, 2024.
Biography
Folk was born in Berkeley County, West Virginia. When he served in the state House, he lived in Martinsburg, West Virginia. He graduated from Hedgesville High School in 1987. He earned a B.S. in economics from Shepherd College in 1992 and an M.B.A. from West Virginia University in 1994. Folk’s career experience included working as a pilot with United Airlines and as a realtor with King Street Realty.[1][2]
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| West Virginia committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Education |
| • Pensions and Retirement, Vice chair |
| • Political Subdivisions |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Folk served on the following committees:
| West Virginia committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Judiciary |
| • Pensions and Retirement, Vice-Chair |
| • Political Subdivisions |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Folk served on the following committees:
| West Virginia committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Government Organization |
| • Political Subdivisions |
| • Agriculture and Agri-business |
| • Joint Government Organization |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: West Virginia State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for West Virginia State Senate District 15
Tom Willis defeated Anthony Murray in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 15 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tom Willis (R)  | 73.0 | 35,979 |
 | Anthony Murray (D) | 27.0 | 13,318 | |
| Total votes: 49,297 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 15
Anthony Murray advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 15 on May 14, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Anthony Murray | 100.0 | 2,846 |
| Total votes: 2,846 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 15
Tom Willis defeated incumbent Craig Blair and Michael Folk in the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 15 on May 14, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tom Willis | 44.4 | 5,475 |
 | Craig Blair | 32.2 | 3,973 | |
 | Michael Folk | 23.4 | 2,885 | |
| Total votes: 12,333 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Folk in this election.
2020
See also: West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2020
West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2020 (June 9 Republican primary)
West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2020 (June 9 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for Governor of West Virginia
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of West Virginia on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jim Justice (R) | 63.5 | 497,944 |
 | Ben Salango (D) | 30.2 | 237,024 | |
 | Erika Kolenich (L) | 2.9 | 22,527 | |
 | S. Marshall Wilson (Independent) (Write-in) | 1.9 | 15,120 | |
 | Daniel Lutz Jr. (Mountain Party) | 1.4 | 11,309 | |
| Michael Folk (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 199 | |
| Mitch Roberts (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 152 | ||
 | Quintin Gerard Caldwell (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 6 | |
| Kimberly Gross (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 6 | ||
| Total votes: 784,287 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- David Sartin (Independent)
- Larry Trent (Constitution Party)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of West Virginia
Ben Salango defeated Stephen Smith, Ron Stollings, Jody Murphy, and Douglas Hughes in the Democratic primary for Governor of West Virginia on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ben Salango | 38.7 | 74,554 |
 | Stephen Smith | 33.8 | 65,056 | |
 | Ron Stollings | 13.3 | 25,686 | |
 | Jody Murphy | 9.3 | 17,968 | |
| Douglas Hughes | 4.8 | 9,201 | ||
| Total votes: 192,465 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Cecil Silva (D)
- Edwin Ray Vanover (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of West Virginia
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of West Virginia on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Justice | 62.8 | 133,026 |
 | H. Woody Thrasher | 18.3 | 38,796 | |
| Michael Folk | 12.5 | 26,461 | |
| Doug Six | 2.1 | 4,419 | ||
| Larry Brooke Lunsford | 1.8 | 3,844 | ||
| Shelby Fitzhugh | 1.3 | 2,762 | ||
 | Charles Sheedy | 1.2 | 2,535 | |
| Total votes: 211,843 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Governor of West Virginia
Erika Kolenich advanced from the Libertarian convention for Governor of West Virginia on April 8, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Erika Kolenich (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Mountain Party convention
Mountain Party convention for Governor of West Virginia
Daniel Lutz Jr. advanced from the Mountain Party convention for Governor of West Virginia on June 20, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Daniel Lutz Jr. (Mountain Party) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for West Virginia State Senate District 16
Incumbent John Unger defeated Michael Folk in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | John Unger (D) | 52.1 | 18,802 |
| Michael Folk (R) | 47.9 | 17,257 | |
| Total votes: 36,059 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16
Incumbent John Unger advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | John Unger |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16
Michael Folk advanced from the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Michael Folk |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the West Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 10, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was January 30, 2016.
Incumbent Michael Folk defeated Kenny Lemaster, Jr. in the West Virginia House of Delegates District 63 general election.[3][4]
| West Virginia House of Delegates District 63, General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Michael Folk Incumbent |
58.34% | 4,004 | |
| Democratic | Kenny Lemaster, Jr. | 41.66% | 2,859 | |
| Total Votes | 6,863 | |||
| Source: West Virginia Secretary of State | ||||
Kenny Lemaster, Jr. defeated Michael Santa Barbara in the West Virginia House of Delegates District 63 Democratic primary.[5][6]
| West Virginia House of Delegates District 63, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Kenny Lemaster, Jr. |
55.21% | 784 | |
| Democratic | Michael Santa Barbara | 44.79% | 636 | |
| Total Votes | 1,420 | |||
Incumbent Michael Folk ran unopposed in the West Virginia House of Delegates District 63 Republican primary.[5][6]
| West Virginia House of Delegates District 63, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Michael Folk Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the West Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 13, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 25, 2014. Incumbent Michael Folk was unopposed in the Republican primary. Folk defeated Heather Marshall (D) in the general election. Marshall replaced her husband, Donn Marshall, in the race after he accepted a job with the U.S. Department of Defense.[7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michael Folk Incumbent |
61.1% | 2,138 | |
| Democratic | Heather Marshall | 38.9% | 1,362 | |
| Total Votes | 3,500 | |||
2012
Folk won election in the 2012 election for West Virginia House of Delegates, District 63. Folk defeated Pam Brush in the May 8 primary election and defeated Donn Marshall in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[9][10][11]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michael Folk |
51.2% | 3,096 | |
| Democratic | Donn Marshall | 48.8% | 2,947 | |
| Total Votes | 6,043 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Michael Folk |
51.4% | 485 |
| Pam Brush | 48.6% | 458 |
| Total Votes | 943 | |
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Michael Folk did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Michael Folk did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Michael Folk participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on April 6, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Michael Folk's responses follow below.[12]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1) Making Government more Accountable 2) Making Government more Ethical |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | Constitutional principles, fiscal responsibility and a return to free market principles and personal accountability.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[14]
|
” |
2014
Folk's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[15]
| “ | My platform is quite simple regarding any legislation:
Is it Constitutional? Can we afford it? Does it promote Accountability? Either Personal or Governmental? If the answer to these questions is yes, my vote is yes![14] |
” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of West Virginia scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2018
In 2018, the West Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 10 through March 10.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on firearms issues.
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the West Virginia State Legislature was in session from February 8 through April 9. The legislature held a special session from May 4 to June 26. The legislature held its second special session from August 1 to September 15.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the West Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 13 through March 12.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the West Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 14 through March 14.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the West Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 8 through March 10.
|
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate West Virginia State Senate District 15 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Michael Folk; West Virginia House of Delegates, "Mike's Biography," accessed March 13, 2018
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Michael Folk," accessed March 13, 2018
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate search," accessed November 4, 2016
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "2016 official general election results," accessed May 3, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Listing by Office," accessed January 30, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Statewide Results - Primary Election - May 10, 2016," accessed August 2, 2016
- ↑ Herald-Mail Media, "Heather Marshall to run for District 63 in W.Va. House of Delegates," April 23, 2014
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Search," accessed July 18, 2014
- ↑ WBOY.com, "West Virginia General Election Results November 6, 2012," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Statewide Results - General Election - November 6, 2012," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Statewide Results - Primary Election - May 8, 2012," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Michael Folk's responses," April 6, 2018
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ folk4wv.com, "My Platform," accessed August 29, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
West Virginia House of Delegates District 63 2012-2018 |
Succeeded by John Hardy (R) |
