James Elam

James Elam (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Charleston City Council to represent Ward 18 in West Virginia. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on May 12, 2026.^[source]

Elam completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

James Elam was born in Evanston, Illinois, and lives in Charleston, West Virginia. He graduated from Capital High School. Elam attended Concord University in Athens, West Virginia, from 2015 to 2016. He earned an associate degree from the University of the People, based in Pasadena, California, in 2022. He attended Christian Leaders College. Elam's career experience includes working as a corrections officer with the West Virginia Division of Corrections, in private security with a hospital, and as a registered pharmacy technician. He has been affiliated with the Southern States Correctional Association, WV Can't Wait, Charleston Can't Wait, and the WVDP LGBTQ Caucus.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

Elections

2026

General election

The primary will occur on May 12, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Democratic primary

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Democratic primary for Charleston City Council Ward 18

James Elam (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Charleston City Council Ward 18 on May 12, 2026.

		Candidate
		James Elam

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Republican primary for Charleston City Council Ward 18

Jennifer Smith (R) is running in the Republican primary for Charleston City Council Ward 18 on May 12, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Jennifer Smith

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2022

General election

General election for Charleston City Council Ward 18

Pam Burka defeated incumbent Bobby Brown and Dana Skerbetz in the general election for Charleston City Council Ward 18 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Pam Burka (R)	43.6	323
	Submit photo	Bobby Brown (D)	42.0	311
	Submit photo	Dana Skerbetz (Independent)	14.2	105
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	1

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 740
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Charleston City Council Ward 18

Incumbent Bobby Brown defeated James Elam in the Democratic primary for Charleston City Council Ward 18 on May 10, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Bobby Brown	54.2	122
		James Elam	45.8	103

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 225
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Charleston City Council Ward 18

Pam Burka advanced from the Republican primary for Charleston City Council Ward 18 on May 10, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Pam Burka	100.0	90

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 90
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

General election

General election for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Larry Rowe (D)	20.4	10,355
✔		Chris Pritt (R)	16.8	8,508
✔		Jim Barach (D)	16.8	8,490
	Submit photo	Stevie Thaxton (R)	15.8	8,026
	Submit photo	Amanda Estep-Burton (D)	15.3	7,743
		Chris Walters (R)	14.9	7,548
	Submit photo	Jaime Policarpio (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 50,670
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 on June 9, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Larry Rowe	31.6	5,157
✔	Submit photo	Amanda Estep-Burton	18.9	3,083
✔		Jim Barach	15.2	2,484
	Submit photo	Amber Ferrell	13.7	2,241
	Submit photo	Edgar Poe	7.7	1,250
	Submit photo	Clint Casto	6.9	1,125
		James Elam	6.0	975

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,315
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 on June 9, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris Pritt	24.7	2,514
✔	Submit photo	Stevie Thaxton	15.6	1,584
✔		Chris Walters	15.3	1,558
	Submit photo	Amanda Davis	12.4	1,268
	Submit photo	John Luoni	12.2	1,244
	Submit photo	Eric Young	11.8	1,202
	Submit photo	Bill Johnson	8.0	816

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,186
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: West Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2018

General election

General election for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Larry Rowe (D)	22.1	9,651
✔		Andrew Robinson (D)	19.9	8,694
✔	Submit photo	Amanda Estep-Burton (D)	16.4	7,165
		Chris Pritt (R)	16.3	7,103
	Submit photo	Ethan Morris (R)	12.8	5,563
	Submit photo	Matthew Jarrett (R)	12.5	5,434

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 43,610 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 (3 seats)

Incumbent Larry Rowe, incumbent Andrew Robinson, and Amanda Estep-Burton defeated Clint Casto and James Elam in the Democratic primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Larry Rowe	32.5	4,185
✔		Andrew Robinson	29.9	3,854
✔	Submit photo	Amanda Estep-Burton	21.1	2,710
	Submit photo	Clint Casto	9.3	1,197
		James Elam	7.2	924

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 12,870
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

James Peters (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 (3 seats)

Chris Pritt, Matthew Jarrett, and Ethan Morris advanced from the Republican primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris Pritt	36.2	1,885
✔	Submit photo	Matthew Jarrett	33.0	1,719
✔	Submit photo	Ethan Morris	30.8	1,604

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 5,208
= 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Brad White (R)

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

James Elam completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Elam's responses.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a former law enforcement officer and current hospital pharmacy technician (inpatient pharmacy) focused on enhancing public safety, public health, and quality life for Ward 18 residents in the Kanawha City neighborhood of Charleston.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Public safety is personal to me. I am a former corrections officer and law enforcement officer, and I’ve seen firsthand how crime, addiction, and system failures impact families, neighborhoods, and first responders. Those experiences shape my belief in smart, fair, and effective public safety that protects residents while building trust between the community and police. I support visible neighborhood patrols, recruiting the best of the best candidates to our PD, having top notch equipment, faster response times, and addressing long-standing quality-of-life issues like abandoned properties, reckless driving, illegal dumping, and drug activity. Public safety should never be political—it’s about keeping people safe and improving everyday life
Homelessness affects public safety, public health, and human dignity. Through my experience in both law enforcement and healthcare, I’ve learned that ignoring the issue helps no one. I believe in balanced, compassionate solutions that connect people to mental health care, addiction treatment/harm reduction, and housing resources—while also ensuring our streets, parks, and neighborhoods remain safe and accessible for everyone. We can care about people and care about our community at the same time.
I bring a strong public health perspective to City Council. I’ve spent years working in our local hospitals with Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) as a registered pharmacy technician, including being trained in sterile IV preparation for patients. Additionally, I studied Community & Public Health at the University of the People (online campus) - based in Pasadena, CA, as well as Concord University in Athens, WV. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I served our community on the front lines in our hospitals during one of the most challenging periods Charleston has faced. That experience reinforced my belief that public health, emergency preparedness, and community resilience must be part of responsible local leadership.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public Safety, Public Health, Improving and Addressing Quality of Life Issues for Ward 18 Residents, and Addressing Homelessness in Charleston with Compassionate Solutions.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

WV Democratic Party

Councilman Joe Solomon

Councilwoman Beth Kerns

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

James Elam completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Elam's responses.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

James Elam was born in Evanston, Illinois, and has lived in Charleston, West Virginia for nearly 10 years now. Elam is a graduate of Capital High School in Charleston. Elam attended Concord University in Athens, West Virginia, from 2015 to 2016, before beginning a job in law enforcement (Division of Corrections). While attending Concord University, Elam was an Associate Brother in the Phi Sigma Phi fraternity.

From 2016 to 2017, Elam served as a Correctional Officer with what was then West Virginia Division of Corrections (WVDOC) now known as the Division of Corrections & Rehabilitation. Elam was assigned as a housing unit Officer at Salem Correctional Center, a medium-security men's prison, where he was trained in basic law enforcement duties. After leaving the Division of Corrections in late 2017, Elam went into the private protection and security industry. Elam left state employment to seek elected office. Elam ran for a seat in the West Virginia House of Delegates in both the 2018 and 2020 elections and sought to represent Kanawha County's 36th District. In 2020, Elam was endorsed by The Charleston-Gazette Mail for the democratic primary for Delegate.

Elam lives in the Kanawha City neighborhood of Charleston, West Virginia and is running in the 2022 municipal election for a seat on Charleston City Council (Ward 18).

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Addressing Public Safety & Gun Violence
Housing & Addressing Homelessness
Public Health in Charleston

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

*Public Safety & Gun Violence

Public Housing
Public Health & Recovery Efforts
Fighting COVID-19
Economic Diversity
Protecting Minorities & Fighting Injustice
Cannabis Legalization & Decriminalization

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to the people who live in my Ward and work hard every day to provide a better life for themselves and their families. I look up to the many men and women in the healthcare industry, who I have the opportunity to work with at a local Charleston hospital. I look up to our first responders, as a former Correctional Officer, I recognize the sacrifices these individuals make on a daily basis. I want to be a watchdog for the people in my Ward, and a true citizen representative of the people. If elected to Charleston City Council, I promise I will always be accessible.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Someone who has integrity and is honest. Someone who will be accessible to their constituents and make themselves available to listen to the concerns of the residents of this city. I think having a background in government or previous public service is also very important. because it shows an individual's willingness to give of themselves to the greater good -- and the community at large.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I come from a proud U.S. Navy family that has been involved with public service for as long as I can remember. I want to work for you and will make myself accessible to each constituent in my Ward. I value the importance of creating more living wage jobs in Charleston, improving our schools, and making public safety - especially stopping senseless killings and gun violence -- a top priority. With my years of public safety and private protection experience, as well as previously running for the House of Delegates, I know what it takes to find solutions to the problems we face, and actually get things done.

What is your favorite book? Why?

"Maurice" by E.M. Forster -- it represents a similar internal conflict that I wrestled with in my early adolescence.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"It Gets Easier" WIllie Nelson

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Many people aren't aware that our City Council is the legislative, law-making body of the Charleston, West Virginia city government. It is incumbent upon the City Council, to vote on -- and approve, the City's annual budget. The role of City Councilmember is an extremely important role in our municipal government.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

While I think that this is helpful, I don't view it as a requirement for this office. I think a good Councilmember is someone who will make themselves accessible to their constituents and listen to their concerns. I think my background in law enforcement and public safety speak for itself, and according to many people who live in my Ward, they don't even know who their current Councilmember is. I find this concerning, because it shows a lack of engagement on the part of the incumbent. People need to know who it is we are, and what we stand for. I have a published platform that the public can view, and as of late January 2022, no other candidate in this race can say the same.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

I think to be an effective Councilmember in our City at this point in time, requires someone with a public safety and public health background. Charleston is dealing with two very serious public health crises at one time. First, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and secondly addiction and substance use disorder (SUD). Many councilmembers simply don't have the first-hand experience dealing with these issues, to truly know how serious the impacts are on our city. I see these issues daily working in an emergency room of many local area hospitals. As well as my background in law enforcement (Corrections), I specialize in private security and protection and work in local hospitals protecting hospital staff, visitors, and the public.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2020

James Elam did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2018

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys

James Elam participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on April 6, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and James Elam's responses follow below.^[6]

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

“

1) Cannabis Legalization

2) Fighting the Opioid Epidemic
3) Fighting for civil and equal rights for all^[7]^[8]

”

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

“ I am passionate about criminal justice reform since I am a former Corrections Officer. I am also passionate about fighting the opioid epidemic in West Virginia, as we lead the nation in opioid related overdose. We know the benefits of legalized cannabis, and the effectiveness in reducing the rates of opioid abuse in states with legal cannabis. WV needs to get on board. I am also extremely passionate about LGBT rights, as I am the youngest openly gay candidate to ever run for the West Virginia Legislature.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many^[8] ”

External links

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Candidate

Charleston City Council Ward 18

Website

Facebook

Personal

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Footnotes

↑ James Elam - House Delegates 36th District - Charleston, WV, "About," accessed March 17, 2018
↑ Ballotpedia staff, "Email communication with James Elam," August 3, 2020
↑ Ballotpedia's Elections Team, “Email communication with James Elam," February 17, 2021
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 28, 2022
↑ Ballotpedia staff, "Email communication with James Elam," January 13, 2026
↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "James Elam's responses," April 6, 2018
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[bio-1] James Elam - House Delegates 36th District - Charleston, WV, "About," accessed March 17, 2018

[2] Ballotpedia staff, "Email communication with James Elam," August 3, 2020

[3] Ballotpedia's Elections Team, “Email communication with James Elam," February 17, 2021

[bio2-4] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 28, 2022

[5] Ballotpedia staff, "Email communication with James Elam," January 13, 2026

[6] Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.

[BPsurvey-7] Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "James Elam's responses," April 6, 2018

[quotedisclaimer-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

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James Elam

Biography

Elections

2026

General election

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Charleston City Council Ward 18

Republican primary

Republican primary for Charleston City Council Ward 18

Endorsements

2022

General election

General election for Charleston City Council Ward 18

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Charleston City Council Ward 18

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Charleston City Council Ward 18

2020

General election

General election for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 (3 seats)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 (3 seats)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 (3 seats)

2018

General election

General election for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 (3 seats)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 (3 seats)

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 36 (3 seats)

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

2022

2020

2018

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

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2025 Elections

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