Jim Umberger

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Jim Umberger

Independent

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

West Virginia State University, 1974

Graduate

West Virginia College of Graduate Studies, 1988

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army

Years of service

1970 - 1972

Personal

Birthplace

Charleston, W.Va.

Religion

Non-practicing

Profession

Retired

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal Instagram

Jim Umberger (Independent, Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent West Virginia's 1st Congressional District. Umberger (independent) lost as a write-in in the general election on November 5, 2024. He lost in the Democratic primary on May 14, 2024.

Umberger completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Jim Umberger was born in Charleston, West Virginia. He served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972. He earned a bachelor's degree from West Virginia State University in 1974 and a graduate degree from the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies in 1988.

Elections

2024

See also: West Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2024

West Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (May 14 Republican primary)

West Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (May 14 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House West Virginia District 1

Incumbent Carol Miller defeated Chris Reed, Wes Holden, Jim Umberger, and A. Warden in the general election for U.S. House West Virginia District 1 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Carol Miller (R)	66.4	228,491
	Submit photo	Chris Reed (D)	26.1	90,038
		Wes Holden (Independent)	7.4	25,616
		Jim Umberger (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	171
	Submit photo	A. Warden (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	3

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 344,319
= 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 U.S. House West Virginia District 1

Chris Reed defeated Jim Umberger in the Democratic primary for U.S. House West Virginia District 1 on May 14, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Chris Reed	56.4	27,509
		Jim Umberger	43.6	21,253

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 48,762
= 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 U.S. House West Virginia District 1

Incumbent Carol Miller defeated Derrick Evans in the Republican primary for U.S. House West Virginia District 1 on May 14, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Carol Miller	62.9	65,343
		Derrick Evans	37.1	38,466

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 103,809
= 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 Umberger in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jim Umberger completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Umberger's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Hi,

I’m Jim Umberger and I am running to represent West Virginia’s first Congressional District.

Born and raised in Charleston, I’m a Combat Veteran, having served in the Army in Vietnam. I earned my undergraduate degree from West Virginia State University and a master’s degree in counseling from the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies.

I have served on the boards of several organizations: Southeastern Regional Workshop (now Gateway Industries), Friends of the Greenbrier Center, Carnegie Hall Foundation, Carnegie Hall, Inc., and the American Red Cross (both county and state levels), and worked as a member of the Greenbrier County Planning Commission for six years. Currently, I am the treasurer of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of the 11th Judicial District of WV. It’s no secret that West Virginia has unique economic and social challenges. Our workers fueled the industrial revolution of the 20th century and America’s victory in World War II. Although the demand for coal will continue into the future, now is time to start diversifying economic opportunities in West Virginia. This region has grappled for years with the decline of the coal industry, and we need to address the problems created by unemployment and economic distress.

I support innovative job creation for both small businesses and emerging industries, including both fossil fuel and renewable energy opportunities. We need to work together to define the future of our communities.

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?

• HEALTH CARE

  Health and safety standards should be enforced to reduce injury and illness in the workplace. Access to medical and dental care is a basic human right. Women must have agency over their own bodies.

  Drug abuse continues to devastate our communities. Programs to combat the root causes of addiction and to support the people affected will only succeed with sufficient resources at the community, state,and federal levels.
• EDUCATION The global pandemic shifted the landscape of education, highlighting the need for innovative approaches that cater to the evolving needs of our learners. Though challenges remain, West Virginia is poised to reimagine education for a brighter future. By investing in and empowering educators, allowing them the autonomy to use their training and expertise, we can equip our youth with the academic, vocational, and life skills they need to thrive.
• NATIONAL DEFENSE The United States is the most powerful nation in the history of the world. As such, we have a responsibility to ensure our friends and foes have no doubt of our strength nor our intentions. Our allies should not have to question our support. Military spending should not be disrupted, nor promotions held up because of posturing and theatrics in Washington. Our service personnel are the military’s most valuable asset and should be treated with a level of respect that rises above political gamesmanship.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

ENVIRONMENT

West Virginia miners and oil workers powered the Industrial Revolution. While the industry continues to evolve and the world seeks next generation solutions, coal and oil will continue to be necessary for some time into the future. In the meantime, energy workers deserve safety regulations supported by legislation. Miners suffering from black lung disease deserve the benefits they’ve earned.

Global climate change is caused by the carbon emissions from human activity. Our oceans and streams are polluted and dying. We have an obligation to prevent industrial and agricultural waste from entering our necessary waterways. Our children deserve the best future we can give them.

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

The skills Jim honed over a lifetime in service will help him bring civility, rational problem solving, and functional, collaborative governance to the state and country he loves. His campaign is guided by the same moral compass that has directed his life’s path; he simply cares too much to do nothing.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

When I was in elementary school and Alaska and Hawaii gained statehood.

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.

Campaign website

Umberger’s campaign website stated the following:

“	NATIONAL DEFENSE The United States is the most powerful nation in the history of the world. As such, we have a responsibility to ensure our friends and foes have no doubt of our strength nor our intentions. Our allies should not have to question our support. Military spending should not be disrupted, nor promotions held up because of posturing and theatrics in Washington. Our service personnel are the military’s most valuable asset and should be treated with a level of respect that rises above political gamesmanship. HEALTH CARE Health and safety standards should be enforced to reduce injury and illness in the workplace. Access to medical and dental care is a basic human right. Women must have agency over their own bodies. Drug abuse continues to devastate our communities. Programs to combat the root causes of addiction and to support the people affected will only succeed with sufficient resources at the community, state,and federal levels. ENVIRONMENT West Virginia miners and oil workers powered the Industrial Revolution. While the industry continues to evolve and the world seeks next generation solutions, coal and oil will continue to be necessary for some time into the future. In the meantime, energy workers deserve safety regulations supported by legislation. Miners suffering from black lung disease deserve the benefits they’ve earned. Global climate change is caused by the carbon emissions from human activity. Our oceans and streams are polluted and dying. We have an obligation to prevent industrial and agricultural waste from entering our necessary waterways. Our children deserve the best future we can give them. EDUCATION The global pandemic shifted the landscape of education, highlighting the need for innovative approaches that cater to the evolving needs of our learners. Though challenges remain, West Virginia is poised to reimagine education for a brighter future. By investing in and empowering educators, allowing them the autonomy to use their training and expertise, we can equip our youth with the academic, vocational, and life skills they need to thrive.	”
—Jim Umberger’s campaign website (2024)

See also

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Candidate

U.S. House West Virginia District 1

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Footnotes

[show]

West Virginia's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Shelley Capito (R)

Jim Justice (R)

Representatives

District 1

Carol Miller (R)

District 2

Riley Moore (R)

Republican Party (4)