Jim Umberger
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.[1]
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 |
| Chris Reed (D) | 26.1 | 90,038 | ||
 | Wes Holden (Independent) | 7.4 | 25,616 | |
 | Jim Umberger (Independent) (Write-in)  | 0.0 | 171 | |
| A. Warden (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 3 | ||
| Total votes: 344,319 | |||
| = candidate completed 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 | ||
| ✔ | Chris Reed | 56.4 | 27,509 | |
| Jim Umberger | 43.6 | 21,253 | |
| Total votes: 48,762 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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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 | |
| 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.
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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.- 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.
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.
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 HEALTH CARE 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 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 |
” |
| —Jim Umberger’s campaign website (2024)[3] | ||
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. House West Virginia District 1 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 15, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Umberger, United States Congress, “The Issues,” accessed March 10, 2024
