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Joshua Higginbotham

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Joshua Higginbotham
Image of Joshua Higginbotham

Republican Party

Prior offices
West Virginia House of Delegates District 13
Elections and appointments
Last election

May 14, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Charleston, 2018

Personal
Profession
Business development manager
Contact

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Joshua Higginbotham (Republican Party) was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 13. He assumed office in 2016. He left office on November 5, 2021.

Higginbotham (Republican Party) ran for election for West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture. He lost in the Republican primary on May 14, 2024.

Biography

Joshua Higginbotham graduated from Poca High School in 2014. He earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Charleston in 2018. His career experience includes working as a lobbyist and business development manager.[1]

Committee assignments

2021-2022

Higginbotham was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Higginbotham was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

West Virginia committee assignments, 2017
• Education
• Energy
• Interstate Cooperation
• Small Business, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development
• Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security

Elections

2024

See also: West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner election, 2024

General election

General election for West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture

Incumbent Kent Leonhardt defeated Deborah Stiles in the general election for West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kent Leonhardt
Kent Leonhardt (R)
 
69.1
 
490,964
Image of Deborah Stiles
Deborah Stiles (D) Candidate Connection
 
30.9
 
219,131

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 710,095
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture

Deborah Stiles advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture on May 14, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Deborah Stiles
Deborah Stiles Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
84,557

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 84,557
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture

Incumbent Kent Leonhardt defeated Joshua Higginbotham and Roy L. Ramey in the Republican primary for West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture on May 14, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kent Leonhardt
Kent Leonhardt
 
50.8
 
97,958
Image of Joshua Higginbotham
Joshua Higginbotham
 
30.1
 
57,950
Image of Roy L. Ramey
Roy L. Ramey Candidate Connection
 
19.1
 
36,831

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 192,739
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Higginbotham in this election.

2022

See also: West Virginia State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for West Virginia State Senate District 8

Mark Hunt defeated incumbent Richard Lindsay in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 8 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Mark Hunt
Mark Hunt (R)
 
56.8
 
14,615
Image of Richard Lindsay
Richard Lindsay (D)
 
43.2
 
11,136

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 25,751
Candidate Connection = 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 8

Incumbent Richard Lindsay advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 8 on May 10, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Richard Lindsay
Richard Lindsay
 
100.0
 
5,100

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 5,100
Candidate Connection = 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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Republican primary election

Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 8

Mark Hunt defeated Joshua Higginbotham and Mark Mitchem in the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 8 on May 10, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Mark Hunt
Mark Hunt
 
46.4
 
2,427
Image of Joshua Higginbotham
Joshua Higginbotham
 
34.2
 
1,786
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Mark Mitchem
 
19.4
 
1,016

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 5,229
Candidate Connection = 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

2020

See also: West Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2020

General election

General election for West Virginia House of Delegates District 13 (2 seats)

Jonathan Pinson and incumbent Joshua Higginbotham defeated Scott Brewer and David Caldwell in the general election for West Virginia House of Delegates District 13 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jonathan Pinson
Jonathan Pinson (R) Candidate Connection
 
36.0
 
8,833
✔
Image of Joshua Higginbotham
Joshua Higginbotham (R)
 
27.0
 
6,607
Image of Scott Brewer
Scott Brewer (D)
 
24.5
 
6,012
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
David Caldwell (D)
 
12.5
 
3,057

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 24,509
Candidate Connection = 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 House of Delegates District 13 (2 seats)

Scott Brewer and David Caldwell advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 13 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Scott Brewer
Scott Brewer
 
61.3
 
3,160
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
David Caldwell
 
38.7
 
1,991

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 5,151
Candidate Connection = 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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Republican primary election

Republican primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 13 (2 seats)

Jonathan Pinson and incumbent Joshua Higginbotham defeated incumbent Scott Cadle, James Kennedy, and Robert Marchal in the Republican primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 13 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jonathan Pinson
Jonathan Pinson Candidate Connection
 
33.0
 
2,928
✔
Image of Joshua Higginbotham
Joshua Higginbotham
 
26.7
 
2,366
Image of Scott Cadle
Scott Cadle
 
24.1
 
2,134
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
James Kennedy
 
11.2
 
997
Image of Robert Marchal
Robert Marchal
 
5.0
 
440

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 8,865
Candidate Connection = 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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2018

See also: West Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2018

General election

General election for West Virginia House of Delegates District 13 (2 seats)

Incumbent Joshua Higginbotham and Scott Cadle defeated incumbent Scott Brewer and Todd Mullins in the general election for West Virginia House of Delegates District 13 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Joshua Higginbotham
Joshua Higginbotham (R)
 
30.7
 
6,109
✔
Image of Scott Cadle
Scott Cadle (R)
 
28.3
 
5,639
Image of Scott Brewer
Scott Brewer (D)
 
27.8
 
5,531
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Todd Mullins (Independent)
 
13.2
 
2,620

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 19,899
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 13 (2 seats)

Incumbent Scott Brewer advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 13 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
✔
Image of Scott Brewer
Scott Brewer

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 13 (2 seats)

Scott Cadle and incumbent Joshua Higginbotham advanced from the Republican primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 13 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Scott Cadle
Scott Cadle
 
53.0
 
2,124
✔
Image of Joshua Higginbotham
Joshua Higginbotham
 
47.0
 
1,883

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 4,007
Candidate Connection = 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

See also: West Virginia House of Delegates elections, 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 Scott Cadle (R) did not seek re-election.

Scott Brewer and Joshua Higginbotham defeated Rosalee Juba-Plumley and incumbent Michael Ihle in the West Virginia House of Delegates District 13 general election.[2][3]

West Virginia House of Delegates District 13, General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Scott Brewer 27.86% 6,541
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Joshua Higginbotham 28.20% 6,622
     Democratic Rosalee Juba-Plumley 19.59% 4,599
     Republican Michael Ihle Incumbent 24.36% 5,720
Total Votes 23,482
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State


Scott Brewer and Rosalee Juba-Plumley defeated George A. Thaxton and Marla Ingels in the West Virginia House of Delegates District 13 Democratic primary.[4][5]

West Virginia House of Delegates District 13, Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Scott Brewer 37.17% 2,788
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Rosalee Juba-Plumley 22.23% 1,667
     Democratic George A. Thaxton 21.83% 1,637
     Democratic Marla Ingels 18.77% 1,408
Total Votes 7,500


Joshua Higginbotham and incumbent Michael Ihle defeated Amanda Cadle, Kathie Hess Crouse and Robert Marchal in the West Virginia House of Delegates District 13 Republican primary.[4][5]

West Virginia House of Delegates District 13, Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Joshua Higginbotham 24.62% 1,813
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Michael Ihle Incumbent 24.30% 1,789
     Republican Amanda Cadle 15.52% 1,143
     Republican Kathie Hess Crouse 18.28% 1,346
     Republican Robert Marchal 17.28% 1,272
Total Votes 7,363

Primary race background

Main article: West Virginia races we're watching, 2016

Three of the Republican candidates, Ihle, Crouse and Higginbotham, attended a candidate forum in April 2016 to discuss their campaign issues. The three candidates supported a state-level version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in order to protect the religious freedom of private companies. Higginbotham, a 19-year-old college student, said the legislation would help protect "religious minorities"; Crouse, a microbiologist, said she would have voted for a religious freedom bill as a state delegate.[6]

Other issues discussed at the forum included West Virginia's tobacco tax; Ihle, Crouse and Higginbotham opposed raising the state tobacco tax in order to balance the state's budget. The three candidates also supported the state legislature's approval of a voter ID bill requiring voters to present photo identification before they could vote.[6]

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Joshua Higginbotham did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Joshua Higginbotham did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Joshua Higginbotham did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2016

Higginbotham's campaign website highlighted the following issues:

“
  • 100% Pro-Life
  • 100% Pro-Guns
  • 100% Pro-Coal

Economy

  • Strengthening the middle class by lowering taxes on small businesses and families, simplifying the tax system, and taking a common-sense approach on regulations and legal issues. This will grow the economy by bringing in new high-paying and high-skilled industries to our area.

Law Enforcement

  • We must ensure that our law enforcement can protect our communities and keep us safe. We must also defend the right for a citizen to protect themselves and their family with the right to bear arms.

Addiction

  • Combat the drug epidemic that is destroying an entire generation of West Virginians. The drug crisis is more than just a public health one; it is a legal crisis, an economic crisis, a family crisis, a medical crisis, and an educational crisis. We must put an end to the senseless death and violence that comes with drug abuse and addiction.

Education

  • Repealing Common Core. The education of our children should not be taken lightly, and the best way to do that is to allow parents and teachers to have more say with what goes on in our schools. If we bring professional jobs to this state, we need educated West Virginians to fill them.[7]
 ”
—Joshua Higginbotham[8]

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.


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.

Joshua Higginbotham campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* West Virginia Commissioner of AgricultureLost primary$58,300 $0
2022West Virginia State Senate District 8Lost primary$82,392 $48,311
2020West Virginia House of Delegates District 13Won general$81,696 N/A**
2018West Virginia House of Delegates District 13Won general$53,706 N/A**
2016West Virginia House of Delegates, District 13Won $14,244 N/A**
Grand total$290,338 $48,311
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in West Virginia

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.





2021

In 2021, the West Virginia State Legislature was in session from February 10 to April 10.

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
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 the manufacturing industry.
Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ LinkedIn, "Joshua Higginbotham," accessed March 10, 2024
    2. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate search," accessed November 4, 2016
    3. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "2016 official general election results," accessed May 3, 2017
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Listing by Office," accessed January 30, 2016
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Statewide Results - Primary Election - May 10, 2016," accessed August 2, 2016
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Charleston Gazette-Mail, "GOP House candidates back religious freedom bill," April 13, 2016
    7. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    8. ↑ Higginbotham WV, "Platform," accessed September 20, 2016
    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Scott Cadle (R)
    Michael Ihle (R)         		West Virginia House of Delegates District 13
    2016-2021     		Succeeded by
    Kathie Hess Crouse (R)
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