Steven Wendelin
Steven Wendelin (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on May 12, 2026.
Wendelin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Steven Wendelin was born in San Mateo, California. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1984 to 2023. He graduated from San Mateo High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from the California Maritime Academy in 1990, a graduate degree from the Marine Corps University in 2007, and a graduate degree from the National Defense University in 2014.[1][2]
Wendelin has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Blacksmiths Guild of the Potomac
- Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America
- Free and Accepted Masons
Elections
2026
See also: West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District election, 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.
General election for U.S. House West Virginia District 2
Christopher Whitcomb (Independent) is running in the general election for U.S. House West Virginia District 2 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Christopher Whitcomb (Independent) | ||
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 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary
Democratic primary for U.S. House West Virginia District 2
Ahsan Parsi (D) and Steven Wendelin (D) are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House West Virginia District 2 on May 12, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Ahsan Parsi | ||
 | Steven Wendelin | |
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| = 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
Republican primary for U.S. House West Virginia District 2
Incumbent Riley Moore (R) is running in the Republican primary for U.S. House West Virginia District 2 on May 12, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Riley Moore | |
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| = 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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Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2024
See also: West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024
West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024 (May 14 Republican primary)
West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024 (May 14 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House West Virginia District 2
Riley Moore defeated Steven Wendelin in the general election for U.S. House West Virginia District 2 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Riley Moore (R) | 70.8 | 268,190 |
| Steven Wendelin (D) | 29.2 | 110,775 | |
| Total votes: 378,965 | |||
| = 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 U.S. House West Virginia District 2
Steven Wendelin advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House West Virginia District 2 on May 14, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steven Wendelin | 100.0 | 39,832 |
| Total votes: 39,832 | |||
| = 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 2
Riley Moore defeated Joseph Earley, Chris Walker, Dennis Cain, and Alexander Gaaserud in the Republican primary for U.S. House West Virginia District 2 on May 14, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Riley Moore | 45.0 | 47,033 |
 | Joseph Earley | 20.3 | 21,176 | |
 | Chris Walker | 14.5 | 15,203 | |
 | Dennis Cain | 13.0 | 13,625 | |
 | Alexander Gaaserud | 7.1 | 7,453 | |
| Total votes: 104,490 | |||
| = 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
- Heather Rosen-Turley (R)
- Rj Smith (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Steven Wendelin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wendelin's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- They’re Making Us Sicker — I’ll Fight Back
o Affordable healthcare for every West Virginian. o No cuts to Medicaid. No closing of rural hospitals.
o Take on Big Pharma and greedy insurance companies. - They’re Making Us Poorer — I’ll Stand Up for Working Families o No more tax giveaways to billionaires while working families struggle. o Protect and strengthen Social Security — remove the income cap so it’s there for the next generation. o Strong, free public schools so every child can succeed. o Stop burying our kids under trillions in national debt for the 1%’s short-term gain.
- They’re Stealing Our Rights — I’ll Defend Our Democracy o Restore the rule of law — no one above it, no one beneath it. o Keep politicians out of your personal healthcare decisions. o End gerrymandering, protect voting rights, expand ballot access. o Get big money out of politics — put people first.
A complete overhaul of the tax code needs to be completed to ensure everyone pays their fair share.
Ensure every person’s right to privacy and to not have our personal information bought and sold as a commodity.
Guarantee affordable healthcare and childcare as essential parts of promoting the general welfare.
Ensure that medical decisions are between an individual and their medical provider and should NEVER be legislated at any level of government.
Reform the election finance system to remove undue influence. One voice, one vote. Corporations are NOT individuals.
Theodore Roosevelt embodied the idea of service, strength, and civic responsibility. He fought corruption, broke up monopolies, and believed that wealth and privilege carried an obligation to serve the public good. He also championed conservation—recognizing that protecting our natural resources was an act of patriotism.
FDR, on the other hand, led with extraordinary empathy and resolve. He guided our nation through the Great Depression and World War II by restoring hope when Americans needed it most. His belief that government should be a tool for the common good, not a weapon for the powerful, is something I still believe today.
I also look up to several great naval leaders who shaped my own understanding of leadership and integrity. Admiral James Stockdale and Senator John McCain showed unimaginable courage and moral strength as prisoners of war—proving that character is tested not in comfort, but in crisis. Admiral Chester Nimitz demonstrated calm, strategic brilliance under immense pressure during World War II, while Commander Ernest E. Evans of the USS Johnston exemplified valor in the face of impossible odds, charging into battle to defend his fellow sailors.
Critical thinking and the ability to learn from mistakes.
That said, my work isn’t finished. We’re standing at a crossroads in American history—one as consequential as the Civil War or World War II. And though we aren’t at war in the traditional sense, we are in the midst of an existential struggle for the very soul of our democracy. We must decide whether our constitutional republic will endure—whether individual freedoms still matter, and whether a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people” will continue to thrive.
I also recall watching one of the Apollo launches—likely one of the later missions, Apollo 16 or 17. Seeing that rocket lift off captured the spirit of possibility that defined that era. It was a time when Americans still believed we could do anything if we worked together.
He was a great boss—taught me responsibility, patience, and that a little humility goes a long way. I’d had a few odd jobs before that, but the hardware store was my first real one.
I regularly read from the Stoics—Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus in particular. Their writings serve as a grounding point for me, a daily reminder to focus on what I can control, to live with integrity, and to meet adversity with calm and purpose. In both life and leadership, those lessons are timeless.
Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough is another favorite. It’s a powerful biography of a young Theodore Roosevelt—how he overcame illness and physical weakness through sheer will and determination. It’s a testament to resilience and personal growth, qualities I deeply admire.
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, Aubrey commands in what was then the greatest navy the world had ever seen, yet his story isn’t just about battles at sea. It’s about duty, friendship, and moral conviction in the face of chaos. He’s a man who leads from the front, inspires confidence in his crew, and carries both the weight of command and the humility to admit his flaws.
I had a learning disability that made school a challenge, and eventually, I dropped out of high school. At the time, I didn’t see much of a future for myself. But life has a way of teaching you lessons the classroom can’t. I joined the Navy, and that decision changed everything. The discipline, structure, and sense of purpose I found in service gave me direction—and the belief that I could always grow, no matter where I started.
The House works best when its members remember that their first duty isn’t to a party or a donor—it’s to the people back home. A good representative listens, applies common sense, and acts in the best interests of their district—always. That’s how our system was meant to work: frequent accountability, practical problem-solving, and service before self.
During my nearly 39 years in the U.S. Navy, I learned that leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about responsibility. I led sailors in combat zones and followed great leaders when the situation called for it. In both cases, the lessons were the same: listen to your people, think critically, make decisions based on facts, and always take care of your team.
Restoring our democracy starts with returning government to the people it was meant to serve—not the ultra-wealthy, not the special interests, and not the unprincipled politicians who’ve sold out their own constituents. We need leaders guided by common sense and service before self, not by ideology or greed.
At the same time, we must rebuild an economy that rewards work, not wealth. In towns from Weirton to Martinsburg, families deserve to know that their effort and talent can still build a good life. That’s not a handout—that’s the American promise.
That short term forces representatives to listen, to stay in touch, and to earn the public’s trust over and over again. It’s not supposed to be a lifetime job or a comfortable career. It’s meant to be a constant reminder that this seat belongs to the people, not the politician who occupies it.
John Lewis embodied moral courage. He risked his life for civil rights and later brought that same spirit to the U.S. House, reminding all of us that “good trouble” is sometimes necessary to move our country forward.
Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney—though from the other side of the aisle—showed uncommon bravery by standing up for truth and the Constitution when their party turned away from both. That kind of integrity transcends partisanship.
From my home state, I also look to Robert C. Byrd and Harley O. Staggers, Sr. as examples of what it means to serve West Virginia with depth and principle. Byrd began his career in the House before becoming the longest-serving member of Congress in U.S. history, mastering the legislative process and fiercely defending the Constitution. Staggers chaired the powerful House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, where he championed consumer protection, transportation safety, and the creation of Amtrak.
We all have a few principles that we won’t bend on—and that’s fine—but those should be the exception, not the rule. I believe 80% of West Virginians—and 80% of Americans—agree on most of what really matters: good jobs, fair wages, quality schools, affordable healthcare, and safe communities. For the rest, we can work it out the same way folks do here at home—by talking to each other, not past each other.
For too long, Congress has written tax laws that reward the ultra-wealthy and giant corporations while shifting the burden onto working families. Every loophole for billionaires and every offshore tax dodge comes at the expense of the teachers, miners, nurses, and small business owners who actually keep this country running.
Before Congress can demand integrity from others, it must first police itself. Transparency and ethical conduct in the House are essential to restoring public trust in government. Oversight should focus on facts, not partisan gain—and when wrongdoing is found, it must be addressed swiftly and fairly.
But she’s trapped in an impossible situation. If she legally adopts her granddaughter, she’ll lose the Social Security survivor benefits that help keep food on the table. Yet without adoption, she can’t add the child to her health insurance. She’s forced to choose between her granddaughter’s financial security and her access to healthcare—an unthinkable decision no caregiver should ever have to make.
We’ve seen this story before. In the 1920s, no one could have predicted how the automobile would reshape our economy, our environment, and even our way of life. AI will have the same kind of second- and third-order effects—many of which we can’t yet fully see. That’s why regulation isn’t about stifling innovation; it’s about protecting the public interest, ensuring transparency, and preventing abuse.
We also have to recognize the physical footprint of AI. Large data centers—the backbone of artificial intelligence—require enormous amounts of electricity, water, and land. Without proper oversight, these facilities could strain local resources, increase energy costs, and harm rural communities already struggling to balance economic opportunity with environmental stewardship. West Virginians know what happens when outside industries come in, extract what they need, and leave towns behind. We can’t afford to repeat that mistake in the digital age.
The federal government already partners with the states to maintain “Real ID” standards for driver’s licenses and identification cards. Those same secure, verified systems could—and should—be used to streamline voter registration and identification at polling places. If we can use Real ID to board an airplane or enter a federal building, there’s no reason we can’t use it to protect the integrity of our elections.
At the same time, we should modernize how Americans are registered to vote. Every U.S. citizen—native-born or naturalized—should be automatically registered on their 18th birthday, with the default status being No Party Affiliation (NPA). From there, individuals can freely choose a political party or remain independent, but no one should be left out of the process because of red tape, lost paperwork, or outdated systems. Additionally, the Social Security Administration should be required to notify each state’s Secretary of State when a registered voter passes away, so that individual can be promptly and accurately removed from the voter rolls. Maintaining clean, up-to-date voter lists is essential for both security and public confidence.
Though it would ultimately be up to the individual states, I would also like to see party affiliations removed from candidates’ names on general election ballots. Listing a party beside a candidate’s name encourages voters to rely on party labels instead of learning who the candidates are and what they actually stand for. Removing those labels would encourage a more informed and engaged electorate—one that votes for people, not parties.
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.
2024
Steven Wendelin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wendelin's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- West Virginians deserve better representation in Congress.
- Until we reform our campaign finance system by removing soft and dark money, the interests of the individual citizen will not be properly represented.
- As individuals we cannot spend more money than we earn. The Federal Government needs to be held to the same standard. A balanced budget needs to be the law of the land and waste, fraud, and abuse need to be rooted out. With a balanced budget the citizens can have a government that works for them and not for just the plutocrats.
A complete overhaul of the tax code needs to be completed to ensure we all pay our fair share, to include the 1%.
Ensure every person’s right to privacy and to not have our personal information bought and sold as a commodity.
Guarantee affordable healthcare and childcare as essential parts of promoting the general welfare.
Ensure that medical decisions are between an individual and their medical provider and should NEVER be legislated at any level of government.
Reform the election finance system to remove undue influence. One voice, one vote. Corporations are NOT individuals.
by Doris Kearns Goodwin. The book chronicles how a small group like-minded individuals can reform institutionalized injustices and tear down the status quo.
Critical thinking and the ability to learn from mistakes.
Okay, how about being a father of two teenaged girls while deployed for a year in Afghanistan?
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
Wendelin’s campaign website stated the following:
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The Issues
I believe in… Reversing Climate Change Pro-Choice A Balanced Budget Ending Partisan Politics Tax Reform High-speed Internet and Cell Coverage Campaign Finance Reform Reversing Globalization Digital Privacy Reducing Poverty and Homelessness |
” |
| —Steven Wendelin’s campaign website (2024)[4] | ||
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.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. House West Virginia District 2 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 1, 2023
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 31, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Wendelin for Congress, “The Issues,” accessed March 10, 2024
