Capito, Shelley Moore, 1953-

<p>West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito believes that today's challenges demand bipartisan solutions. She supports commonsense policies that promote economic growth, unleash energy potential, lift up working families, and build a better West Virginia for the next generation.</p>

<p>From growing up in Glen Dale in the Northern Panhandle, to representing the 2nd Congressional District from the Ohio River up to the Eastern Panhandle, to raising her family in Charleston, Shelley knows the ins and outs of every region of the state. Early in life, Shelley saw how her father, Governor Arch Moore Jr., instituted changes to improve West Virginia—building up not only infrastructure and the economy but also families and state pride. It’s that mindset that inspires her work today.</p>

<p>Shelley first dedicated her professional life to serving students, working as a college counselor and advisor at West Virginia State College (now University). She worked closely with first-generation college students, fueling her passion for providing life-changing opportunity for all West Virginians. Shelley also served as director of the Educational Information Center for the West Virginia Board of Regents, helping to advise higher education policy for the state. Her work there only sharpened her skills to turn policy on paper to tangible results.</p>

<p>Shelley Wellons Moore Capito (/ˈkæpɪtoʊ/ KAP-i-toh; born November 26, 1953) is an American politician serving as the junior United States Senator for West Virginia since 2015. A Republican, she is the daughter of three-term West Virginia governor Arch Alfred Moore Jr. Capito was the U.S. Representative for West Virginia's 2nd congressional district from 2001 until her 2014 election to the Senate, the first statewide win by a Republican since the 1980s. She is the dean of West Virginia's congressional delegation, serving since 2001.</p>

<p>Capito was the only Republican in West Virginia's congressional delegation until 2011, and the first Republican woman elected to Congress from West Virginia. She was the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from West Virginia and the first Republican to win a full term in the Senate from West Virginia since 1942. She was reelected in 2020, defeating Democratic nominee Paula Jean Swearengin.</p>

<p>Since 2021, she serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Environment Committee.</p>