Dave Cantrell
Independent · WV
A union electrician from the Wheeling area in Ohio County. He is president of IBEW Local 141 and of the Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly, and focuses on workers' rights, healthcare access and infrastructure.
Where Dave Cantrell stands, based on their records
Supports
AI Regulation (1 record), Healthcare Affordability (2 records), Environment and Public Health (2 records),
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (5 records), Personal Income Tax Reduction (1 record)
Mixed record
Public Safety and Crime Control (2 support · 1 oppose)
Track record
Track record — AI Regulation
AI Regulation · 1 support
Published an opinion column criticizing West Virginia's AI task force for neglecting worker displacement and advocating worker protections around automation and data-center development.
September 5, 2026Supports AI Regulation
Source: theintelligencer.net
Track record — Healthcare Affordability
Healthcare Affordability · 2 support
Publicly criticized rising health-care, energy, and grocery costs while wealthy people continued accumulating more, and called for working-family advocacy.
January 21, 2026Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: ledenews.com
Publicly called for greater education investment and a sustainable fix for the Public Employees Insurance Agency.
November 3, 2024Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: wtov9.com
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 2 support
Supported access to gender-affirming care for minors with parental consent after medical and mental-health assessment.
June 14, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: acluwv.org
Linked homelessness to job shortages, insufficient affordable housing, and unmet mental-health needs, and endorsed rehabilitation to break the cycle.
June 14, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: acluwv.org
Track record — Reduce Wealth Gap
Reduce Wealth Gap · 2 support
Publicly opposed tax cuts that he said negatively affect working-class families.
August 21, 2026Supports Reduce Wealth Gap
Source: theintelligencer.net
Publicly criticized rising health-care, energy, and grocery costs while wealthy people continued accumulating more, and called for working-family advocacy.
January 21, 2026Supports Reduce Wealth Gap
Source: ledenews.com
Track record — Labor Rights
Labor Rights · 9 support
Received the United Mine Workers of America endorsement for the 2026 West Virginia general election.
September 20, 2026Supports Labor Rights
Source: umwa.org
Published an opinion column criticizing West Virginia's AI task force for neglecting worker displacement and advocating worker protections around automation and data-center development.
September 5, 2026Supports Labor Rights
Source: theintelligencer.net
Reported receiving the Teamsters Local 697 endorsement in his dated Candidate Connection response.
June 11, 2026Supports Labor Rights
Source: ballotpedia.org
Reported receiving endorsements from IBEW Locals 141, 596, and 246 in his dated Candidate Connection response.
June 11, 2026Supports Labor Rights
Source: ballotpedia.org
Reported receiving the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America endorsement in his dated Candidate Connection response.
June 11, 2026Supports Labor Rights
Source: ballotpedia.org
Reported receiving the Upper Ohio Valley Building and Construction Trades Council endorsement in his dated Candidate Connection response.
June 11, 2026Supports Labor Rights
Source: ballotpedia.org
Reported receiving the Boilermakers Local 154 endorsement in his dated Candidate Connection response.
June 11, 2026Supports Labor Rights
Source: ballotpedia.org
Received U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders' endorsement for the 2026 House of Delegates race.
May 15, 2026Supports Labor Rights
Source: berniesanders.com
Supported decriminalizing adult-use cannabis and increasing pay, benefits, and staffing in West Virginia jails and prisons.
June 14, 2024Supports Labor Rights
Source: acluwv.org
Track record — Anti-Corruption
Anti-Corruption · 2 support
Publicly criticized elected officials for failing to explain why they vote for or against legislation.
August 21, 2026Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: theintelligencer.net
Endorsed elected civilian police-review boards, statewide tracking of officer complaints and violations, and expanded mental-health and de-escalation training.
June 14, 2024Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: acluwv.org
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 5 oppose
Submitted an official legislative comment on House Bill 4027 urging investment in West Virginia child care.
February 22, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: home.wvlegislature.gov
Submitted an official legislative comment supporting House Bill 4067 and urging investment in child care for working parents, providers, and the state economy.
February 12, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: home.wvlegislature.gov
Publicly called for greater education investment and a sustainable fix for the Public Employees Insurance Agency.
November 3, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: wtov9.com
Endorsed elected civilian police-review boards, statewide tracking of officer complaints and violations, and expanded mental-health and de-escalation training.
June 14, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: acluwv.org
Supported decriminalizing adult-use cannabis and increasing pay, benefits, and staffing in West Virginia jails and prisons.
June 14, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: acluwv.org
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 2 support · 1 oppose
Opposed reinstating the death penalty because of the risk of wrongful execution.
June 14, 2024Opposes Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: acluwv.org
Endorsed elected civilian police-review boards, statewide tracking of officer complaints and violations, and expanded mental-health and de-escalation training.
June 14, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: acluwv.org
Supported decriminalizing adult-use cannabis and increasing pay, benefits, and staffing in West Virginia jails and prisons.
June 14, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: acluwv.org
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 1 support
Endorsed elected civilian police-review boards, statewide tracking of officer complaints and violations, and expanded mental-health and de-escalation training.
June 14, 2024Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: acluwv.org
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 support
Linked homelessness to job shortages, insufficient affordable housing, and unmet mental-health needs, and endorsed rehabilitation to break the cycle.
June 14, 2024Supports Housing Affordability
Source: acluwv.org
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 3 support
Submitted an official legislative comment on House Bill 4027 urging investment in West Virginia child care.
February 22, 2026Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: home.wvlegislature.gov
Submitted an official legislative comment supporting House Bill 4067 and urging investment in child care for working parents, providers, and the state economy.
February 12, 2026Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: home.wvlegislature.gov
Linked homelessness to job shortages, insufficient affordable housing, and unmet mental-health needs, and endorsed rehabilitation to break the cycle.
June 14, 2024Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: acluwv.org
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 4 support
Publicly called for greater education investment and a sustainable fix for the Public Employees Insurance Agency.
November 3, 2024Supports Public Education Quality
Source: wtov9.com
Opposed government bans or restrictions on educational material and endorsed age-appropriate sex education in public schools.
June 14, 2024Supports Public Education Quality
Source: acluwv.org
Defended teaching critical race theory as a way to understand racism's continuing effects and remove embedded prejudice.
June 14, 2024Supports Public Education Quality
Source: acluwv.org
Supported keeping religion out of public schools to preserve church-state separation and student inclusion.
June 14, 2024Supports Public Education Quality
Source: acluwv.org
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 1 support
Stated that abortion decisions should be left to an individual and their health-care provider.
June 14, 2024Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: acluwv.org
Track record — Personal Income Tax Reduction
Personal Income Tax Reduction · 1 oppose
Publicly opposed tax cuts that he said negatively affect working-class families.
August 21, 2026Opposes Personal Income Tax Reduction
Source: theintelligencer.net
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 6 support
Supported access to gender-affirming care for minors with parental consent after medical and mental-health assessment.
June 14, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: acluwv.org
Opposed government bans or restrictions on educational material and endorsed age-appropriate sex education in public schools.
June 14, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: acluwv.org
Defended teaching critical race theory as a way to understand racism's continuing effects and remove embedded prejudice.
June 14, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: acluwv.org
Supported keeping religion out of public schools to preserve church-state separation and student inclusion.
June 14, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: acluwv.org
Supported statewide protections against discrimination based on traditional or natural hair textures and styles.
June 14, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: acluwv.org
Supported statewide employment, housing, and public-accommodation protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
June 14, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: acluwv.org
Track record — Corporate Accountability
Corporate Accountability · 1 support
Published an opinion column criticizing West Virginia's AI task force for neglecting worker displacement and advocating worker protections around automation and data-center development.
September 5, 2026Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: theintelligencer.net
Track record — General
General · 4 records
As president of the Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly, helped hold its sixth annual celebrity dunk-tank fundraiser benefiting more than a dozen local charities.
July 25, 2026
Source: wtrf.com
Reported receiving the Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic endorsement in his dated Candidate Connection response.
June 11, 2026
Source: plannedparenthoodaction.org
Received the Mountain Party of West Virginia's endorsement as an independent House of Delegates candidate.
May 23, 2026
Source: mountainpartywv.net
Helped the Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly raise more than $3,500 for 12 local charities through its annual dunk-tank and raffle fundraiser.
June 30, 2022
Source: wvtrades.org
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Publicly criticized elected officials for failing to explain why they vote for or against legislation.
August 21, 2026
Source: theintelligencer.net
Past race Dave Cantrell ran in:
- House of Delegates - District 3 · November 3, 2026 · Delegate District 3; West Virginia