GOVT 327- Elections, Participation, Parties, and Interest Groups Campaign Management
Elections, Participation, Parties, and Interest Groups Campaign Management
Jerrica Fout
Govt 327-B01, L26703696
June 13, 2022
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GOVT 327- Elections, Participation, Parties, and Interest Groups Campaign Management
Introduction of Candidate
Jay Taylor is currently running in the West Virginia 2022 Senatorial election. Taylor is a
Republican candidate representing the 14th Senatorial District. Taylor is an Army Veteran who
served his country from 1990-1996. Following his service, he enrolled at West Virginia
University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 2000 and his graduate degree in 2008.
Taylor has spent most of his adult life employed by SSC-Deltha where he was the Program
Manager working as a Government Contractor with the U.S. Department of Energy. Taylor is a
lifelong resident of West Virginia and states, “The Mountain State has blessed me in so many
ways, and I feel that it is my civic duty to return the favor. My obligations to the great state of
West Virginia run deep and I will be proud to champion the conservative values that truly make
this state “Almost Heaven.” (Taylor, 2022). During the May 10, 2022, primary election “Jay
Taylor defeated William Keplinger, Angela Iman, James Lough, and Stephen Smith in the
Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 14” (ballotpefia.org,2022). Taylor has
pledged “to make conservative Christian values front and center, along with 2nd amendment
rights, smaller government, and a reduction of bureaucratic red tape” (Taylor, 2022). He looks to
secure his spot within the West Virginia Senate in the November 2022 general election.
The 14th District
The 14th Senatorial District of West Virginia consist of six counties: Grant, Hardy,
Mineral, Preston, Taylor and Tucker. According to the 2020 Census, “the population of the 14th
district is approximately 114,657” (U.S. Census Bureau,2020). The population is made up of
50.6% males and 49.4% females, the majority, 91.4% being white. The residence within this
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GOVT 327- Elections, Participation, Parties, and Interest Groups Campaign Management
district is also made up of Black at 3.2%, Hispanic at 1.9% followed by less than .1% being
Asian and Native. Within this district we can find 2,559.9 square miles, mostly rural areas with
an average drive time to work being 27.7 minutes. This district also finds 15.7% of it’s residence
live below the poverty line which is higher than the current national average of 13.4% but
slightly lower than the state’s overall poverty level of 17.8%. The citizens of this district tend to
lean more towards the conversative republican viewpoint, rather than the liberally based
democratic perspectives, making Jay Taylor’s viewpoints, values and vision for West Virginia the
ideal candidate to represent the 14th district of the Mountain State.
Interest Groups and Political Action Committee’s
Special Interest groups and PAC’s play an important part in any election. These groups
give the candidate a platform to stand on while helping to secure funding for their campaign. In
an article published by Mountain Statemen it is said that “Jay Taylor has been endorsed by many
conservative groups in the state. Including, West Virginians for Life, Americans for Prosperity,
Citizens Defense League, West Virginians for Health Freedom, WV Senate Republican Caucus,
and earned an “A” rating from the NRA.” (Mountain Statesmen, 2022). Taylor was also recently
endorsed by WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey who said, “Pleased to endorse Jay Taylor for
State Senate in the 14th District GOP Primary. Jay has been a strong supporter of mine for many
years. He’s strongly prolife, pro-gun, and pro-taxpayer & has led the charge to support a
Convention of States. He’ll be a terrific Senator!” (Morrisey, 2022). All these backings are
imperative to the success of Taylor and his campaign.
On the other hand, it would be of Taylor’s best interest to protect himself against groups
that go against his fundamental beliefs, such as The National LGBT Bar Association, Planned
Parenthood or even the Freedom of Religion Foundation. These groups directly oppose the very
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GOVT 327- Elections, Participation, Parties, and Interest Groups Campaign Management
ideas that Taylor stands for, making him a target for his outspoken beliefs and unwavering faith.
While it is next to impossible to keep all negative media, opinions and expressions regarding the
candidate at bay, it is important to remember that Taylor is a strong man of faith and most
certainly living by the words found in 1 John 3:18 which state, “Dear children, let us not love
with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (NIV).
If Taylor continues living his truth, he is certain to find victory in the November 2022
general election which will make him the newest West Virginia State Senate representative for
District 14. Vote Jay Taylor and help “to return strong conservative values to the West Virginia
Senate” (Taylor, 2022).
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GOVT 327- Elections, Participation, Parties, and Interest Groups Campaign Management
Bibliography
Ballotpedia. (2022). Ballotpedia. Retrieved from
https://ballotpedia.org/Jay_Taylor_(West_Virginia)
Ballotpedia. (2022). Ballotpedia. Retrieved from
https://ballotpedia.org/West_Virginia_State_Senate_District_14
Bible. 1 John. Chapter 3. Verse 18. NIV
Mountain Statesmen. (2022, May 3). Retrieved from Mountain Statesmen:
https://mountainstatesman.com/article/local-man-hopes-to-enact-change-in-wv-senate
Taylor, J. (2022). Conservative. Retrieved from Jay Taylor WV State Senate 14th District:
https://www.jayforwv.com/
United Stated Census Bureau. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/WV
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