Evan Hansen (politician)

Evan Hansen
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
from the 51st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 1, 2018
Personal details
Born (1966-07-22) July 22, 1966 (age 58)
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S.
EducationB.S. in Computer Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; M.S. in Energy and Resources, University of California, Berkeley
OccupationPolitician, Scientist, Business owner
Websitehttps://www.hansenforwv.com

Evan Hansen (born July 22, 1966) is an American politician, currently serving as a Democratic member of the West Virginia House of Delegates since 2018, representing the 51st district, which includes Morgantown and the majority of Monongalia County.[1]

Politics

Hansen was first elected to the House during the 2018 elections, which saw Democrats gain in both chambers of the West Virginia Legislature.

Hansen was an unsuccessful candidate for the House in the 2016 elections, coming in sixth place behind Democrat Barbara Evans Fleischauer, Republican Cindy Frich, Republican Joe Statler, Democrat John Williams, and Democrat Rodney Pyles in the five-member 51st District.[2]

In 2018, Democrats — including Hansen — swept all five seats in the 51st district, the largest multi-member district in the House.[3] As a result, the Monongalia County delegates, all Democrats, called themselves “The Fab Five” and frequently voted and worked together on bills.[4] This was especially notable given that there was only one Democratic member of the delegation just four years earlier, after the 2014 elections. In 2020, fellow Delegate Rodney Pyles was defeated for re-election by former Republican Delegate Joe Statler, breaking the all-Democratic delegation.

Personal life

Hansen was born on July 22, 1966, in Newark, New Jersey to Eleanor and Edwin Hansen. He obtained a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.S. in Energy and Resources, University of California-Berkeley.[1] Hansen is also Jewish.[1]

Hansen is co-owner of Downstream Strategies in Morgantown, which works with government agencies, cities, counties, and nonprofits on projects related to drinking water protection, energy development, and local economic development.[2][5] Hansen has lived in Morgantown since 1997.[2]

Electoral history

2018 election

Primary election

West Virginia House of Delegates, 2018[6]
Monongalia County, 51st District
(Vote for 5)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara Evans Fleischauer (incumbent) 6,116 21.54%
Democratic Evan Hansen 5,639 19.86%
Democratic Danielle Walker 5,104 17.98%
Democratic John Williams (incumbent) 4,994 17.59%
Democratic Rodney Pyles (incumbent) 3,952 13.92%
Democratic Cory Kennedy 2,585 9.11%
Total votes 28,390 100.00%

General election

West Virginia House of Delegates, 2018[7]
Monongalia County, 51st District
(Vote for 5)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara Evans Fleischauer (incumbent) 16,357 12.21%
Democratic Evan Hansen 15,558 11.62%
Democratic John Williams (incumbent) 15,045 11.23%
Democratic Danielle Walker 14,725 10.99%
Democratic Rodney Pyles (incumbent) 14,240 10.63%
Republican Joe Statler (incumbent) 13,051 9.74%
Republican Cindy Frich (incumbent) 12,601 9.41%
Republican Debbie Warner 11,058 8.26%
Republican Roger Shuttlesworth 8,885 6.63%
Republican Aaron Metz 8,464 6.32%
Libertarian Buddy Guthrie 3,011 2.25%
American Freedom Harry Bertram 942 0.70%
Write-in 79 0.06%
Total votes 134,016 100.00%

2020 election

Primary election

West Virginia House of Delegates, 2020[8]
Monongalia County, 51st District
(Vote for 5)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Danielle Walker (incumbent) 9,685 20.65%
Democratic Barbara Evans Fleischauer (incumbent) 9,626 20.52%
Democratic Evan Hansen (incumbent) 9,300 19.83%
Democratic John Williams (incumbent) 8,065 17.19%
Democratic Rodney Pyles (incumbent) 6,889 14.69%
Democratic Jeffrey Budkey 3,343 7.13%
Total votes 46,908 100.00%

General election

West Virginia House of Delegates, 2020[9]
Monongalia County, 51st District
(Vote for 5)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara Evans Fleischauer (incumbent) 19,718 11.84%
Democratic Evan Hansen (incumbent) 18,800 11.29%
Republican Joe Statler 18,304 10.99%
Democratic Danielle Walker (incumbent) 17,931 10.77%
Democratic John Williams (incumbent) 17,737 10.65%
Republican Cindy Frich 17,704 10.63%
Democratic Rodney Pyles (incumbent) 17,689 10.63%
Republican Justin White 14,187 8.52%
Republican Todd Stainbrook 12,204 7.33%
Republican Zach Lemaire 12,134 7.29%
Write-in 71 0.04%
Total votes 166,479 100.00%

References

  1. ^ a b c "Evan Hansen (D - Monongalia, 51) Biography". West Virginia Legislature.
  2. ^ a b c "Morgantown-based environmental scientist to make 2018 bid for House of Delegates". West Virginia MetroNews. August 1, 2017.
  3. ^ "Monongalia and Marion counties form blue wall in very red West Virginia". West Virginia MetroNews. November 8, 2018.
  4. ^ Croup, Josh (October 5, 2020). "2020 marks last election before House of Delegates undergoes sweeping change". WDTV.
  5. ^ Maher, Kris (August 28, 2021). "West Virginia Creates Jobs Farming Lavender at Former Coal Mines". The Wall Street Journal.
  6. ^ a b "2018 Official Results (Primary): Monongalia County" (PDF). monongaliacountyclerk.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "2018 Official Results (General): Monongalia County" (PDF). monongaliacountyclerk.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "2020 Official Results (Primary): Monongalia County" (PDF). monongaliacountyclerk.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "2020 Official Results (General): Monongalia County" (PDF). monongaliacountyclerk.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  10. ^ "West Virginia House of Delegates Biography: John Williams". West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved November 14, 2020.


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