Mitch Carmichael

Mitch Carmichael
Mitch Carmichael
Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; May 27, 2021
Governor	Jim Justice
Preceded by	Office established
President of the West Virginia Senate; Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia
	In office; January 11, 2017 – January 13, 2021
Governor	Jim Justice
Preceded by	Bill Cole
Succeeded by	Craig Blair
Majority Leader of the West Virginia Senate
	In office; January 14, 2015 – January 11, 2017
Preceded by	John Unger
Succeeded by	Ryan Ferns
Member of the West Virginia Senate; from the 4th district
	In office; January 9, 2013 – January 13, 2021 Serving with Eric Tarr
Preceded by	Karen Facemyer
Succeeded by	Amy Grady
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates; from the 12th district
	In office; January 12, 2001 – January 9, 2013
Preceded by	Karen Facemyer
Succeeded by	Steve Westfall
Personal details
Born	Mitch Brian Carmichael; April 15, 1960 (age 64); Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	Marshall University (BBA)

Mitchell Carmichael^[1] (born April 15, 1960) is an American politician. He is a former Republican member of the West Virginia Senate representing District 4 from 2012 until his defeat in 2020. Prior to his service in the Senate, Carmichael served in the West Virginia House of Delegates representing District 12 from 2000 through 2012. Carmichael was also a candidate for Governor of West Virginia in the 2011 West Virginia gubernatorial special election. As President of the state Senate from January 2017 to January 2021, he held the title Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia. After his defeat in 2020, Governor Jim Justice appointed Carmichael as West Virginia's economic development director.^[2]

Elections

2020: In the June 2020 Republican primary, Carmichael lost his bid for re-nomination to Amy Nichole Grady, a elementary school teacher who challenged Carmichael amid a state political battle over teacher pay.^[3]^[4] Grady won 39% of the vote to Carmichael's 35%.^[4]

2016: In the May 2016 Republican primary, Majority Leader Carmichael faced criticism from pro-union and pro-family groups based on a variety of votes and legislation.^[6] He was challenged by Dustin Lewis, a union pipeline worker, who he beat 59.5% to 40.5%. Carmichael then faced personal injury attorney Brian Prim in the general election, who he beat by a narrow 51% to 49% to a win a second term in the senate.

West Virginia Senate District 4 General election, 2016^[7]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mitch Carmichael (incumbent)	22,032	51.05%
	Democratic	Brian Prim	21,123	48.95%
Total votes			43,155	100.0%

2012: When District 4 Senator Karen Facemyer retired and left a district seat open, Carmichael was unopposed in the May 8, 2012 Republican Primary, winning with 8,432 votes.^[8] He then won the November 6, 2012 General election with 20,951 votes (52.69%) against Democratic nominee Jackson County, West Virginia Sheriff Mike Bright.^[9]

West Virginia Senate District 4 General election, 2012^[10]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mitch Carmichael	20,951	52.69%
	Democratic	Mike Bright	18,815	47.31%
Total votes			39,766	100.0%

2011: When incumbent Democratic Governor Joe Manchin left his position for the United States Senate, Carmichael ran in the eight-way May 14, 2011 Republican Primary, but lost to Bill Maloney;^[11] Maloney lost the October 4, 2011 special election to state Senator Earl Ray Tomblin.

2011 West Virginia Gubernatorial Special Election Republican primary^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bill Maloney	27,871	45.0
	Republican	Betty Ireland	19,027	30.7
	Republican	Clark Barnes	5,891	9.5
	Republican	Mark Sorsaia	3,177	5.1
	Republican	Larry Faircloth	2,400	3.9
	Republican	Mitch Carmichael	2,073	3.3
	Republican	Ralph Clark	1,164	1.9
	Republican	Cliff Ellis	283	0.5
Total votes			61,886	100

2010: Carmichael and returning 2008 Democratic challenger Jo Boggess Phillips were both unopposed for their May 11, 2010 primaries,^[13] setting up a rematch; Carmichael won the November 2, 2010 General election with 3,383 votes (50.9%) against Phillips in his closest election to date.^[14]
2008: Carmichael was unopposed for the 2008 Republican Primary, and won the November 4, 2008 General election with 4,454 votes (53.1%) against Democratic nominee Jo Boggess Phillips.^[15]
2006: Carmichael was challenged in the 2006 Republican Primary but won. He then won the November 7, 2006 General election with 4,063 votes (62.5%) against Democratic nominee Steve Nicholas.^[16]
2004: Carmichael was unopposed for the 2004 Republican Primary, and won the November 2, 2004 General election with 5,944 votes (67.5%) against Democratic nominee Corbon Siders.^[17]
2002: Carmichael was unopposed for the 2002 Republican Primary, and won the November 5, 2002 General election with 3,969 votes (65.8%) against Democratic nominee Carroll Jett, who had run for the seat in 1998.^[18]
2000: When House District 12 Republican Delegate Karen Facemyer ran for the West Virginia Senate and left the seat open, Carmichael won the three-way 2000 Republican Primary with 1,016 votes (41.7%).^[19] He then won the November 7, 2000 General election with 4,584 votes (59.3%) against Democratic nominee Mike Dunlap.^[20]