RepublicanIn office since Nov 2012

Jim Butler

West Virginia State Delegate, District 18 since 2012. Ran in 7 elections between 2012 and 2024, winning 7. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.

West Virginia State Delegate, District 18

In office
14 yrs
Since 2012
Bills became law
1
17 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
0.2%
Chamber median 2.4%
With party
92%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+2.1
Won 2026
Next election
2028
Nov 7, 2028

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Judiciary
  • Judiciary
  • Veterans' Affairs Select

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 17 sponsored · 1 became law

No bills in this list for the 2025–2026 session.

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Butler sits in the West Virginia House of Delegates

Butler is closer to the center than 9% of the chamber's Republicans.

Dem. medianRep. medianButlerMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Bill Ridenour, Larry Kump, Robbie Martin

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:10 PM ET

With Butler’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Republicans92%
  • Cosponsorships of the other party's bills0%

Black tick: the average of Republicans in the West Virginia House of Delegates.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Butler’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

DateBillButlerRep. majorityDem. majorityResult
Mar 14, 2026HB 4106: Allowing constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-oldsYesYesNoPassed 89–8
Mar 14, 2026SB 587: Adjusting salary schedule for elected county officialsNoYesYesPassed 54–42
Mar 14, 2026HB 4004: Creating the Recharge West Virginia ProgramNoYesYesPassed 55–40
Mar 14, 2026HB 4865: Providing for a program allowing election official trainees to be appointed as election…YesYesNoPassed 82–14
Mar 13, 2026SB 648: Strategic and Critical Resources ActYesYesNoPassed 88–7

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Butler was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

YearRaceResultMarginSeat+/−
2026West Virginia House of Delegates, District 18WonR+2.1R+57.6−55.5
2024West Virginia House of Delegates, District 18WonR+43.4R+57.6−14.2
2022West Virginia House of Delegates, District 18Won—R+53.1—
2018West Virginia House of Delegates, District 14WonR+21.2R+52.4−31.2
2016West Virginia House of Delegates, District 14WonR+12.3R+52.4−40.1
2014West Virginia House of Delegates, District 14WonR+24.1——
2014West Virginia House of Delegates, District 14 (primary)Won———
2012West Virginia House of Delegates, District 14WonR+8.5——

Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: West Virginia Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET

Seats Butler has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Butler has run against

Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: West Virginia Secretary of State (unofficial)

How we know Butler

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET