He changed his mind.
After learning more from healthcare professionals in his 6th District, Del. Jeff Stephens made the informed decision that it wasn’t the right time to repeal the state’s Certificate of Need program. So, all the way back in February 2025, he voted against the repeal in a House Health Committee meeting and House Bill 2007 failed, 13-12.
It also put an end to an initiative adopted by W.Va. Gov. Patrick Morrisey – he even mentioned it in his very first State of the State Address – and now, more than a year later, Stephens is battling against thousands of dollars’ worth of negative political ads that spread “pure misinformation.” The political action committees distributing the negative mailers are Sugar Maple and School Freedom Fund, both of which are affiliated with the Club for Growth, a big supporter of W.Va. Gov. Patrick Morrisey.
“I knew it was coming,” the District 6 Delegate admitted. “I was told, not by the people doing it, but by other people who are getting attacked for the same reasons. They told me, ‘You know you’re going to get attacked because you disagreed with the Governor.’ It’s a bully mentality, but you can’t bully me.
“I can’t be bullied. I won’t be bullied,” Stephens insisted. “That’s one of the things we stand up against in education. You don’t bully people, and I won’t be bullied.”
Stephens was appointed to the District 6 seat by former Gov. Jim Justice in October 2023 after former lawmaker Charlie Reynolds resigned to accept a manager’s position with the Division of Highways. Stephens was elected to the position in 2024 and is now facing an opponent in the Republican Primary on May 12th.
“I represent 18,000 people, and I’ve got to represent them strongly, and I’ve got to represent them with pride, with honor, with dignity. And I know I’m doing that,” Stephens said. “And you have to be strong sometimes. You have to be able to stand up to people and just say no. You can’t always be a ‘Yes Man’, and sometimes that rubs people the wrong way. They don’t like that.
“But guess what? I’m not going to be an automatic ‘Yes’ person. I want to work with people. I want to make lives better for the people of Marshall County, and for the people of West Virginia,” he explained. “That’s who I’m working for, and I think working together with my fellow delegates and the senators, I think we can do that.”
It’s About Representation
He teaches West Virginia history to eighth graders at Sherrard Middle School, and his position as the “local lawmaker” has added a dimension since he joined the House almost three years ago.
In fact, Stephens has been asked by a few of his students about the negative misinformation that’s been spread, and he’s told the children the same thing he’s offered local voters.
“If we as a Legislature are going to accomplish good things, I think all of the branches have to work together,” he insisted. “So, when people start attacking you, you have a decision to make, and I’ve decided I’m not going to do that stuff. I’m not going to get into the negative. People know who I am, and I think that rides on its own.
“I want to talk about the issues, but instead, these mailers want to make people think you’re a bad person. They say you did this, you did that,” Stephens said. “How about we talk about the childcare issue we have in the state, or healthcare or job creation? Those are some of the topics I want to talk about.”
He served on the Education, Health and Human Resources, and Public Education committees during the recent regular session, he’ll be on the Committee on Flooding during this year’s Interim sessions, and Stephens hopes to continue his service to the residents of the 6th House District.
Just ask him.
“If a voter has any questions about the misinformation on those flyers, they should reach out to me so they can get to know me better. That way, they’ll know that the lies are just that, lies,” Stephens said. “I want to run on my merits, and I want to run on my intentions as a member of the House of Delegates. I want the chance to explain what I want to do for Marshall County.
“That’s what I want to do and that’s what I’m going to do. I want to go back to the House and continue working on childcare and foster care. I want to keep discussing PEIA so we can find a long-term solution that’s best for everyone involved,” he explained. “But instead, I’m forced to tell people that these accusations are not true and that it’s a shame that the flyers are now part of the problem in politics.
“All I want to do is fight for the people in my district.”
(Paid for by the Committee to Elect Jeff Stephens)
