The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce endorsing Shawn Fluharty is like a pepperoni roll without the pepperoni it just doesn’t make sense.
In its last scorecard, the Chamber gave Fluharty an abysmal 52% out of 100% for job-friendly votes. Fluharty is bad for business, bad for the Northern Panhandle, and bad for West Virginia.
Contrary to reporting, Fluharty isn’t the only Democrat endorsed by the liberal Chamber. It also endorsed radical left-wing candidates like Sean Hornbuckle, Kayla Young, and Lucia Valentine. The Chamber routinely scores conservatives lower than those willing to support its liberal policies.
The West Virginia Chamber has become a woke political organization that has lost sight of its mission of supporting businesses and creating jobs. Its leadership must be held accountable.
Look at its 2025 Board of Directors, chaired by Maribeth Anderson of Antero Resources, with representatives from West Virginia American Water, Highmark West Virginia, Marshall Health Network, FamilyCare, Verizon, and Kenna Communications. These so-called business leaders oversee an organization claiming to represent West Virginia businesses while advancing an increasingly liberal agenda. They are responsible for its political direction and cannot escape accountability.
In my opinion, the Chamber is more interested in promoting woke politics than defending free enterprise and hardworking taxpayers. Its credibility in Charleston has been severely damaged, and it no longer commands the authority or influence it once enjoyed. Its leadership has nobody to blame but itself.
Shawn is as liberal as it gets. Don’t believe me? His own Twitter account describes him as a “lefty . . . politically.” Recently, he held a “Meet the Candidate” event at Esoterica in Wheeling. That same weekend, Esoterica hosted Ashik Siddique, national chair of the Democratic Socialists of America. Shawn has also spoken at an event featuring a visiting socialist politician. Incredibly, he has made multiple donations to the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which supports candidates like Elizabeth Warren and Abdul El-Sayed!
I’m a longtime businessman who has employed thousands of West Virginians over 25 years. Laura Wakim Chapman is a true conservative fighter, and the Chamber doesn’t like it.
Laura’s accomplishments are often overlooked. She was one of 10 recipients of the 2024 Reason Foundation Legislators of the Year award for occupational licensing reform. She fought to make it easier for plumbers, barbers, contractors, and others to obtain licenses and secure good-paying jobs.
She championed one-stop permitting, reciprocal licensure, portable benefits for gig workers, and eliminating the business and inventory tax. She also led efforts to reform child care so working families aren’t bankrupted by its costs.
Shawn Fluharty has occasionally voted for business, ESPECIALLY businesses benefiting the company paying his salary. His full-time job is Head of Government Affairs for an INTERNET GAMBLING company. He sponsored legislation benefiting that industry.
Who is he representing in Charleston, voters or the gambling industry?
In fact, that is one of only TWO bills he has passed as lead sponsor in 12 years in the Legislature.
He claims to oppose data centers over local control but voted against an amendment addressing that very issue. Perhaps it’s because his fiancée is a lobbyist for Google, a major hyperscale data center developer?
Shawn has also opposed workers on several occasions. He wanted you to lose your job if you refused the COVID vaccine (HB 335 in 2021. He voted against requiring employers to use the free E-Verify system to ensure workers are legally authorized to work in America HB 4198 in 2026.
He supported the Chamber’s position against that requirement, which I believe puts West Virginia workers at a disadvantage. The Chamber, with Shawn’s support, has also pushed to preserve DEI and promote Green New Deal taxpayer-funded corporate welfare.
Shawn Fluharty’s liberal record aside, he has accomplished virtually nothing for his district during his tenure in Charleston.
Laura Chapman is always fighting for the Northern Panhandle and West Virginia. She’s nobody’s puppet and goes toe to toe with anyone standing in the way of representing her constituents.
She answers their calls, advocates for their needs, and has delivered millions of dollars in infrastructure improvements to the Northern Panhandle.
If Shawn is elected Senator, the Northern Panhandle will lose a strong advocate in Charleston.
I urge you to make the right choice and vote for Senator Laura Wakim Chapman for State Senate.
Jeff “Bubblegum” Mullins
Former West Virginia State Senator and West Virginia Businessman
Sources and References
• https://wvchamber.com/legislative-scorecard/
• https://www.boldprogressives.org
• https://fec.gov
• https://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/chamber/2026/RS/floor_amends/hb4983%20hfa%20dillon%20%20and%20anders%202-16%20_1.htm
•https://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/2026/RS/votes/house/00099.pdf
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-robbins-53449487/
• https://wvchamber.com/west-virginia-chamber-announces-new-members-elected-to-the-board-of-directors/
