Shelley Moore Capito

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Family name hatnote Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox officeholder Shelley Wellons Moore Capito (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; born November 26, 1953) is an American politician and retired educator serving as the senior United States senator from West Virginia. A member of the Republican Party, Capito served from 2001 to 2015 as the U.S. representative from Template:Ushr. She is the daughter of three-term West Virginia governor and six-term U.S. representative Arch Alfred Moore Jr.

Capito was first elected to the Senate in 2014, becoming the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from West Virginia and the first West Virginia Republican to win a full term in the Senate since 1942. She was reelected in 2020.

Capito has chaired the Environment and Public Works Committee since 2025, and is the dean of West Virginia's congressional delegation.

Early life and education

Shelley Wellons Moore Capito was born in Glen Dale, West Virginia, on November 26, 1953. She is the daughter of Shelley (née Riley) and Arch Alfred Moore Jr.,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> who served three terms as the state's governor. A resident of Charleston, Capito was educated at the Holton-Arms School, a private college-preparatory school in Bethesda, Maryland;<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Duke University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in zoology; and the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development, where she earned her master's degree.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and represented West Virginia as the 1972 Cherry Blossom Princess.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early career

After earning her master's degree, Capito was a career counselor at West Virginia State University and director of the educational information center for the West Virginia Board of Regents.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Capito was elected to Kanawha County's seat in the state House of Delegates in 1996, and served two terms, from 1996 to 2000.<ref name=":6" />

U.S. House of Representatives

File:Shelley Moore Capito introduces President George W. Bush during his visit to West Virginia.jpg

Capito with President George W. Bush in 2004

Elections

2000

When Democratic U.S. Representative Bob Wise ran for governor in 2000, Capito ran as a Republican for the open seat in West Virginia's 2nd district.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She defeated the Democratic nominee, lawyer Jim Humphreys, by two percentage points in an upset.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She was the first Republican to represent West Virginia in Congress since 1983,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as well as the first woman elected to Congress from West Virginia who was not the widow of a member of Congress.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2002

Capito was reelected, defeating Humphreys again, 60%–40%.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2004

Capito was reelected to a third term, defeating former newscaster Erik Wells 57%–41%.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2006

File:Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, in red, meets with U.S. Air Force Col. Jerome Gouhin, left, the commander of the 130th Airlift Wing, West Virginia Air National Guard, at a Federal Emergency Management Agency 140111-Z-HL234-002.jpg

Capito surveys safe drinking water with a FEMA contingent and U.S. Air Force Col. Jerome Gouhin.

Template:See also Capito was mentioned as a possible challenger to Senator Robert Byrd in 2006, but opted to run for reelection to the House.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She was reelected to a fourth term, defeating West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Callaghan, 57%–43%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2008

Template:See also Capito was reelected to a fifth term, defeating Anne Barth, a former aide to Byrd, 57%–43%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010

Template:See also Capito was mentioned as a possible challenger to Joe Manchin for the vacated United States Senate seat of the late Robert Byrd.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She decided against a Senate bid, and was reelected to a sixth term, defeating Virginia Lynch Graf,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 68%–30%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2012

Template:See also After redistricting, Capito was challenged in the Republican primary.<ref name=":7" /> She defeated Delegate Jonathan Miller and Michael Davis.<ref name="7th term">Template:Cite news</ref> She was reelected to a seventh term, defeating former gubernatorial aide Howard Swint, 70%–30%.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite news</ref>

Committee assignments

• Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit (chair)
  • Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
  • Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
  • Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

Caucus memberships

Capito is a former chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, Rare Disease Caucus,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Afterschool Caucuses.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Better source needed After the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, Capito founded the Congressional Coal Caucus.<ref name="Congressional Coal Caucus">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=nyt20141104>Template:Cite news</ref>

Tenure

Capito served on the House Page Board during the Mark Foley congressional page incident, in which Foley, a Republican representative from Florida, sent sexually explicit messages to teenage boys who had previously served as congressional pages. According to Capito, she wasn't aware of Foley's conduct until informed by the press.<ref name="Page">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Foley case">Template:Cite news</ref>

U.S. Senate

File:2014 United States Senate election in West Virginia results map by county.svg

In the 2014 U.S. Senate election, Capito received a majority of the votes in all 55 counties.

Elections

2014

Template:Main On November 26, 2012, Capito announced her candidacy for the United States Senate in 2014, intending to challenge Democratic incumbent Jay Rockefeller,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> who subsequently announced his retirement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite initial protests from Tea Party groups and anti-establishment conservatives that her House voting record was "too liberal",<ref name="politico.com">Catanese, David. "GOP split resurfaces after Shelley Moore Capito announcement." Politico.com. 2012-11-26. Retrieved 2014-11-08.</ref> Capito won 87% of the Republican primary vote,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and defeated Democratic Secretary of State Natalie Tennant in the general election, 62% to 34%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2020

Template:Main In her 2020 reelection campaign, Capito easily defeated Republican primary challengers Allen Whitt and Larry Butcher, before facing Democratic nominee Paula Jean Swearengin in the general election.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Swearengin, a progressive activist whose 2018 U.S. Senate campaign was featured in the Netflix documentary Knock Down the House, defeated state senator Richard Ojeda and former South Charleston mayor Richie Robb in the Democratic primary race.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the November general election, Capito defeated Swearengin with over 70% of the vote.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tenure

File:Shelley moore capito.jpg

Capito congressional photo 2013

On January 5, 2016, Mitch McConnell appointed Capito as counsel to the majority leader, along with Rob Portman and Deb Fischer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Senate Committee assignments

• Committee on Appropriations<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Defense
  • Subcommittee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Chair)
  • Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
• Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
  • Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation
  • Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media
  • Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy
  • Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety
• Committee on Environment and Public Works (Chair)
  • As Chair of the full committee, Sen. Moore Capito is entitled to sit as an ex officio member of all subcommittees.
• Committee on Rules and Administration

Caucus memberships

• Republican Main Street Partnership<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Senate Taiwan Caucus<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Political positions

File:President Barack Obama greets Senator Shelley Moore Capito (01).jpg

Capito with President Barack Obama at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base in 2015

Capito has voted with her party 96% of the time.<ref name="Capito Votes">Template:Cite news</ref> She is considered relatively moderate and has crossed the aisle on some votes.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":8">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, The New York Times and The Washington Post reported that Capito was one of the three most moderate Republican senators according to a study by DW-NOMINATE.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2023, The Lugar Center and McCourt School of Public Policy ranked Capito in the top fifth among senators for bipartisanship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to FiveThirtyEight, as of January 2023, Capito had voted with President Biden's position about 56% of the time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Donald Trump's candidacy and presidency

File:President Trump Arrives in West Virginia (48372960481).jpg

Capito with President Donald Trump in 2019

In 2016, Capito raised concerns about Trump's tone and rhetoric during his presidential campaign.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After the Access Hollywood tape emerged, Capito said he should "reexamine his candidacy".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> But she later said she supported Trump for president.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2020, Capito said she would be "impartial" and "fair" to both sides during Trump's Senate trial after his second impeachment,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and voted to acquit him. According to FiveThirtyEight, she had voted with the Trump administration's position 94.9% of the time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

As of November 19, 2020, Capito had not publicly acknowledged that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, though it had been called by all major media and analysts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By November 23, she issued a statement recognizing that Biden would be the next president.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By December 5, she was among only 27 congressional Republicans to acknowledge Biden as the winner of the election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Trump subsequently attacked them, calling them RINOs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On May 28, 2021, Capito voted against creating the January 6 commission.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Asked about Trump's future role in the Republican Party, she said she partially blamed him for the "insurrection" and did not think he would be the Republican nominee for president in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Capito eventually endorsed Trump in the 2024 election.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Social policy

Capito is a sponsor of the Gender Advancement in Pay (GAP) Act, saying "it should be common sense that women and men get equal pay for equal work" and expressing concern about sex discrimination against women in the workplace.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> She is a sponsor of the Rural Access to Hospice Act to improve the quality, access, and retention of hospice facilities in rural parts of the nation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She opposes the Freedom to Vote Act which, among other reforms, would establish Election Day as a public holiday and "ensure states have early voting for federal elections, overhaul how congressional districts are redrawn and impose new disclosures on donations to outside groups active in political campaigns."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On social policy, the National Journal gave Capito a score of 54% conservative and 43% liberal.<ref name=":1" />

File:Shelley Moore Capito CPAC 2013-1.jpg

Capito addressing CPAC in 2013

LGBT rights

Capito has a mixed record on LGBT issues. The Human Rights Campaign gave her a score of 30% in the 113th Congress and 64% in the 114th Congress.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> She received a 0% score in the 115th Congress and a 10% in the 116th Congress.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2004 and 2006, Capito voted for the Federal Marriage Amendment, which intended to ban same-sex marriage in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> But in 2015, she said she believed marriage was a state issue.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2007 Capito voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and against repealing the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2009, Capito voted for the 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations bill, which expanded the legal definition of a hate crime to include crimes committed because of someone's gender identity.<ref name=":3" /> Also that year, she voted against legislation that defined hate crimes as including those committed because of someone's sexual orientation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2013, she voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which includes provisions to assist victims regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and prohibits funding programs that discriminate.<ref name=":3" />

In 2015, Capito voted for an amendment to the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act that provided support and protections for LGBT youth.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2015, she voted to give same-sex married couples access to Social Security and veterans' benefits.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2017, Capito disagreed with President Trump's use of Twitter to announce a ban on transgender troops in the military, saying, "we should be thankful for any American who selflessly serves our country to defend our freedoms."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021, she released a statement that she opposed the inclusion of trans youth in the sporting programs of their gender identity; in particular, she opposed the inclusion of trans girls in girls' sporting teams and introduced legislation to ban trans girls from participating.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In response to the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which found a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, Capito said, "While I would have preferred that the Supreme Court leave this decision to the states, it is my hope that all West Virginians will move forward and continue to care for and respect one another."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In November 2022, Capito was one of 12 Republicans voting to advance legislation, the Respect for Marriage Act, to codify same-sex marriage into federal law; referring to civil same-sex marriage as a "civil partnership," Capito said that the "legislation will allow those who have entered into a civil partnership since the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, to continue to have their partnerships respected for federal benefit purposes."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She voted for the final passage of the Respect for Marriage Act on November 29, 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Abortion

Capito had described herself as "pro-choice," or pro-abortion rights, but has a mixed record on abortion.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She had previously been among the few Republican senators who publicly supported Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling abortion bans unconstitutional.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> But in 2020, she declared her support for March for Life, an anti-abortion movement,<ref>Template:CitationTemplate:Cbignore</ref> and in 2022, she reversed her position on Roe, saying she believes states should be free to ban abortion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She supports legal abortion in cases when the pregnant patient's health is at risk and said abortions should be rare.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She has mixed ratings from anti-abortion organizations opposing abortion and abortion rights organizations advocating legal abortion.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2002, her third-largest contributor was The WISH List, an abortion rights PAC.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2000, she received support from Republicans for Choice.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She has been endorsed by West Virginians for Life, an anti-abortion PAC, the WISH List, and by Republican Majority for Choice, an abortion rights PAC.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Capito voted against federal funding for abortion and for the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, but against banning family-planning funding in US aid. She previously opposed the Hyde Amendment, but now supports it.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She supported federal funding for family planning in the House<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but voted to require parental consent for minors seeking an abortion.<ref name="votesmart.org">Template:Cite web</ref> She opposed banning funds for mifepristone, the "abortion pill".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She voted for spending bills funding Planned Parenthood and against a bill to defund it, but has also voted to defund Planned Parenthood.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She is against bans on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but supports banning abortion after 20 weeks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She voted with her party in 2018 to ban federal funding for facilities that promote abortion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Capito supports other anti-abortion legislation supported by her party.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021, she signed a letter put forward by the Senate's anti-abortion caucus opposing the repeal of the Hyde Amendment and opposing legislation to liberalize current federal abortion laws.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2017, "West Virginians for Life, said [it] still supports Capito, despite the abortion rights self-identification and support for Roe v. Wade, because of Capito's steadfast voting record restricting abortions and defunding Planned Parenthood".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2018, Capito said she was neutral on an initiative to ban abortion in West Virginia.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She supported Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh; when asked about Roe, Capito said she does not think the court will overturn the ruling. "Fundamentally, it's been a precedent for a long time," she said.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Capito also supported Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Barrett signed a letter calling for the end of Roe v. Wade, and supported a group that holds that life begins at fertilization.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2020, Capito declined to sign an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to reconsider Roe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Also in 2021, she was one of just three Senate Republicans (with Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski) to decline to sign amicus briefs in the Mississippi case that seeks to ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Asked about a 2022 draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, reportedly joined by Barrett, Kavanaugh, and Neil Gorsuch, all of whom Capito voted to confirm, she responded by criticizing the leak of the draft and said, "this is a draft opinion that is not binding Supreme Court precedent. Roe still remains the law of the land until the Supreme Court issues its final ruling."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After the Supreme Court overturned Roe in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, Capito said she supported the court's decision and believed the issue should be decided at the state level.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In September 2022, Capito said she was opposed to a national 15-week abortion ban proposed by Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sexual assault

Capito is partnering with Democrats Kirsten Gillibrand, Patty Murray, Amy Klobuchar and other bipartisan members of Congress to update the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August 2018, She and Senator Joe Manchin announced $899,927 for the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services through the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Embryonic stem-cell research

Capito supports embryonic stem cell research. In 2001, Capito voted for a bill to ban the cloning of human embryos.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> In May 2005, as a representative, Capito broke with her party, voting with a majority of Democrats, to repeal restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research funding.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Capito also voted in 2006 to attempt to override President Bush's veto of the 2005 bill.<ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Cite web</ref> Also in 2007, Capito again voted in favor of funding stem-cell research.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> She also voted in favor of research using stem cells derived from donated embryos.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2009, Capito voted for a budget bill that prohibited the creation of human embryos for research.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

Gun rights

Capito was endorsed by the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and West Virginia Citizen's Defense League which both support gun owners' rights in 2014.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, she voted in favor of alerting law enforcement when a person suspected of terrorism attempts to purchase a firearm and in favor of an amendment to improve the National Instant Background Check System, but she voted against two other gun control amendments.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, Capito opposed President Trump's suggestion that teachers be armed, saying, "I don't think a teacher should carry a gun in a classroom."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In January 2019, she was one of 31 Republican senators to cosponsor the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, a bill introduced by John Cornyn and Ted Cruz that would grant individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state the right to exercise this right in any other state with concealed carry laws while concurrently abiding by that state's laws.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Capito said she was open to supporting red flag laws.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of 2020, the NRA has given her a rating of 92%, for supporting their positions, and Gun Owners of America gives her a 69% rating.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Healthcare

As a representative, Capito opposed the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and has since voted repeatedly to repeal it.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In July 2017, Capito opposed repealing the ACA without a replacement proposal, and was one of three Republican senators, along with Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, who blocked a bill to repeal the ACA without a replacement early in the attempted repeal process.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later that July, she voted to repeal the ACA.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Capito was one of a few Republicans who broke with their party in favor of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In January 2009, she voted to expand the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as part of its reauthorization. The expanded coverage would include about four million more children in the program.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2008, Capito voted for the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (commonly called the new G.I. Bill), which expanded the educational benefits for military veterans who have served since September 11, 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the 112th Congress, she voted for H.R. 525 to expand the ACA grant programs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2014, she supported repealing the Affordable Care Act.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On March 3, 2017, Capito supported preserving the ACA's Medicaid expansion in any GOP bill to repeal it .<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> With three other Republicans, she signed a letter opposing the House plan to repeal the ACA.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She opposed the Better Care Reconciliation Act because of her opposition to an amendment to the bill as well as over opioid issues.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref> She was one of seven Republicans who voted against repealing the ACA without a replacement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2018, Capito voted for the bipartisan Opioid Crisis Response Act to address the nation's opioid crisis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She also voted to increase Telemedicine funding in five West Virginia counties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In January 2019, Capito cosponsored the Community Health Investment, Modernization, and Excellence (CHIME) Act, a bipartisan bill that would continue federal funding of community health centers and the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) beyond that year's September 30 deadline for five years and provide both with yearly federal funding increases beginning in fiscal year 2020.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2021, she announced support for increasing funding for virtual healthcare options, and she co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to expand seniors' access to Telehealth, with "virtual [healthcare] visits."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She supports extending Medicare to cover therapies to prevent diabetes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2024, Capito led a bill to create an advisory council to support research, care, and services to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Immigration

Capito has said that she does not support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, but voted against a 2004 bill that would have forced hospitals to report undocumented immigrants; she also voted for a 2001 bill to allow some immigrants to "remain in the country while pursuing residency".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2010, she voted against the DREAM Act.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2018, Capito said of DACA and immigration, "It's probably going to be some sort of legal status for DACA recipients that gives them the permanence of legal status and then the border security".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Of her views on DACA, Capito's office said that she "could support an immigration solution that provides for increased border security to protect Americans and provides relief for those in the DACA program. She is encouraged by ongoing negotiations between the Trump Administration and members of Congress to improve immigration policy and add resources for enforcement."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2018, Capito voted to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities, voted against the McCain-Coons proposal to offer a pathway to citizenship without funding for a border wall, against Senator Collins's bipartisan bill to increase funding for border security and offer a pathway to citizenship, and in favor of Trump's proposal to offer a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million undocumented immigrants while reducing legal immigration numbers and using federal funds to build a border wall.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In December 2018, Capito supported a bipartisan compromise funding bill that would have allocated $1.6 billion, instead of the $5 billion Trump requested, for a border wall to avoid a government shutdown.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Capito voiced disagreement with Trump's "zero-tolerance" policy that included separating children from their parents or guardians. She said, "we need to keep the families together".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2019, she supported legislation to increase funding and humanitarian aid for "relief and comfort for migrants" on the US southern border.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She also voted in committee for a bipartisan plan with $4.6 billion in funding with "$2.9 billion for the care of migrant children and $1.3 billion to improve facilities at the border".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Special interest groups for and against immigration reform have given Capito mixed ratings. NumbersUSA, which opposes illegal immigration and seeks to reduce legal immigration, gave her an 81% score and the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which also opposes illegal immigration and wants to reduce legal immigration, gave her an 88% score; conversely, the Hispanic Federation and UnidosUS, which both support immigration, gave Capito a 59% rating.<ref name=":2" />

Drug policy

Capito disagreed with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions's 2018 memo on marijuana-related prosecutions, saying, "I'm going to go on the record as saying I'm against recreational marijuana, but I respect the states' rights to make that decision".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She also said that she had concerns, but accepted and supported the legalization of medical marijuana.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Environmental policy

Capito has received at lifetime rating of 17% from the League of Conservation Voters, indicating an anti-environment voting record.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, she voted for a bill that would curtail the federal government's ability to regulate fracking. She has also voted to restrict the Department of the Interior's ability to regulate methane emissions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 2019, in response to reports of the EPA intending to decide against setting drinking water limits for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as part of an upcoming national strategy to manage the aforementioned class of chemicals, Capito was one of 20 senators to sign a letter to Acting EPA Administrator Andrew R. Wheeler calling on the EPA "to develop enforceable federal drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS, as well as institute immediate actions to protect the public from contamination from additional per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2020, she cosponsored legislation with fellow West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin to "enhance a tax credit that Congress expanded in 2018 to spur investment in carbon capture technology."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Foreign policy

Capito has sponsored approximately 40 bills about international trade and international finance, the most of any other legislative topic during her career.<ref name="Shelley Moore Captio">Template:Cite web</ref> She criticized the vulnerabilities in national security policy in the wake of the 2015 San Bernardino attack<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> and has sponsored eight bills on the military and national security.<ref name="Shelley Moore Captio"/> Capito was one of 47 Republican senators to sign Senator Tom Cotton's open letter to the Iranian government in 2015.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The letter, which sought to dissuade Iran from reaching an agreement with President Barack Obama on nuclear peace, was described by the White House as "undercutting foreign policy".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In April 2017, Capito co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S. 720), which would make it a federal crime for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories if protesting actions by the Israeli government.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On foreign policy, the National Journal gave her a score of 77% conservative and 15% liberal.<ref name=":1" />

International trade

In 2005, Capito voted against the Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), the major trade agreement negotiated under President George W. Bush. In 2003, 2004, and 2007, she voted to approve free trade agreements with Chile, Singapore, Australia, and Peru. She supports tariffs against countries that manipulate currencies, and she sponsored a bill that would create an import fee on countries with an undervalued currency.<ref name=":1" />

Interior policy

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Capito speaks at the 2025 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regulatory Information Conference

Capito supports the Republican Main Street Partnership's motion to elevate the EPA to be a Cabinet-level department, which would bring more oversight to the entity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Capito opposes legislation aimed at capping greenhouse gas emissions.<ref name="Coal dirty">Template:Cite web</ref> In January 2010, she reportedly asked the president if he would reconsider "job-killing" policies like limiting greenhouse gases.<ref name="Capito Political Profile">Template:Cite news</ref>

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Capito meets with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office during discussions about an infrastructure bill, 2021.

In March 2011, Capito and other members of West Virginia's House delegation co-sponsored a campaign to allow the remains of the last American living veteran of World War I, Frank Buckles, to lie in state at the Capitol rotunda. The move, requested by Buckles's family, had been blocked by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker John Boehner. Reid and Boehner supported a special ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery. Capito said, "This is a matter close to the hearts of many West Virginians, but everyone can appreciate the desire to come together one last time to respect and remember America’s last doughboy". The campaign was unsuccessful and Buckles lay in honor at the Arlington National Cemetery.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Capito supported Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. She called the decision "the right decision for the American economy and workers in West Virginia and across the country."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She supports regulations implemented by the EPA, based on her bipartisan legislation, to increase clean water standards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In March 2023, Capito introduced the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act of 2023 in support of generation IV reactor technology and nuclear development in general. The ADVANCE Act was incorporated into the Fire Grants and Safety Act and signed into law in July 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="S.870">Template:USBill</ref>

Fiscal policy

In 2016, the fiscally conservative PAC the Club for Growth gave her a 50% lifetime rating.<ref name=":4" /> In 2011, while in the House, Capito voted for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the United States Constitution.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2020, she said she opposed cuts to government spending, but also opposed any increases.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In December 2010, Capito voted to extend the tax cuts enacted during the administration of President George W. Bush.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Capito supports a federal prohibition on online poker. In 2006, she cosponsored H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She also supported H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In June 2003, Capito introduced the Family Fairness in Taxing Act of 2003, which would accelerate the increase to the child tax credit, increase the qualification age for children, and revise refundability criteria for the credit.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2001, Capito voted in favor of the Bush tax cuts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2002, she supported partially privatizing Social Security but opposed complete privatization.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2006, Capito joined Democrats to vote for an increase of the minimum wage.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2012, during her campaign for the Senate, the Senate Conservative Fund opposed her nomination because "her spending record in the House is too liberal".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2013, she voted against cutting funding for food stamps.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2017, Capito opposed President Trump's proposed budget, saying that it would cut "too close to the bone".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2017, she said she supported full repeal of the inheritance tax.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She also voted in favor of Trump's tax cut bill.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2019, she came out against budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Capito was among a few Republicans, including Joni Ernst of Iowa and Susan Collins of Maine, to express criticism of Trump's nominee to the Federal Reserve, Stephen Moore, because of comments he had made about women; he ultimately withdrew the nomination.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2019, Capito announced support for paid family leave.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2020, she opposed budget cuts due to the "spending needs" of states like West Virginia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On September 30, 2021, she was among 15 Senate Republicans to vote with all Democrats and both Independents for a temporary spending bill to avoid a government shutdown.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On October 7, 2021, she was one of 11 Republicans voting with all members of the Democratic caucus to end a filibuster on raising the debt ceiling,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but voted against the bill to raise the debt ceiling.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On August 10, 2021, Capito was one of 19 Senate Republicans to vote with the Democratic caucus in favor of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On economic issues, the National Journal gave her a rating of 53% conservative and 47% liberal.<ref name=":1" />

Judiciary

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Capito meets with Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh, July 2018

Capito opposed having a hearing for President Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland, to the Supreme Court due to the nomination's proximity to the 2016 presidential election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2017, she voted to confirm President Trump's first Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch.<ref name="writer">Template:Cite news</ref> After Trump nominated a second justice, Capito announced her support for the nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, and after he was accused of sexual assault, she continued to support his nomination.<ref name="writer"/> But she also said she considered the allegation serious and was among a handful of Republican senators to ask for a vote to be delayed in order to hear from the accuser and from Kavanaugh.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some of her fellow alumnae from the Holton-Arms School personally delivered her a letter signed by more than a thousand alumnae of the school, saying that they believe Kavanaugh's accuser because her allegations are "all too consistent with stories we heard and lived" while attending Holton-Arms.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In March 2019, Capito was one of 12 senators to cosponsor a resolution that would impose a constitutional amendment limiting the Supreme Court to nine justices. The resolution was introduced after multiple Democratic presidential candidates expressed openness to the idea of expanding the seats on the Supreme Court.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In September 2020, less than two months before the next presidential election, Capito supported an immediate vote on Trump's nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy caused by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death. In March 2016, she took the opposite position when facing Obama's nominee, saying that a justice should not be considered during a presidential election year because "West Virginians and the American people should have the ability to weigh in at the ballot box".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As of November 2021, Capito had a mixed voting record on Biden's judicial nominees.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Vice presidential speculation

Capito was considered a possible contender for vice president on the Republican ticket with Donald Trump in 2016,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and in May 2016 she was one of several senators to meet with Trump in Washington, D.C.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the end, Trump picked Indiana Governor and former U.S. Representative Mike Pence to join him on the Republican ticket.

Personal life

Capito is married to Charles L. Capito, and they have three children: sons Charles and Moore, and daughter Shelley.<ref>U.S. Senate – Shelly Moore Capito Retrieved 11 January 2015.</ref> Her father served over two years in prison on corruption charges. Her sister, Lucy Moore Durbin, was arrested in 1992 along with her husband for selling cocaine to an undercover officer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Capito and the Moore Capito family are members of First Presbyterian Church in Charleston, West Virginia, a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In September 2015, Runner's World featured Capito in its "I'm a Runner" vlog, where she states she has been a distance runner for over 30 years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Women in the United States House of Representatives
• Women in the United States Senate

External links

• Senator Shelley Moore Capito official U.S. Senate website
• Shelley Moore Capito for Senate Template:Webarchive
• Template:C-SPAN
• Template:CongLinks

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