West Virginia Republican Senate nominee?
$135.6K
MAY 13, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleThird-party logistics (3PL) professional/executive
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderMale
LocationWest Virginia
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BackgroundThird-party logistics (3PL) professional/executive
EducationDavis & Elkins College — B.A., Political Science (2015)
Notable personal detailsAlexander David “Alex” Gaaserud is a West Virginia Republican candidate who ran in the May 12, 2026 Republican primary for U.S. Senate in West Virginia. He previously ran in the May 14, 2024 Republican primary for West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District. He is a third-party logistics professional and has a B.A. in Political Science from Davis & Elkins College (2015).
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
The candidate calls for immediate state income tax reductions with the goal of eliminating the state income tax within five years, elimination or reduction of vehicle/machinery taxes after a set period, freezing vice taxes, and temporarily eliminating the coal severance tax. The platform emphasizes broad tax cuts and modernization of the tax code to encourage economic growth in West Virginia.
Healthcare
The candidate supports maintaining Medicare and Medicaid but indicates no need for additional taxpayer-funded healthcare programs and emphasizes localized treatment for the opioid crisis, including rehab facilities in every county. Policy materials prioritize treatment and education for substance-use disorders rather than new government-funded universal-coverage programs.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate calls for aggressive border enforcement including using the U.S. military at the southern border, building a wall, ending asylum, creating a mass deportation task force, and supporting deportations. He links unsecured borders to drug trafficking and endorses lethal-force authorization for border deployment in some statements.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate describes himself as pro‑life, states that life begins at conception, supports protecting the unborn, and frames abortion as a states’ rights issue. He expressed support for the Supreme Court developments reversing Roe v. Wade and emphasizes reducing abortions.
Climate & Energy
The candidate supports energy independence and expansion and calls for protecting West Virginia’s economic heritage in coal and natural gas while promoting fossil-fuel industries. Public statements emphasize supporting coal and gas production and opposing policies that would curtail those industries, favoring economic growth and energy expansion.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate opposes new gun regulations (including red flag laws), argues that guns are not the problem and criminals are, and calls for more law‑abiding citizens with guns and strong support for law enforcement rather than additional restrictions.
News
Alexander Gaasserud is in the news mainly because West Virginia is facing federal election-related scrutiny. The Justice Department has sued the state over voter registration list access, and the Senate is also debating a bill that would require proof of citizenship and photo ID for voting. Separately, West Virginia has passed a new campaign finance law that hides employer information for larger donations, and the state’s Medicaid ban on gender-affirming surgery was upheld by a federal appeals court.
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Trump’s EPA is paving the way for haze to return to national parks, conservationists warn
West Virginia Can Ban Medicaid Coverage for Gender-Affirming Surgery, US Court Rules
US Justice Department sues five more states over voter registration lists
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20242022
2024
LatestCycle 2022
Cycle 2024
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements