Rio Phillips
West Virginia Democratic Senate nominee?
$50.9K
MAY 19, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleU.S. Senate candidate
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
LocationWest Virginia
BackgroundU.S. Senate candidate
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Notable personal detailsRio Phillips is a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in West Virginia in the 2026 election cycle. He is based in Charleston, West Virginia, and has described himself as a “West Virginian by choice” who was born in Virginia. Phillips has worked as a media and marketing entrepreneur and has been associated with cybersecurity-related work, and he has emphasized advocacy and community organizing as part of his public profile.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
The candidate’s public platform emphasizes expanded social programs (Medicare for All, $20 minimum wage, paid family leave, canceling medical debt and student loans), reductions in military spending to reinvest domestically, and measures to attract investment (a corporate tax incentive program). The campaign materials do not include a clear, explicit statement about raising or lowering federal tax rates on high-income individuals or corporations, producing a mixed or unclear position on tax changes.
Healthcare
Supports Medicare for All and a broad expansion of public healthcare access, including lower prescription drug costs, protecting rural hospitals, and dramatically expanded mental-health services. Also calls to cancel medical debt and expand social services.
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Climate & Energy
The candidate identifies as a progressive and lists "climate justice" and clean water among campaign priorities, supporting expanded clean-energy and environmental protections as part of a broader progressive platform. The campaign frames these goals within working-class economic and public-health priorities rather than specifying aggressive fossil-fuel phase-out timelines or explicit Green New Deal legislation.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate identifies as pro-Second Amendment and states strong support for legal, safe, and responsible gun ownership. The platform emphasizes constitutional defense and upholding gun ownership rights without proposing major new firearm restrictions.
News
Rio Phillips is being mentioned in coverage of West Virginia legislation and election-related disputes. The biggest recent development is that West Virginia is among the states considering expanded "medical conscience" bills, which would let healthcare providers refuse some services on religious or moral grounds. The state is also one of several targeted by a Justice Department lawsuit over access to voter registration lists.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements