Riley Keaton

Nicholas Riley Keaton (born August 9, 1997) is an American politician who has served as a Delegate from the 11th District to the West Virginia House of Delegates since 2020. Keaton is a Republican.

Riley Keaton
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
from the 11th district
Assumed office
2020
Personal details
Born
Nicholas Riley Keaton

(1997-08-19) August 19, 1997
Spencer, West Virginia
Political partyRepublican
EducationBachelor of Divinity, West Virginia University

Early life, education, and career

Keaton was born in Spencer, West Virginia, to Tony and Tracey Keaton. He studied for his Bachelor of Economics degree at West Virginia University. As a teenager, Keaton was politically active. Before assuming office, Keaton was employed as the president of a limited liability company.[1][2]

Elections

2016

In his first primary, Keaton narrowly lost to incumbent Rick Atkinson in a three-way race, receiving 37.36% of the vote and missing the nomination by only 28 votes.[3]

2020

In the 2020 primary, Keaton defeated Atkinson with 52.01% of the vote to win the nomination.[4]

In the general election, Keaton defeated Democrat Mark Pauley with 66.46% of the vote.[5]

Tenure

Committee assignments
  • Banking and Insurance[6]
  • Judiciary
  • Small Business and Economic Development
  • Technology & Infrastructure

Keaton is an assistant majority whip in the House of Delegates.[1]

Keaton has a 92% rating from the NRA and a 100% rating from the West Virginia Citizens Defense League, a regional gun rights organization.[1]

DC statehood

With many of his fellow Delegates, Keaton signed onto a resolution requesting West Virginia Senators and Congresspeople to oppose bills that would allow statehood for the District of Columbia.[7]

Education

Keaton opposed Senate Bill 680, a bill that would make it harder for school staff to be given raises, but the bill passed the House of Delegates despite some Republican opposition.[8]

Freedom of speech

Keaton was the lead sponsor of House Bill 2595, a bill that would prohibit so-called "divisive concepts" from being taught in West Virginia schools or promoted in other state-funded agencies. It targeted criticisms of American society, eliminating language that would refer to the US as a "fundamentally racist or sexist" country.[6][9][10][11]

Worker's rights

Keaton voted for SB 11, a bill that would make it more difficult for employees to strike.[12][13][1]

Personal life

Keaton is a Catholic.[2]

References
  1. "Riley Keaton's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  2. "West Virginia Delegate Biography: Delegate Keaton". West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  3. "2016 Primary Election: House of Delegates 11th District". West Virginia Board of Elections. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  4. "2020 Primary Election: House of Delegates 11th District". West Virginia Board of Elections. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  5. "2020 General Election: House of Delegates 11th District". West Virginia Board of Elections. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  6. "Member Profiles: Delegate Keaton". West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  7. "WV GOP Letter (2021)" (PDF). Students for DC Statehood. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  8. Quinn, Ryan. "WV Legislature sends governor bill that could eliminate school workers' raises". West Virginia Gazette-Mail. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  9. Folley, Aris. "West Virginia GOP introduces bill seeking to prohibit 'divisive acts' in schools, workforce". The Hill. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  10. Myer, Christina. "Legislating ego protection". Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  11. Dorman, Sam. "West Virginia bill would ban agencies from touting 'divisive' concepts, like US is 'fundamentally racist'". Fox News. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  12. Adams, Steven Allen. "W.Va. Senate sends message: Public worker strikes illegal". The Times Leader. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  13. "SB 11 Voting Record". Vote Smart. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
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