Robert L. Karnes

Robert Lee Karnes is an American politician. He is a Republican member of the West Virginia Senate,[1][2] representing the 11th district from January 14, 2015 until 2019 and from November 30, 2020 to current date.

Robert L. Karnes
Member of the West Virginia Senate
from the 11th district
Assumed office
January 14, 2020
Preceded byJohn Pitsenbarger
Personal details
Born (1969-05-13) May 13, 1969
South Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)Helvetia, West Virginia, U.S.

Karnes won re-election in the 2020 General Election after defeating Incumbent Republican Senator John Pitsenbarger in the 2020 Republican primary and Democrat Denise Campbell in the general election.[3][4]

Election results
West Virginia Senate District 11 (Position B) election, 2020[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert L. Karnes 23,364 51.4%
Democratic Denise Campbell 22,116 48.6%
Total votes 45,480 100.0%
West Virginia Senate District 11 (Position A) election, 2014[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert L. Karnes 15,171 55.59%
Democratic Gregory Tucker (incumbent) 12,122 44.41%
Total votes 27,293 100.0%
West Virginia House District 44 election, 2012[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dana Lynch 3,351 59.94%
Republican Robert L. Karnes 2,240 40.06%
Total votes 5,591 100.0%

Controversies

During the 2018-19 teacher strikes, Karnes stated he believed that the strikes "won't have any significant effect", after which, Karnes lost re-election by a wide margin. [4]

During the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021, Senator Robert Karnes performed a death defying publicity stunt while deliberately and unapologetically going against the ill-advised state mask mandates and politically motivated CDC guidelines by wearing masks without face-coverings while conducting official duties.

Senator Robert Karnes was recently the only senator to vote against the Film Tax Credit, noting it would benefit Bette Midler more than West Virginia residents. It afforded him headlines via National news media.

References
  1. "Robert L. Karnes". West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  2. "Robert L. Karnes's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  3. "County by County Race Results". WV Metro News. November 3, 2020.
  4. "West Virginia Republican Said Teachers Won't "Have Any Significant Effect" On Elections. Then They Voted Him Out". The Intercept. May 11, 2018.
  5. "Statewide Results: General Election - November 3, 2020". West Virginia Secretary of State. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  6. "Statewide Results: General Election - November 4, 2014". West Virginia Secretary of State. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  7. "Statewide Results: General Election - November 6, 2012". West Virginia Secretary of State. Retrieved October 30, 2017.

8. https://www.fox5dc.com/news/west-virginia-lawmakers-photographed-wearing-improper-masks-while-conducting-official-duties

10. https://theintercept.com/2018/05/11/west-virginia-primary-teacher-strikes/

11. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/west-virginia-film-tax-credit-bette-midler-robert-karnes_n_62292682e4b029615836148c

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