RIPLEY, W.Va. — Voters in the Republican Primary in West Virginia’s 4th Senatorial District will make their decision Tuesday in what has turned out to be a hotly contested race.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael (R-Jackson) is being challenged by Cottageville Republican Dustin Lewis.
Lewis, a union pipeline worker, admits his campaign has been the beneficiary of political ads against Carmichael from pro-union and pro-family groups.
“I’ve seen some of the things that they’ve done. There’s a lot of things that’s come out from a lot of people that I don’t know where it’s coming from. It’s anti-Mitch support is what it is and I’m just capitalizing on it,” Lewis said.
Lewis is endorsed by the West Virginia Policy Council, which is upset with Carmichael over a vote on an anti-discrimination amendment in last year’s legislative session that effectively killed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
The attack ads have gone too far, Carmichael said last week on MetroNews “Talkline.”
“They are making calls all over the district saying I voted to put men in little girls restrooms. I mean how stupid,” Carmichael said. “Why would anybody vote to do that? It’s just a ridiculous attack piece.”
Carmichael is also in the crosshairs of union groups because of his votes to eliminate the state’s prevailing wage and to make West Virginia a right to work state.
“I led the charge on right to work and prevailing wage and drug testing for welfare recipients and all the things that this legislature has done to move West Virginia forward in terms of economic progress–and they don’t like it,” Carmichael said.
National politics served as the catalyst to get Lewis into the race, he said.
“I see our country going down the tubes and I see some aspects of our state that are not doing so well,” he said. “I want to leave a better place for my kids to grow up.”
Lewis’ economic plan includes 10-year tax exemptions for any business that moves into West Virginia or any new business that wants to get its start in West Virginia.
“We need to bring business into this state,” he said.
Carmichael believes voters in the 4th District know the state is beginning to head in the right direction
“I believe that people want that hopeful, bright optimistic vision for the future that I’m providing in the state Senate,” he said.
Lewis describes himself as anxious and optimistic heading into Tuesday’s vote. He also is facing some negative ads in the final days of the campaign.
“So the negative attacks are coming out,” Lewis posted on his Facebook page Friday. “Let me say this I am in no way connected with Obama or his clown cronies. Some people are feeling threatened and are acting in desperation.”
The 4th District includes all of Jackson and Mason counties along with parts of Putnam and Roane counties.