Senate positions

Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference
In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Leader	Mitch McConnell
Preceded by	Joni Ernst
Succeeded by	James Lankford
Ranking Member of the Senate Environment Committee
In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Tom Carper
Succeeded by	Sheldon Whitehouse

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from West Virginia's 2nd district

In office
January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2015

Preceded by

Bob Wise

Succeeded by

Alex Mooney

Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
from the 30th district

In office
December 1, 1996 – December 1, 2000

Preceded by

Multi-member district

Succeeded by

Multi-member district

Personal details

Born

Shelley Wellons Moore

November 26, 1953 (age 71)
Glen Dale, West Virginia, U.S.

Political party

Republican

Spouse

Charles Capito

(m. 1974)

Children

3, including Moore

Relatives

Arch Moore (father)
Shelley Moore (mother)
Riley Moore (nephew)

Education

Duke University (BA)
University of Virginia (MEd)

Website

Shelley Wellons Moore Capito (born November 26, 1953) is an American politician and former educator. She serves as the senior U.S. Senator for West Virginia. She is a member of the Republican Party.

Before becoming a senator, Capito was a U.S. Representative for West Virginia's 2nd district from 2001 to 2015. Her father, Arch A. Moore Jr., was a three-term West Virginia governor and a six-term U.S. Representative.

Capito was first elected to the Senate in 2014. She made history as the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from West Virginia. She was also the first West Virginia Republican to win a full Senate term since 1942. She was reelected in 2020.

Since January 3, 2025, Capito has been the Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. She is also the most senior member of West Virginia's congressional delegation.

Early Life and Education

Shelley Wellons Moore Capito was born in Glen Dale, West Virginia. Her mother was Shelley Riley Moore, and her father was Arch A. Moore Jr., who served as West Virginia's governor for three terms.

Capito grew up in Charleston. She attended the Holton-Arms School, a private school in Bethesda, Maryland. She then went to Duke University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in zoology. Later, she received her master's degree from the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development. She was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. In 1972, she represented West Virginia as the Cherry Blossom Princess.

Early Career and State Politics

After finishing her master's degree, Capito worked as a career counselor at West Virginia State University. She also directed the educational information center for the West Virginia Board of Regents.

In 1996, Capito was elected to the state House of Delegates for Kanawha County. She served two terms, from 1996 to 2000.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

Capito with President George W. Bush in 2004

In 2000, Democratic U.S. Representative Bob Wise decided to run for governor. Capito ran as a Republican for his open seat in West Virginia's 2nd district. She won against Jim Humphreys, becoming the first Republican to represent West Virginia in Congress since 1983. She was also the first woman elected to Congress from West Virginia who was not the widow of a former member.

Capito was reelected six more times, serving until 2015.

Key Committee Roles

During her time in the House, Capito served on important committees:

Committee on Financial Services
- Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit (Chair)
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Special Groups and Caucuses

Capito was a former chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues. She was also a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus and the Rare Disease Caucus. After a mining accident in West Virginia, she started the Congressional Coal Caucus.

Serving in the U.S. Senate

In the 2014 U.S. Senate election, Capito won in all 55 counties.

On November 26, 2012, Capito announced she would run for the U.S. Senate in 2014. She challenged Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller, who later decided to retire. Capito won the Republican primary with 87% of the vote. She then defeated Democratic Secretary of State Natalie Tennant in the general election, with 62% of the votes.

In her 2020 reelection campaign, Capito easily won the Republican primary. She then faced Democratic nominee Paula Jean Swearengin in the general election. Capito won with over 70% of the vote.

Capito congressional photo 2013

On January 5, 2016, Mitch McConnell appointed Capito as counsel to the majority leader.

Senate Committee Assignments

As a U.S. Senator, Capito serves on several key committees:

Committee on Appropriations
- Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Chair)
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Committee on Environment and Public Works (Chair)
Committee on Rules and Administration

Senate Caucus Memberships

Capito is a member of:

Republican Main Street Partnership
Senate Taiwan Caucus

Political Views and Actions

Capito with President Barack Obama in 2015

Capito is considered a relatively moderate Republican. She often votes with her party, but sometimes works with Democrats on certain issues. In 2023, she was ranked among the top senators for working across party lines.

Views on Donald Trump

Capito with President Donald Trump in 2019

In 2016, Capito expressed concerns about Donald Trump's campaign style. She later supported him for president. In 2020, she voted to acquit him during his second impeachment trial. She voted with the Trump administration's positions about 95% of the time.

After the 2020 presidential election, Capito recognized that Joe Biden would be the next president. She was one of the few Republicans in Congress to do so early on. In 2021, she voted against creating the January 6 commission. She later endorsed Trump for the 2024 election.

Social Policy Stances

Capito speaking at CPAC in 2013

Capito supports the Gender Advancement in Pay (GAP) Act, which aims for equal pay for equal work for women and men. She also supports the Rural Access to Hospice Act to improve hospice care in rural areas.

LGBTQ+ Rights

Capito has a mixed record on LGBTQ+ issues. In 2004 and 2006, she voted for a federal amendment to ban same-sex marriage. However, in 2015, she stated that marriage should be a state issue. In 2009, she voted to expand the definition of a hate crime to include crimes based on gender identity. In 2013, she voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which helps victims regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

In 2015, Capito voted for an amendment to support and protect LGBT youth. She also voted to give same-sex married couples access to Social Security and veterans' benefits. In 2017, she disagreed with President Trump's announcement to ban transgender troops, saying all Americans who serve should be thanked. In 2021, she opposed the inclusion of trans girls in girls' sports teams and introduced legislation to ban them from participating.

In November 2022, Capito was one of 12 Republicans who voted to pass the Respect for Marriage Act. This law protects same-sex marriage at the federal level. She said it would ensure that civil partnerships are respected for federal benefits.

Stem Cell Research

Capito supports embryonic stem cell research. In 2005, she voted to remove restrictions on funding for this research, going against her party. She also voted to fund research using stem cells from donated embryos.

Gun Rights

Capito has been endorsed by gun rights groups like the National Rifle Association of America (NRA). In 2016, she voted to alert law enforcement when suspected terrorists try to buy firearms and to improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. However, she voted against other gun control amendments. In 2018, she opposed arming teachers in classrooms. She has said she is open to supporting red flag laws.

Healthcare

As a representative, Capito opposed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). She has voted many times to repeal it. In 2017, she opposed repealing the ACA without a replacement plan.

Capito supported the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In 2009, she voted to expand CHIP to cover about four million more children. In 2008, she voted for the new G.I. Bill, which expanded educational benefits for military veterans.

Capito voted to increase Telemedicine funding in West Virginia. In 2021, she supported increasing funding for virtual healthcare options and co-sponsored legislation to expand seniors' access to Telehealth. In 2024, she led a bill to create an advisory council to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

Immigration

Capito does not support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. However, she voted against a 2004 bill that would have forced hospitals to report undocumented immigrants. In 2010, she voted against the DREAM Act. In 2018, she said she could support a solution that provides legal status for DACA recipients and increases border security.

She disagreed with President Trump's "zero-tolerance" policy that separated children from their parents at the border, saying, "we need to keep the families together." In 2019, she supported legislation to increase funding and aid for migrants at the U.S. southern border.

Environmental Policy

Capito has a voting record that indicates an anti-environment stance. In 2018, she voted for a bill that would limit the federal government's ability to regulate fracking. She has also voted to restrict the Department of the Interior's ability to regulate methane emissions.

In 2019, Capito called on the EPA to set federal drinking water standards for certain chemicals. In 2020, she co-sponsored legislation to encourage investment in carbon capture technology.

Capito meets with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office during discussions about an infrastructure bill, 2021.

Capito supported Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. She called it "the right decision for the American economy and workers." She supports EPA regulations based on her bipartisan legislation to improve clean water standards.

In March 2023, Capito introduced the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act of 2023. This bill supports advanced nuclear technology. The ADVANCE Act became law in July 2024.

Financial Policy

In 2016, a fiscally conservative group gave her a 50% lifetime rating. In 2011, she voted for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In 2020, she said she opposed cuts to government spending but also opposed increases.

In 2010, Capito voted to extend the Bush tax cuts. She supports a federal ban on online poker. In 2003, she introduced a bill to increase the child tax credit.

In 2001, Capito voted for the Bush tax cuts. In 2002, she supported partially privatizing Social Security. In 2006, she voted to increase the minimum wage. In 2017, she opposed President Trump's proposed budget, saying it would cut "too close to the bone." She supported Trump's tax cut bill. In 2019, she announced support for paid family leave. In 2021, she voted for a temporary spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. She also voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Judiciary Views

Capito meets with Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh, July 2018

Capito opposed holding a hearing for President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, in 2016. She said a justice should not be considered during a presidential election year. In 2017, she voted to confirm President Trump's first Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch. She also supported Trump's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. When Kavanaugh faced accusations, she asked for a delay in the vote to hear from the accuser and Kavanaugh.

In 2019, Capito co-sponsored a resolution to limit the Supreme Court to nine justices. In September 2020, she supported an immediate vote on Trump's nominee to fill a Supreme Court vacancy, despite it being close to a presidential election.

Vice Presidential Consideration

Capito was considered a possible candidate for vice president on the Republican ticket with Donald Trump in 2016. She met with Trump in Washington, D.C., in May 2016. Ultimately, Trump chose Mike Pence as his running mate.

Personal Life

Capito is married to Charles L. Capito. They have three children: sons Charles and Moore, and daughter Shelley. The Capito family are members of First Presbyterian Church in Charleston, West Virginia.

In September 2015, Runner's World magazine featured Capito. She shared that she has been a distance runner for over 30 years.

Shelley Moore Capito facts for kids

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