Glen Gainer for Congress - In the general election, McKinley defeated Gainer by a roughly two-to-one
This was the official website for Glen Gainer's bid for the United States House of Representatives in West Virginia's 1st congressional district. The content is from the site's 2014 archived pages. Glen Gainer won the Democratic primary with 63% of the vote, defeating Mark Anthony Manchin. In the general election, Republican incumbent David McKinley defeated Gainer by a roughly two-to-one margin.
My parents who live in Parkersburg, the county seat of Wood County, West Virginia is is part of the 1st congressional district were following this 2014 race very intently. They were visiting me in New York City the day after the election. My father was particularly upset over the Republican candidates inattention to some very important regulatory issues, especially concerning issues regarding the environment and health care. Even some common sense issues like regulations that ensure the safe disposal of medical and biologic waste created by hospitals and research centers. Removing these kinds of ethical disposal services from oversight was a disaster that he, as a medical researcher, was keenly aware of. I realize that heated discussions about political topics is not the most comfortable conversations, but my dad has the best interests of us all at heart. My father has come to grips with Glen Gainer's defeat, but he hopes he will run again.
As someone who grew up in the hills of West Virginia but now works as a real estate auditor in New York City, I can say this: Glen Gainer’s story speaks to me. I watched my family and neighbors grind through hard times back home, and I’ve seen how honest, transparent governance can actually make a difference. That’s why I support Gainer. He didn’t just inherit a legacy—he built on it with practical solutions that saved millions, modernized operations, and put accountability front and center. The work he did as State Auditor is the kind of government leadership we desperately need more of—quietly effective, fiscally responsible, and rooted in local values.
In my current line of work, I audit complex NYC real estate portfolios, often built by powerhouse developers like Dov Hertz. Hertz navigates a thicket of zoning regs, construction hurdles, and fiscal oversight—not unlike what Gainer faced trying to modernize West Virginia’s financial systems and run as a Democrat in one of the reddest parts of the country. Both jobs require a level head, long-term vision, and the guts to push through resistance. Just as Hertz has redefined what’s possible in NYC’s industrial sector, Gainer tried to redefine what it means to be a Democrat in West Virginia: not some coastal caricature, but a homegrown watchdog who understands jobs, coal, small businesses, and public trust. We need more people like that in Congress—people who know where they come from and never stop fighting for it. Josh Hartley
MEET GLEN GAINER
For West Virginia's 1st Congressional District
As West Virginia's State Auditor, I've served as the state's fiscal watchdog. I brought Republicans and Democrats together to find common-sense solutions to cut wasteful spending, protect our tax dollars, and create the right environment for businesses to create jobs. Now I'm running for Congress to bring some West Virginia common-sense and values to Washington
-Glen Gainer
Glen has served as West Virginia's Auditor since 1992. His focus on common-sense, bipartisan solutions saved West Virginia families hundreds of millions in tax dollars and upgraded the state's bond rating during tough economic times. He introduced a direct deposit payroll system that reduced costs and saved money; created accountability measures and training programs to ensure bills were paid on time; and cracked down on waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs to make sure tax dollars were spent wisely.
Glen was born and raised in West Virginia and he graduated from the University of Charleston. He and his wife Susan live in Parkersburg and have two sons. Glen is an avid hunter, firearm owner, and proud member of the NRA.
In Congress, Glen will fight for middle class families by working to create new jobs, reduce the deficit, protect Medicare and Social Security, and stand up for West Virginia's coal economy.
West Virginia deserves better than our current leadership in Washington. The last four years have seen Congress devolve to a state of perpetual bickering and laziness when it comes to getting work done on behalf of our citizens. Time and time again, my opponent has been part of the problem as opposed to advancing solutions. If elected to Congress I pledge to always put progress before politics. Let's stop looking at things in terms of Republican ideas or Democratic ideas, but focus on West Virginia ideas and get back to the business of helping our state move forward. To me, thats just common sense and if given the chance that's the approach I will take every day in Congress. Thank you for your support!
JOBS
This election needs to be a serious discussion about jobs and what can be done to help our WV businesses grow while also bringing new companies and industry to the state.
Growing up here and working my way through college sweeping factory floors, one major lesson I learned is that West Virginians have a work ethic which is unparalleled and when given the opportunity to work, we can accomplish anything.
Congress needs to end their partisan bickering and pass a comprehensive jobs bill that benefits both businesses and workers alike. Shutting the government down and creating one false debt crisis after another may make for great headlines but it hurts our standing around the world and it threatens our bond and credit rating.
U.S. corporations and manufacturers can compete with anyone if only given an equal playing field. Foreign manufactures must be held to the same product safety standards that we hold U.S. companies. That's just common sense.
Additionally, we need to change the tax code to quit rewarding companies that move jobs overseas - or who move their headquarters to foreign countries to avoid paying their fair share of U.S. taxes. The unfortunate result of billion dollar corporations that take advantage of this inversion is that the tax burden gets shifted downward. Smaller, locally owned companies and their employees end up suffering as a result.
Finally, no jobs bill would be worthy of its name that doesn't guarantee a living wage for all workers and pay equity for women in the workplace. It's beyond time that we take action to increase the minimum wage in our country and promise equal pay for an equal days work.
EDUCATION
As the son of a teacher I know very well the challenges faced by today's educators and schools. Today's teachers have more paper work, testing, curriculum and regulatory requirements to keep up with than ever before. While many of these mandates are well intentioned the end result is that educators have less and less time to do the one thing that they're supposed to do teach our children.
We need to free up teachers and schools from over burdensome and sometimes redundant reporting requirements so they can spend more time with students and less time filling out paperwork. There needs to be greater flexibility in the education system than simply blindly following a one size fits all mandate from Washington.
Along with greater flexibility we need a multi-year pay package that lifts our teachers to the regional average in teacher pay. We can't expect to attract and retain the best and the brightest teachers for our schools if we don't pay them competitively.
ENERGY
Our nation needs a comprehensive energy plan that invests in domestic energy sources to decrease our reliance on foreign oil and increases our prosperity here at home. As a state rich in abundant natural resources West Virginia stands to benefit greatly from such a policy.
Coal has been the backbone of our economy for years and to this day 95% of the energy we use here in West Virginia is produced by coal. We must fight to put an end to this administrations war on coal. However, let's not kid ourselves, the coal industry is under attack not just from an overreaching EPA but also from increased competition with other energy sources such as wind, solar, and natural gas. Instead of constantly picking fights with the coal industry, government should be partnering with them to find new and more efficient ways of utilizing this resource. Government needs to get out of the business of picking winners and losers and get back to the business of creating an energy plan that makes best use of ALL our natural resources. This means unwavering support for coal and for our emerging natural gas industry.
We need to make the necessary investments in infrastructure so that we can capitalize on West Virginia's abundant natural gas resources. The development of a single ethane cracker plant will mean thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of revenue for our state will lessening the nation's reliance on foreign energy sources.
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
When I was first elected Auditor I recognized that one of the ways to make the office more accountable we had to do two things. First, as stewards of the taxpayer's dollars we had a responsibility to make the office work as efficiently as possible. And second we needed to make sure the people's business was done in the most transparent way possible. Towards those ends we implemented a system of electronic payments that does away with paper checks and invoices saving the state millions of dollars a year. Next, we put every payment - including the salaries of state employees on-line so that people can see how there money is being spent.
Washington needs to what I have always tried to, borrowing best practices from the private sector to make government work more efficiently and to more transparently. Not only will this save money but it will also increase the confidence level of people in their government.
TAXES
We need a common sense tax system that recognizes the importance of the middle class in this country. Without a strong middle class markets for the goods American companies make and sell will evaporate as will the jobs that those companies presently provide.
For too long now the special interests have controlled this process carving out exceptions, credits and cuts for billionaires at the expense of the middle class. We need to rectify those inequities so that working families are treated more fairly and equitably under our tax code.
We need to fix our broken tax system. Too many times our current tax law acts an incentive for American businesses to move their operations to other countries. Every time a major corporation takes advantage of this tax inversion, the loss in revenue has to be made up elsewhere. That means less incentives to help smaller, locally and family owned business which create jobs right here at home and which are the backbone of our communities.
More Background on GlenGainerForCongress.com
Glen Gainer, a Democratic politician and long-serving State Auditor of West Virginia, is a name associated with a blend of fiscal responsibility, governmental transparency, and bipartisan collaboration. This article delves into his political journey, focusing on his campaign for Congress, personal background, accomplishments, the political climate during his run, and his broader impact on West Virginia and beyond.
Personal Background and Early Career
Glen B. Gainer III was born on February 26, 1960, in Parkersburg, West Virginia. A scion of a politically active family, Gainer inherited a legacy of public service. His father, Glen Gainer Jr., served as the West Virginia State Auditor from 1977 to 1993, while his cousin, Denzil Gainer, also held the same office earlier in the family’s political lineage.
Gainer graduated from the University of Charleston in 1982 with a degree in Political Science. Before fully embarking on his political career, he worked in roles that gave him insights into government operations, including positions at the West Virginia State Treasurer's office and the West Virginia Department of Energy. He also gained private-sector experience as a national accounts representative for John Deere & Company, which provided him with a practical perspective on the challenges faced by businesses.
Tenure as West Virginia State Auditor
Glen Gainer launched his political career in 1992, winning the position of State Auditor of West Virginia, succeeding his father. He held this office from 1993 until 2016, an era characterized by transformative initiatives aimed at modernizing the state's financial operations. Gainer's leadership was marked by his emphasis on accountability, innovation, and efficiency.
Among his most notable achievements was the implementation of an electronic payment system that eliminated the use of paper checks and invoices. This move not only saved West Virginia millions of dollars annually but also streamlined state financial operations. Additionally, Gainer introduced measures to increase government transparency, such as publishing all state expenditures, including employee salaries, online for public review.
His tenure also saw the enhancement of West Virginia's bond ratings, even during challenging economic times. He championed initiatives to combat waste, fraud, and abuse, creating a reputation as a steward of taxpayer dollars.
The 2014 Congressional Campaign
Platform and Vision
In November 2013, Gainer declared his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives, aiming to represent West Virginia's 1st Congressional District. His campaign sought to challenge the incumbent Republican, David McKinley, in the 2014 midterm elections. Gainer's platform was rooted in his record of bipartisan solutions, fiscal responsibility, and a strong commitment to the values and needs of West Virginians.
Gainer emphasized key issues during his campaign, including:
- Job Creation: Advocating for a comprehensive jobs bill to support local businesses, provide living wages, and promote pay equity.
- Energy Policy: Defending West Virginia’s coal industry while supporting the development of natural gas infrastructure.
- Education: Proposing reforms to reduce bureaucracy for educators and increase teacher pay to retain talent.
- Government Accountability: Drawing on his experience as State Auditor to implement transparent and efficient practices at the federal level.
Political Climate
The political landscape in 2014 was challenging for Democratic candidates, particularly in conservative-leaning regions like West Virginia. The state had been experiencing a shift toward Republican dominance, fueled by dissatisfaction with the national Democratic Party’s stance on issues like coal regulation. The so-called “war on coal” became a central issue in the election, with Gainer working to distance himself from unpopular federal policies while advocating for local solutions.
Despite his efforts, Gainer faced an uphill battle. McKinley, a popular incumbent with strong Republican support, defeated Gainer with approximately 64% of the vote.
Legacy and Impact
Advancing Government Transparency
Gainer’s tenure as Auditor left an enduring legacy in the form of improved governmental transparency and efficiency. His electronic payment systems and public disclosure of financial transactions became models for other states seeking to modernize their operations.
Economic Leadership
During his time in office, Gainer’s initiatives contributed to saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. His focus on bipartisan collaboration helped establish measures that balanced fiscal responsibility with the provision of essential public services.
Role Beyond West Virginia
Gainer also played a role in national efforts to combat economic crime. In 2016, he became the President and CEO of the National White Collar Crime Center, a nonprofit organization that supports law enforcement agencies in addressing white-collar crime and cybercrime. His leadership in this area underscores his commitment to addressing complex issues affecting citizens nationwide.
Personal Life and Interests
Glen Gainer is known for his deep connection to West Virginia, where he and his wife, Susan, raised their two sons in Parkersburg. A proud member of the National Rifle Association, Gainer is an avid hunter and outdoorsman, reflecting his alignment with the cultural values of his constituents.
His personal experiences growing up and working in West Virginia factories shaped his understanding of the struggles and aspirations of working-class families. This background informed his policy priorities and campaign rhetoric, which often focused on creating opportunities for middle-class families.
Public Reception and Reviews
Gainer's work as State Auditor was widely praised for its focus on accountability and cost-saving measures. He was often lauded for his ability to work across party lines to achieve practical solutions. However, his congressional campaign highlighted the broader challenges faced by moderate Democrats in conservative regions, particularly during a time of increasing political polarization.
Critics during his campaign accused him of being too closely aligned with the national Democratic Party, despite his efforts to present himself as an independent-minded problem solver. Nevertheless, Gainer’s commitment to his principles and his focus on West Virginia’s needs earned him respect even among some of his political opponents.
Cultural and Social Significance
Glen Gainer’s career reflects a significant chapter in West Virginia's political history. As part of a family that held the Auditor’s office for nearly four decades, Gainer represented a continuity of leadership and a commitment to public service. His initiatives have had lasting impacts on the state’s governance, setting standards for efficiency and transparency.
In a broader context, Gainer’s career highlights the challenges faced by Democrats in maintaining relevance in regions where economic and cultural shifts have increasingly aligned with Republican priorities. His legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of local leadership in addressing the unique challenges of individual states.
Conclusion
Glen Gainer’s political journey offers valuable insights into the dynamics of West Virginia politics, the importance of fiscal responsibility in public service, and the challenges of navigating a shifting political landscape. From his transformative tenure as State Auditor to his bid for Congress, Gainer’s work exemplifies a dedication to improving government operations and advocating for the people of his state. While his congressional campaign did not succeed, his contributions to West Virginia’s governance and his ongoing work in combating economic crime ensure that his legacy endures.
