Chris Tipton

Chris Tipton (Republican Party) is running for election to the West Virginia House of Delegates to represent District 33. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. He advanced from the Republican primary on May 12, 2026.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Chris Tipton. I’m a healthcare provider, first responder, and lifelong resident of Southern West Virginia. My life has been about service — whether that was working in emergency medicine, critical care, family medicine, or responding to people on some of the worst days of their lives.

I come from a hardworking West Virginia family. My father was a school teacher, my mother was a nurse, and my grandfather was a coal miner who suffered from black lung. From them I learned the values of hard work, faith, and helping your neighbors.

Throughout my career I’ve worked in EMS, hospitals, and clinics across our region. I’ve seen firsthand the challenges our communities face — healthcare access, job loss, and young people leaving the state. Those experiences are why I decided to run for the House of Delegates.

I’m not a career politician. I’m someone who has spent my life serving this region, and I want to continue that service by fighting for Southern West Virginia families, workers, and communities.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I’m running because Southern West Virginia deserves someone who understands our struggles because they have lived and worked beside the people here. I want to fight for better healthcare access, support for our workers and first responders, and opportunities so our young people can stay and build their future here.

This campaign is about continuing a lifetime of service — from the ambulance to the House of DelegatesMy second key message is protecting and strengthening rural healthcare. As someone who has worked in emergency medicine, critical care, and rural clinics, I’ve seen what happens when hospitals close, when EMS is stretched thin, and when patients have to travel hours just to see a specialist.

Healthcare isn’t just a policy issue for me — it’s personal and it’s professional. I want to work on real solutions like supporting rural hospitals, strengthening EMS services, expanding access to providers, and making sure seniors and working families can get care close to home.

If we want strong communities, we must have strong healthcare systems.My third key message is bringing jobs and opportunity back to Southern West Virginia. Too many of our young people feel like they have to leave home to find opportunity. We need to focus on growing good-paying jobs, supporting small businesses, workforce training, and protecting the industries that built our communities.

I believe we should be investing in vocational training, apprenticeships, and career education just as much as four-year degrees. Not every good career requires college debt, and we should respect all paths to success.

My goal is simple: create opportunity so our kids and grandkids can stay here, work here, and raise their families here.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My focus is on three main areas of public policy: healthcare, economic opportunity, and public safety.

First, healthcare. As someone who has worked in emergency medicine and rural healthcare, I want to strengthen rural hospitals, support EMS services, and improve access to care so people don’t have to leave Southern West Virginia to get treatment.

Second, economic opportunity. We need to support small businesses, workforce training, and job development so our young people can stay here and build careers without leaving the state.

Third, public safety and community support. That includes supporting first responders, addressing the substance use crisis through treatment and prevention, and making sure our communities remain safe.