LOST RIVER, W.Va. — I’m Commander Steven M. Wendelin, U.S. Navy (Retired), and I’m running for the United States House of Representatives in West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District.
I live here in Lost River. This is home. It’s where I chose to settle after nearly four decades of naval service, including combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’ve served our country in war and in peace. Now I’m stepping forward to serve again; this time for the people of West Virginia.
Let me be direct. Our government has stopped working for average West Virginians. Too many families are working harder and falling behind. Costs keep rising. Healthcare is out of reach for too many. Good jobs are scarce in places that used to thrive. And too often, the people we send to Washington stop listening once they get there.
We deserve better than that.
I’m running because I believe public service is an honor, not a career path. I’m not taking corporate PAC money. I don’t pay myself a campaign salary. This campaign is powered by volunteers and small-dollar donations, because I want to be accountable to you—not to special interests.
In the Navy, I learned that leadership is about responsibility. When something is broken, you don’t point fingers. You fix it. And right now, too much in Washington is broken.
We need to restore accountability and bring common sense back to government. That starts with respecting the Constitution, restoring checks and balances, and making sure Congress does its job under Article I. It means putting people ahead of politics and focusing on what actually matters in your daily life.
I believe healthcare should be accessible and affordable. I believe we need to invest in education and workforce development so our young people can build a future here at home. I believe we must protect our natural resources and hold polluters accountable, while putting West Virginians to work restoring our land and water. And I believe we need an economy that works for working families, not just those at the top.
This district is large and diverse, stretching from the Eastern Panhandle to the Ohio River. I’ve been traveling it, listening to people, hearing their concerns, and sharing a simple message: you deserve a representative who shows up, who listens, and who fights for you.
That’s what I intend to do.
This campaign isn’t about me. It’s about whether we’re willing to stand up and demand a government that works again. Change doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when people decide they’ve had enough and take action.
So here’s my ask. Get involved. Talk to your friends and neighbors. Show up to events. Ask hard questions. And when it’s time to vote, make your voice heard.
We can fix what’s broken. We can restore faith in our system. But only if we do it together.
To learn more, volunteer, or contribute, visit www.wendelinforcongress.com.
