Kevin Westley Carpenter is an attorney from central West Virginia. He is the Democratic party?s 2026 nominee for House of Delegates District 63, which includes Braxton and Gilmer counties. In 2022 Carpenter first sought the seat. He was unopposed for the Democratic nomination but lost the general election to Republican Lori Cowger Dittman, receiving 28.9 percent of the vote. He returned to the race in 2026 and defeated Betsy Coulter in the Democratic primary with about 62 percent, earning a rematch with Lori Dittman in the November 3, 2026, general election. Carpenter describes his legal career as experience advocating for individuals affected by government and legal systems. His campaign emphasizes stronger local communities, assistance for working families, fairness under the law and greater accountability in state government. Carpenter presents his candidacy as an effort to give Braxton and Gilmer residents a stronger voice in state decisions and make government more responsive to families, workers and small businesses.