Maria Russo
Maria Russo (Democratic Party) is running for election to the West Virginia House of Delegates to represent District 100. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. She advanced from the Democratic primary on May 14, 2024.
Russo completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Maria Russo was born in Shady Grove, Maryland. She graduated from Jefferson High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Brown University in 2018. Her career experience includes working as a policy advisor.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: West Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2024
General election
General election for West Virginia House of Delegates District 100
Incumbent William Ridenour and Maria Russo are running in the general election for West Virginia House of Delegates District 100 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | William Ridenour (R) | |
 | Maria Russo (D)  | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 100
Maria Russo advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 100 on May 14, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Maria Russo | 100.0 | 1,010 |
| Total votes: 1,010 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 100
Incumbent William Ridenour advanced from the Republican primary for West Virginia House of Delegates District 100 on May 14, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | William Ridenour | 100.0 | 1,548 |
| Total votes: 1,548 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Maria Russo completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Russo's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Maria Russo is a proud native of Jefferson County, West Virginia. She has worked as a Jefferson County public school teacher and coach, a public policy strategist, a small business owner, and a clean water advocate in West Virginia. After graduating with a degree in Public Policy from Brown University in 2018, Maria worked on a variety of public policy campaigns in New York City and Atlanta. While working at the Mayor's Office in the City of Atlanta, the COVID-19 pandemic began, and Maria knew it was time to return home to West Virginia. Throughout her career, Maria has worked on a variety of public policy campaigns to ensure that our systems are working effectively for directly impacted people. Today, Maria is committed to working alongside her community to ensure a better, brighter future for the people of West Virginia.
- Infrastructure. Maria intends to improve local infrastructure by prioritizing safer roads, expanding access to affordable and efficient public transportation, ensuring high-speed internet availability, and maintaining affordable utility rates for water and electricity. With better infrastructure planning, investment, and maintenance, Maria believes that we can provide for the people who call Jefferson County home and create a strong, sustainable future for the region.
- Public Education. With her previous experience as a Jefferson County Schools teacher, Maria knows how critical it is for public school teachers and service personnel to have the resources and support they need to to effectively educate and nurture the next generation. Maria will advocate for improving pay for all public employees so they can achieve a better quality of life and continue to provide essential services to the community with dedication and excellence.
- Clean Air and Water. Maria currently works as a clean water advocate in the state of West Virginia, ensuring that we are supporting water quantity and quality across the state. In 2023, Maria worked in Charleston during the West Virginia Legislative Session to support the passage of the PFAS Protection Act, ensuring that we provide resources to contaminated water systems and communities in the Eastern Panhandle and statewide. Maria is passionate about ensuring that all people in her district can fulfill their basic needs and have the tools they need to thrive.
I grew up on a small farm in Jefferson County, where I spent my days exploring the woods, growing vegetables, swimming in the river, and driving on winding roads. Although I enjoyed living elsewhere while starting my career, I missed the mountains and the community of my hometown.
As a proud West Virginian, I’m committed to strengthening our infrastructure, supporting education, ensuring clean air and water, addressing public health needs, aiding those affected by the opioid crisis, advocating for farmers, supporting our workers and families, and boosting our local economy.
I’m dedicated to finding connection points among people, responsible policymaking, and representing my community in the West Virginia Legislature.
It is important to keep a strong pulse on the community you are elected to represent by actively engaging with residents and involving them in the decision-making process. I will lead with transparency and integrity while prioritizing the community’s well being.
I hope to inspire a new generation of leaders who are bold, innovative, and committed to positive change. As a young woman who returned home to my community, I want to make it possible for people to imagine futures in West Virginia, where they can thrive. West Virginia currently has the lowest percentage of women legislators of all 50 states. I believe that we deserve a seat at the table, so that our representative democracy adequately represents all of us. I hope to encourage more young people and women to get involved in the change they want to see happen in their own communities.
American Federation of Teachers
Communication Workers of America
Conservation WV
Eastern Panhandle Central Labor Council
International Union of Operating Engineers
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Mountain Mamas
Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic
Political Action Committee of WV Association of Justice (LAWPAC)
Run for Something
United Auto Workers
United Mine Workers of America
West Virginia & Appalachian Laborers' District Council
West Virginia AFL-CIO
West Virginia Building and Construction Trades
West Virginia Education Association
WV Sierra Club Political Committee
I believe that financial transparency and government accountability are essential principles for maintaining public trust and ensuring effective governance. I will support increased accountability and transparency through making records more accessible, conducting regular audits, and providing opportunities for public input in decision-making.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate West Virginia House of Delegates District 100 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 1, 2024
