Buying Time 2020 – West Virginia
This page features West Virginia Supreme Court television advertisements from the 2020 election cycle.
The terms of three West Virginia Supreme Court justices are due to expire at the end of 2020. A nonpartisan general election will be held for the three seats on June 9, 2020 (postponed from May 12 due to Covid-19). Incumbent Chief Justice Tim Armstead will face opponents Circuit Court Judge David W. Hummel Jr. and attorney Richard Neely for his Division 1 Seat. Incumbent Justice for Division 2, Margaret Workman, did not file for reelection. Family Circuit Court Judge Jim Douglas, Prosecutor Kris Raynes, Circuit Court Judge Joanna Tabit, and former state senator William (Bill) Wooton will compete for Workman’s seat. In Division 3, incumbent Justice John A. Hutchinson will run against Circuit Court Judge Lora Dyer and attorney William (Bill) Schwartz.
Kantar Media/CMAG: Estimated Total TV Spending: $1,648,270*
- Estimated spending by Jim Douglas: $20,100
- Estimated spending by David Hummel: $26,820
- Estimated spending by John Hutchison: $120,100
- Estimated spending by Richard Neely: $188,740
- Estimated spending by Republican State Leadership Committee: $108,480
- Estimated spending by Republican State Leadership Committee – Judicial Fairness Initiative: $423,270
- Estimated spending by ReSet West Virginia PAC: $252,870
- Estimated spending by Bill Schwartz: $8,200
- Estimated spending by Joanna Tabit: $242,210
- Estimated spending by West Virginia Chamber of Commerce: $23,740
- Estimated spending by Bill Wooton: $233,740
*Spending figures last updated June 8, 2020
Campaign Finance Filings from the Republican State Leadership Committee – Judicial Fairness Initiative, Total Spending: $1,877,434**
- Television Advertising: $1,877,434
**Spending figures from independent expenditure reports filed on May 12, 2020, May 14, 2020, May 18, 2020, May 22, 2020, May 26, 2020, May 29, 2020, June 3, 2020, and June 4, 2020 by the Republican State Leadership Committee – Judicial Fairness Initiative
Campaign Finance Filings from ReSet West Virginia PAC, Total Spending: $885,629***
- Television Advertising: $885,629
***Spending figures from independent expenditure reports filed on May 20, 2020, May 22, 2020, May 23, 2020, May 29, 2020, and June 4, 2020 by ReSet West Virginia PAC
Return to Buying Time Homepage
Advertisements
April 24 – WV Tabit Now More than Ever
This ad says that Joanna Tabit is “tough, experienced, and independent” and “that’s why law enforcement, first responders, and labor support Judge Joanna Tabit for the Supreme Court.”
Sponsor: Joanna Tabit
Estimated Spending: $242,210
April 28 – WV Wooton Environment
This ad says that “Bill Wooton protected our land and water, on our supreme court, Bill Wooton will protect West Virginia”
Sponsor: Bill Wooton
Estimated Spending: $226,730
May 8 – WV Douglas What About the Kids
This ad says that “Now More than ever, the West Virginia Supreme Court needs someone who will ask ‘what about the kids’” and endorse Jim Douglas, saying that he will “finally [put] families first”
Sponsor: Jim Douglas
Estimated Spending: $10,150
May 11 – WV Douglas Families First
This ad says that “Jim Douglas is running for the West Virginia Supreme Court so that he can finally put families first” and goes on to say that Douglas “wasn’t there for jack-pot justice [and] he didn’t work for out of state insurance companies”
Sponsor: Jim Douglas
Estimated Spending: $7,210
May 12 – WV Hummel Proud of Our State 15
In this ad, David Hummel says that “he is proud state” and that he is “a justice for all of West Virginia”
Sponsor: David Hummel
Estimated Spending: $13,480
May 12 – WV Douglas Grandparents Rights Case 60
This ad says that “Did you know that there are three justices sitting on the [West Virginia] Supreme Court who have never cross-examined a witness, never picked a jury, never argued a case to the Supreme Court they now sit on?” and goes on to say that “your child would” support Douglas’ candidacy.
Sponsor: Jim Douglas
Estimated Spending: $2,740
May 12 – WV Hummel Knowledge and Experience 15
In this ad, David Hummel says that he “will take the unique knowledge, experience that I’ve gained as a circuit court judge, [and] bring it to all of West Virginia”
Sponsor: David Hummel
Estimated Spending: $13,340
May 13 – WV RSLCJFN Disgraced
This ad says it will tell “the truth about disgraced former judge Richard Neely,” alleging that Neely once said “society would be better off if women stayed home with their children”
Sponsor: Republican State Leadership Committee – Judicial Fairness Initiative
Estimated Spending: $253,930
May 15 – WV Neely Tough Times
This ad says Richard Neely is “running again for working families, to take on insurance, and to protect women and children,” so he can “clean up the court, so it works for us”
Sponsor: Richard Neely
Estimated Spending: $46,410
May 19 – WV Schwartz Know What It’s Like 15
In this ad, Bill Schwartz says that “we need an agent of change in our court system,” and that “as an award winning lawyer with over 32-years of experience, I want to bring that change for a better West Virginia”
Sponsor: Bill Schwartz
Estimated Spending: $8,200
May 22 – WV RESETWV One of Us
This ad says that “Judge Joanna Tabit is a bridge-builder, endorsed by teachers, mine workers, firefighters, and the chamber of commerce”
Sponsor: ReSet West Virginia PAC
Estimated Spending: $123,700
May 22 – WV WVCOC Much Needed Honor
This ad endorses Tim Armstead’s reelection campaign, and says that Armstead “looks to the law, not politics” and that “as Chief Justice, he cut wasteful spending and lowered costs by four million dollars”
Sponsor: West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Estimated Spending: $23,740
May 25 – WV RESETWV Contributions
This ad says “Tim Armstead was appointed to the Supreme Court after receiving thousands of dollars in contributions from drug… gas… and insurance companies” and goes on to endorse Richard Neely or “anyone instead od Armstead”
Sponsor: ReSet West Virginia PAC
Estimated Spending: $105,290
May 25 – WV RESETWV Say Anything
This ad says that out of state corporations are “attacking former Supreme Court Justice Richard Neely by taking our of context comments he made over 25 years ago”
Sponsor: ReSet West Virginia PAC
Estimated Spending: $15,250
May 26 – WV RSLC Tough as Nails
This ad says that “for anyone who commits a crime against a child, [Tim] Armstead and [Kris] Raynes will make sure justice is served”
Sponsor: Republican State Leadership Committee
Estimated Spending: $108,480
May 26 – WV RSLCJFN More Disturbing Facts
This ad says it will give “more disturbing facts about Richard Neely” including alleging that “in a case involving a man accused of sexually abusing his two children, Neely wrote that ‘like witchcraft, child sexual abuse charges can seldom be proven one way or another’” and endorses Tim Armstead
Sponsor: Republican State Leadership Committee – Judicial Fairness Initiative
Estimated Spending: $169,340
May 26 – WV Hutchison Worked Hard
In this ad, John Hutchison says “he’s worked hard his entire life.” The ad goes on to say that he is endorsed by “Democrats and Republicans” for the West Virginia Supreme Court.
Sponsor: John Hutchison
Estimated Spending: $120,100
May 26 – WV Neely Out of State Insurance Companies
This ad says that of state insurance companies are lying about our former Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court Richard Neely” and that Neely “is running to eliminate the huge delays that health insurance companies [impose to] all but destroy the rights of women, children, and workers”
Sponsor: Richard Neely
Estimated Spending: $142,330
June 5 – WV RESETWV Out of State Super PAC
This ad says “why is an out of state super PAC spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to try to get Tim Armstead elected to the West Virginia Supreme Court? What do these out of state interests expect in return?” going on to say that “anyone instead of Armstead” should be elected to the West Virginia Supreme Court.
Sponsor: ReSet WV PAC
Estimated Spending: $8,630
June 6 – WV Wooton Grandkids 15
This features Bill Wooton’s grandkids endorsing his candidacy for the Supreme Court, saying then features Wooton saying that “if you honor me with your vote, I’ll serve you with honor”
Sponsor: Bill Wooton
Estimated Spending: $5,790
June 7 – WV Wooton Environment 15
This ad says, “Bill Wooton authored the bill to stop out of state garbage dumping, saving our drinking water,” and that “on our Supreme Court, Bill Wooton would protect West Virginia.”
Sponsor: Bill Wooton
Estimated Spending: $1,220