Shelley Moore Capito
RepublicanU.S. Senator, WV| Age | 72 (b. 1953-11-26) |
| Gender | Female |
| In office since | 2001-01-03 (~25 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Presbyterian (Presbyterian Church USA); attends First Presbyterian Church in Charleston, WV |
| Education | B.S. in Zoology, Duke University (1975); M.Ed., University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development (1976); attended Holton-Arms School (prep school in Bethesda, MD) |
| Prior occupation | Career counselor at West Virginia State University; Director of educational information center for West Virginia Board of Regents |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | Glen Dale, West Virginia |
| Marital status | Married — Charles L. Capito Jr. |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Charleston, West Virginia |
| Notable relatives | Father: Arch A. Moore Jr. (three-term WV governor, six-term U.S. Representative); Son: Moore Capito (former WV state delegate, U.S. Attorney for Southern District of WV as of 2025); Nephew: Riley Moore (WV State Treasurer 2021–2025, U.S. Representative elected 2024) |
Pending research: languages · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 1996 |
| Previous offices | West Virginia House of Delegates, District 30 (1997–2001) · U.S. Representative, West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District (2001–2015) |
| Committees | Committee on Appropriations (Chair, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Chair, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; also Commerce, Justice, Science; Defense; Homeland Security; Interior/Environment subcommittees) · Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation · Committee on Environment and Public Works (Chair) · Committee on Rules and Administration |
| Caucuses | Republican Main Street Partnership · Senate Taiwan Caucus |
| Leadership | Chair, Senate Republican Policy Committee (119th Congress, 2025–present) · Vice Chair, Senate Republican Conference (118th Congress, 2023–2025) · Chair, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (119th Congress, 2025–present) |
| Ideology | Described as relatively moderate Republican; among the three most moderate Republican senators; votes with party ~96% of time; voted with Biden's position ~56% of the time; GovTrack places her in moderate position on ideology chart |
| Signature legislation | Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021) — key Senate negotiator and supporter · Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 (DWWIA 2021) — authored · Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 (STRA) — authored · ADVANCE Act of 2024 — advanced nuclear energy technology · Gender Advancement in Pay Act — sponsored · Rural Access to Hospice Act — sponsored · Mountain Valley Pipeline authorization language in Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 — authored · Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA) — led as Ranking Member EPW · Respect for Marriage Act (2022) — cosponsor |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed $2,651,121–$7,834,122 (2023) · estimate
| Belle Meade Associates NY, L.P. | fund · $1–$1,000,000 · 2023 |
| United Bankshares Inc. (UBSI) | stock · $1–$250,000 · 2023 |
| Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) | stock · $1–$250,000 · 2023 |
| ClearBridge Large Cap Value A (SINAX) | fund · $1–$250,000 · 2023 |
Top donors: Williams Companies ($49,200) · GEO Group ($46,000) · FirstEnergy Corp ($44,300) · National Association of Realtors PAC ($65,000) · Energy Corporation of America / John Mork (~$60,000)
Top industries: Securities & Investment ($503,215 — 2020 cycle, OpenSecrets) · Oil & Gas / Energy · Real Estate · Health / Pharmaceuticals · Finance & Banking
Scandals & crimes ledger
No recorded incidents. Under the adjudicated-only methodology, an entry appears only when a court or official body has formally acted and the record is cited.