Arch Alfred Moore Capito (born August 30, 1982) is an American attorney and politician who served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 2016 to 2023.[1][2] A member of the Republican Party, he was a candidate for governor of West Virginia in the state's 2024 gubernatorial election but was defeated by Patrick Morrisey.[3] He resigned from the West Virginia House in December 2023 to focus on his campaign.[4]

Moore Capito
Member of the
West Virginia House of Delegates
In office
December 1, 2016 – December 22, 2023
Preceded byJB McCuskey
Succeeded byJB Akers
Constituency
  • 35th district (2016–2022)
  • 55th district (2022–2023)
Personal details
Born
Arch Alfred Moore Capito

(1982-08-30) August 30, 1982 (age 42)
Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
  • Katie Brings
    (div. 2021)
  • (m. 2024)
Parent
Relatives
EducationDuke University (BA)
Washington and Lee University (JD)

Capito earned a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University and a Juris Doctor from the Washington and Lee University School of Law.[5]

Personal life

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Capito is a Presbyterian and is married to commentator and host Liberty Capito (née Vittert), with whom he lives in Charleston, West Virginia.[6][7] He was previously married to Katie Brings Capito, with whom he had two children.[1][8][9][7] Their divorce was finalized on January 20, 2021.[10]

Moore is the son of U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito,[1] the grandson of former West Virginia Governor Arch A. Moore Jr. and Shelley Riley Moore, and the cousin of Riley Moore.[11]

Electoral history

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West Virginia House of Delegates District 35, Republican primary results, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Moore Capito 4,896 23.8%
Republican Eric Nelson (incumbent) 4,388 21.3%
Republican Charlotte Lane 2,973 14.4%
Republican Keith Pauley 2,890 14.0%
Republican Matt Kelly 2,731 13.3%
Republican Bill Johnson 1,853 9.0%
Republican Calvin Grimm 866 4.2%
Total votes 20,597 100.0%
West Virginia House of Delegates District 35 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Moore Capito 14,822 16.7%
Democratic Andrew Byrd (incumbent) 13,546 15.2%
Republican Eric Nelson (incumbent) 11,881 13.4%
Republican Charlotte Lane 10,505 11.8%
Republican Keith Pauley 10,251 11.5%
Democratic Ben Adams 9,899 11.1%
Democratic Thorton Cooper 9,404 10.6%
Democratic Benjamin M. Sheridan 8,628 9.7%
Total votes 88,936 100.0%
West Virginia House of Delegates District 35, Republican primary results, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Moore Capito (incumbent) 3,952 27.5%
Republican Eric Nelson (incumbent) 3,469 24.1%
Republican Charlotte Lane (incumbent) 2,902 20.2%
Republican Edward Burgess 2,186 15.2%
Republican Bill Johnson 1,879 13.0%
Total votes 14,388 100.0%
West Virginia House of Delegates District 35 General Election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Douglas Skaff Jr. 13,202 14.9%
Democratic Andrew Byrd (incumbent) 13,038 14.8%
Republican Moore Capito (incumbent) 12,729 14.4%
Republican Eric Nelson (incumbent) 11,765 13.3%
Republican Charlotte Lane (incumbent) 10,309 11.7%
Democratic Renate Pore 10,165 11.5%
Democratic James Robinette 9,444 10.7%
Republican Edward Burgess 7,767 8.8%
Total votes 88,419 100.0%
West Virginia House of Delegates District 35, Republican primary results, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Moore Capito (incumbent) 5,819 30.3%
Republican Chris Stansbury 3,888 20.2%
Republican Larry Pack 3,576 18.6%
Republican Trevor Morris 3,118 16.2%
Republican Brady Campbell 2,809 14.6%
Total votes 19,210 100.0%
West Virginia House of Delegates District 35 General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Moore Capito (incumbent) 16,021 15.7%
Democratic Douglas Skaff Jr. (incumbent) 15,975 15.6%
Republican Larry Pack 12,431 12.2%
Democratic Kayla Young 12,323 12.1%
Democratic Kathy Ferguson 12,076 11.8%
Democratic Rusty Williams 12,035 11.8%
Republican Chris Stansbury 11,059 10.8%
Republican Trevor Morris 10,304 10.1%
Total votes 102,224 100.0%
West Virginia House of Delegates District 55, Republican primary results, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Moore Capito (incumbent) 1,065 100.0%
Total votes 1,065 100.0%
West Virginia House of Delegates District 35 General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Moore Capito (incumbent) 3,476 59.2%
Democratic Greg Childress 2,393 40.8%
Total votes 5,869 100.0%
Republican hold
West Virginia Republican Gubernatorial primary results, 2024
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Patrick Morrisey 74,774 33.3%
Republican Moore Capito 61,920 27.6%
Republican Chris Miller 45,791 20.4%
Republican Mac Warner 36,037 16.0%
Republican Mitch Roberts 3,113 1.4%
Republican Kevin Christian 3,056 1.4%
Total votes 221,185 100.00%

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Capito's son, Moore, plans to run for House of Delegates". Wvmetronews.com. 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
  2. ^ "Moore Capito (R - Kanawha, 35)". Wvlegislature.gov. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
  3. ^ "Moore Capito, whose name likely rings a bell, says he's running for West Virginia governor". www.wvmetronews.com. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  4. ^ "House Judiciary Chairman Moore Capito resigns Legislature to focus on campaign for governor". www.wvmetronews.com. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  5. ^ "West Virginia House of Delegates Biography". www.wvlegislature.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  6. ^ Adams, Steven Allen (2024-05-14). "Candidates make final push for votes in West Virginia GOP primary". News and Sentinel. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  7. ^ a b "Moore Capito Biography". WV Legislature. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  8. ^ "West Virginia Attorney Moore Capito Joins Babst Calland". Babst Calland - Attorneys at Law. 2019-10-08. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  9. ^ "District 055 - Moore Capito". West Virginia Republican Leadership Committee. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  10. ^ Katherine C. v. A. A. Moore C. (Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia September 5, 2023), Text.
  11. ^ Gibson, Brittany (2023-06-12). "McCarthy endorses Riley Moore for open West Virginia House seat". POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-07-09.