Tom Willis, a candidate for the U.S. Senate from West Virginia, used his social media platform on May 9, 2026, to encourage voter turnout during the final day of early voting and to position himself against incumbent Shelley Moore Capito.
In a post on May 9, Willis stated: “The whole country is watching West Virginia. Our Founding Fathers never intended for career politicians to stay in Washington for 30 years. Shelley Moore Capito has had her chance. TODAY is the last day to early vote. 9-5pm Vote Tom Willis for U.S. Senate. #RetireShelley https://t.co/YeAAOzLNGS”.
He also provided logistical information for voters in a separate message posted the same day: ” Early Voting Locations: https://t.co/vjxEdMJQ3s Vote West Virginia “.
Later that morning, Willis appealed directly to his supporters and criticized established political figures, writing: “Please share this video. The establishment and political machine may have the money, but we have the people of West Virginia. “.
Willis’s comments come as part of his campaign against Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who has served multiple terms in Congress representing West Virginia since first being elected to the House of Representatives in 2000 and later to the Senate in 2014. His messaging reflects a broader national trend in which candidates challenge long-serving incumbents by invoking concerns about political longevity and advocating for new representation.
