It probably was no surprise to many West Virginians to learn this week that U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito plans to run for reelection next year.
Still, it was good to hear.
Capito, R-West Virginia, is closing out her freshman term in the Senate. But she was no novice when elected in 2014; Capito already had served us for 14 years in the House of Representatives.
In both chambers, she achieved a reputation for quiet leadership on issues of importance to Mountain State residents, ranging from energy to expansion of internet accessibility.
In many cases, Capito’s dedication, perceptiveness and attention to detail have won her bipartisan support for her initiatives. She is known as a lawmaker more interested in getting good things done than in strident partisan rhetoric for the sake of headlines.
Capito’s record of service made her 2014 election to the Senate a blowout. She garnered 62.12 percent of the vote, topping her nearest rival by nearly 28 points. There is no reason she will not win reelection handily in 2020.
That, too, is a good thing for West Virginians.