Danielle Walker (politician)

Danielle Walker (born August 18, 1976) is an American politician and community activist, currently serving as a Democratic member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 51st district.

Danielle Walker
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
from the 51st district
Assumed office
December 1, 2018
Preceded byCindy Frich
Personal details
Born (1976-08-18) August 18, 1976
New Iberia, Louisiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children
  • Demetry
  • Devin
ParentsOscar Walker, Sr. (father)
Derbie Bernard (mother)
ResidenceMorgantown, West Virginia, U.S.
Alma materTeche Area Technical Institute
University of Southwestern Louisiana
OccupationPolitician, community activist
Websitedaniellewalkerwv.com

Personal life

Walker was born on August 18, 1976, in New Iberia, Louisiana, to Oscar Walker, Sr. and Derbie Bernard.[1] After graduating from New Iberia Senior High School, Walker attended Teche Area Technical Institute, where she obtained a certificate in accounting; she also completed undergraduate coursework at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, however, did not obtain a degree.[2]

Widowed at just 29-years-old, Walker remarried and moved with her two sons to Morgantown, West Virginia, after her husband was relocated for his job. After the move, the two divorced, although Walker would choose to remain in Morgantown with her children.[3] As a single mother raising two disabled children, Walker was chosen to receive her own universal-designed home through Habitat for Humanity in 2015; she has remained an advocate of the organization since.[3][4]

Career

Political career

In response to the terrorist attack perpetrated on counter-protesters of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, Walker attended a vigil with her oldest son, which was held on the campus of West Virginia University. Her son, then a student of WVU, had previously considered attending the University of Virginia, located in Charlottesville. Walker has stated that she felt compelled to speak out against the alt-right movement at the vigil, after thinking of the potential that her son could have been a victim of the attack, should he have chosen to ultimately attend UVA.[3] Members of the local Democratic Party, impressed by Walker's speech, later recruited her to run as a candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates' 51st district.[5] Walker accepted the proposition and won election in November 2018.[6] She was re-elected to a second term in November 2020.[7]

Community involvement

Walker is a member and supporter of several organizations, including Black Lives Matter; the NAACP; Mountaineers for Progress, an organization promoting progressive values throughout the state; the National Organization for Women; Moms Clean Air Force, an environmental protection organization; Planned Parenthood; the Working Families Party; Our Future West Virginia, a statewide organization focused on economic justice, educational justice, racial justice, and civic engagement; Mon County Read Aloud, an organization focused on improving childhood literacy; Mountain Mamas, a women's climate change advocacy and environmental protection organization; MoveOn; and the Sierra Club.[3]

Electoral history

Primary election

West Virginia House of Delegates, 2018[8]
Monongalia County, 51st District
(Vote for 5)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara Evans Fleischauer (incumbent) 6,116 21.54%
Democratic Evan Hansen 5,639 19.86%
Democratic Danielle Walker 5,104 17.98%
Democratic John Williams (incumbent) 4,994 17.59%
Democratic Rodney Pyles (incumbent) 3,952 13.92%
Democratic Cory Kennedy 2,585 9.11%
Total votes 28,390 100.00%

General election

West Virginia House of Delegates, 2018[6]
Monongalia County, 51st District
(Vote for 5)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara Evans Fleischauer (incumbent) 16,357 12.21%
Democratic Evan Hansen 15,558 11.62%
Democratic John Williams (incumbent) 15,045 11.23%
Democratic Danielle Walker 14,725 10.99%
Democratic Rodney Pyles (incumbent) 14,240 10.63%
Republican Joe Statler (incumbent) 13,051 9.74%
Republican Cindy Frich (incumbent) 12,601 9.41%
Republican Debbie Warner 11,058 8.26%
Republican Roger Shuttlesworth 8,885 6.63%
Republican Aaron Metz 8,464 6.32%
Libertarian Buddy Guthrie 3,011 2.25%
American Freedom Harry Bertram 942 0.70%
Write-in 79 0.06%
Total votes 134,016 100.00%

Primary election

West Virginia House of Delegates, 2020[9]
Monongalia County, 51st District
(Vote for 5)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Danielle Walker (incumbent) 9,685 20.65%
Democratic Barbara Evans Fleischauer (incumbent) 9,626 20.52%
Democratic Evan Hansen (incumbent) 9,300 19.83%
Democratic John Williams (incumbent) 8,065 17.19%
Democratic Rodney Pyles (incumbent) 6,889 14.69%
Democratic Jeffrey Budkey 3,343 7.13%
Total votes 46,908 100.00%

General election

West Virginia House of Delegates, 2020[7]
Monongalia County, 51st District
(Vote for 5)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara Evans Fleischauer (incumbent) 19,718 11.84%
Democratic Evan Hansen (incumbent) 18,800 11.29%
Republican Joe Statler 18,304 10.99%
Democratic Danielle Walker (incumbent) 17,931 10.77%
Democratic John Williams (incumbent) 17,737 10.65%
Republican Cindy Frich 17,704 10.63%
Democratic Rodney Pyles (incumbent) 17,689 10.63%
Republican Justin White 14,187 8.52%
Republican Todd Stainbrook 12,204 7.33%
Republican Zach Lemaire 12,134 7.29%
Write-in 71 0.04%
Total votes 166,479 100.00%

References

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