School Choice Politics in West Virginia

On a cold February morning in West Virginia’s Capitol, children held signs and homework, crowding the hallways outside the House Finance Committee room. Delegate Vernon Criss, the committee’s chairperson, quickly moved back into his office. Days earlier, Criss had proposed limiting payouts from a voucher program, diverting public tax dollars to private education. Families opposed the proposal, believing it would harm the program.

Introduced five years prior, the Hope Scholarship program was the first of its kind without income requirements for educational savings accounts. It began with a cost of $9 million and was projected to reach $200 million annually by 2026. Criss worried that unchecked program growth could destabilize the state budget, already strained by tax cuts. He felt lawmakers needed to address the situation.

As parents, media, and kids gathered for the committee meeting, Criss confirmed that the Hope Scholarship bill wouldn’t be discussed. Disappointed, families left the room. Within days, lawmakers halted efforts to reduce voucher spending. Criss soon faced significant political challenges.

These elections are a warning to Republican leaders like Vernon Criss — if you oppose school freedom, expect to be held accountable.

The campaign against Criss was supported by local and national school choice advocates. When Republicans took control of the West Virginia Legislature in 2015, school choice became a priority. Political nonprofits lobbied and supported sympathetic lawmakers, eventually establishing the Hope Scholarship.

Initially enrolling over 2,300 students, the program allowed gradual increases, expanding to 26,000 participants today. This surpasses enrollment in the state’s largest public school district. With support from the Koch family network and billionaire Jeffrey Yass, efforts to allocate taxpayer dollars for private education gained momentum.

During the 2026 primary, three political action committees targeted 10 incumbent Republicans, unseating four. Criss, a notable casualty, faced organized opposition. The Koch family and Yass-backed groups played pivotal roles in defeating him.

As the Hope Scholarship expanded, Criss proposed financial caps to manage costs. His plan, aiming to sustain the program, met resistance. Prominent figures like Jason Huffman and organizations like Americans for Prosperity-West Virginia contributed to the program’s enactment and growth.

The Cardinal Institute, a conservative think tank, advocated for public funding of private schooling with support from Koch and Yass-funded entities. They partnered with groups and parents to promote the program.

Challenges arose when the Hope Scholarship faced court opposition. Despite objections from the state Board of Education, the program survived judicial scrutiny. Its continuation supported political figures like Patrick Morrisey in their election campaigns.

Faced with growing participation, the program’s costs surged, reaching an estimated $150 million for the 2026-27 school year. The Rand Corporation urged financial caps and increased public school funding. Criss pursued budget controls, hoping to secure the program’s future. However, political forces rallied followers against him.

Ad campaigns and PACs opposed to Criss employed aggressive tactics, spending millions on races across West Virginia. Accusations and negative ads painted Criss unfavorably. Americans for Prosperity and other groups intensified their efforts to shape the Legislature’s composition.

Criss reflected on his political demise, understanding the targets aligned against him in finance chairmanship. Nevertheless, the School Freedom Fund and associated groups poured resources into maintaining and expanding school choice options.

Ultimately, Criss lost his primary to Charles Hartzog, a young challenger. Now, Criss is pursuing a write-in campaign, hoping to reclaim influence in his district.