Michael Folk

{{short description|American politician from West Virginia|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Mike Folk

|state_delegate = West Virginia

|district = 63rd

|term_start = January 12, 2013

|term_end = January 9, 2019

|predecessor = District established

|successor = John Hardy

|birth_name = Michael Craig Folk

|birth_date =

|birth_place = Martinsburg, West Virginia, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Republican

|spouse = Stella Folk

|education = Shepherd University (BS)
West Virginia University (MBA)

|website = {{URL|folk4wv.com|Campaign website}}

}}

Michael Craig Folk{{cite web |url= http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/135453 |title= Michael Folk's Biography |publisher= Project Vote Smart |accessdate= March 24, 2014}} (born in Martinsburg, West Virginia) is an American politician from West Virginia. A Republican, he was formerly a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 63.{{cite web |url= http://www.legis.state.wv.us/House/lawmaker.cfm?member=Delegate%20Folk |title= Michael Folk |publisher= West Virginia Legislature |location= Charleston, West Virginia |accessdate= March 24, 2014}}

Education

Folk is a graduate of Hedgesville High School. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Shepherd College (now Shepherd University) and his master of business administration from West Virginia University.{{cite web | author =Breanna Francis | title =Folk announces run for governor's seat | website =The Journal | date =February 6, 2019 | url =https://www.journal-news.net/journal-news/folk-announces-run-for-governor-s-seat/article_366cb64b-b3c9-5f97-abb5-0df7120c05e3.html | accessdate = February 6, 2019}}

Elections

  • 2012: Folk ran in the May 8, 2012, Republican primary and won by 17 votes with 485 votes (51.4%),{{cite web |url= http://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2012&eid=8&county=Statewide |title= Statewide Results Primary Election May 8, 2012 Official Results |publisher= Secretary of State of West Virginia |location= Charleston, West Virginia |accessdate= March 24, 2014}} and won the November 6, 2012 general election with 3,096 votes (51.2%) against Democratic nominee Donn Marshall,{{cite web |url= http://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2012&eid=13&county=Statewide |title= Statewide Results General Election November 6, 2012 Official Results |publisher= Secretary of State of West Virginia |location= Charleston, West Virginia |accessdate= March 24, 2014}} who had run for a seat in 2010.
  • 2014: Folk won re-election to the 63rd District, defeating Heather Marshall — wife of his 2012 opponent{{cite web | author =John McVey | title =Heather Marshall named to replace husband in state delegate race | website =The Journal | date =April 24, 2014 | url =http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/608354/Heather-Marshall-named-to-replace-husband-in-state-delegate-race.html | accessdate = February 19, 2015}} — by receiving 60.99% of the vote.{{cite web | author =Chelsea DeMello | title =Folk holds off Marshall | website =The Journal | date =November 5, 2014 | url =http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/621456/Folk-holds-off-Marshall.html | accessdate = February 19, 2015}}
  • 2016: Folk won a third term in the House by defeating Democratic challenger Kenneth Lemaster, receiving 58.5% of the vote.{{cite web | author =Matt Dellinger | title =Folk wins re-election in 63rd district | website =The Journal | date =November 9, 2016 | url =http://www.journal-news.net/news/local-news/2016/11/folk-wins-re-election-in-63rd-district/ | accessdate = December 15, 2016}}
  • 2018: Folk sought election to the West Virginia Senate in the 16th district, but was defeated by incumbent John Unger.{{cite web | author =Matthew Umstead | title =Unger edges Folk in 16th District senate race | website =The Herald-Mail | date =November 7, 2018 | url =https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/tri_state/west_virginia/unger-edges-folk-in-th-district-senate-race/article_1f2769e0-7599-59da-aa93-e5f1c0a03394.html | accessdate = February 6, 2019}}

Candidacy for Governor

On February 5, 2019, Folk announced he would challenge West Virginia Governor Jim Justice in the state's 2020 primary elections.

Controversy

On July 15, 2016, Folk tweeted that Hillary Clinton should be "hung on the Mall in Washington, DC" in response to her email controversy.{{cite web | author =Emily Daniels | title =Folk tweet saying Clinton should be hanged draws criticism | website =The Journal | date =July 16, 2016 | url =http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/661451/Folk-tweet-saying-Clinton-should-be-hanged-draws-criticism.html | accessdate =July 17, 2016}}{{cite web | title =W.Va. lawmaker: Hillary Clinton should be "hung" on National Mall | website =CBS News | date =July 16, 2016 | url =http://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-folk-west-virginia-lawmaker-hillary-clinton-should-be-hung/ | accessdate =July 17, 2016}}{{cite web | author=Lori Kersey| title =WV delegate calls for Clinton to be executed | website =Charleston Gazette-Mail | date =July 16, 2016 | url =http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-politics/20160716/wv-delegate-calls-for-clinton-to-be-executed | accessdate =July 17, 2016}} He later stated that he regretted the comment, but reiterated his belief that Clinton should be tried for treason.{{cite web | author=Eugene Scott | title =GOP lawmaker regrets calling for Clinton to be hanged | website =CNN | date =July 16, 2016 | url =http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/16/politics/hillary-clinton-republican-delegate-hung/ | accessdate =July 17, 2016}} Two days later, Folk was suspended from his job as a pilot for United Airlines over the comment.{{cite web | title =United says it removes Folk from flying during investigation into comment | website =The Journal | date =July 17, 2016 | url =http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/661519/United-says-it-removes-Folk-from-flying-during-investigation-into-comment.html | accessdate =July 18, 2016}}{{cite web | title =UPDATE: United Airways Suspends Delegate Over Violent Tweet | website =WOWK-TV | date =July 17, 2016 | url =https://www.wowktv.com/archives/update-united-airways-suspends-delegate-over-violent-tweet/839153761 | accessdate =February 6, 2019}}

References

{{reflist|30em}}