Meet Chris Rose
West Virginia State Senator - District 2
Chris Rose is a fourth-generation coal miner born and raised in the southern coalfields of Appalachia in McDowell County, West Virginia. He experienced firsthand the economic devastation caused by decades of government overreach and regulations, particularly during what's known as the War on Coal. This policy forced many of his family, friends, and loved ones to leave the state in search of work, but Chris and his family chose to stay and fight for West Virginia's coal and gas industries.
While attending Bluefield State College, Chris began his mining career with the same company where his father and grandfather had worked. He graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology, amidst the peak of the Obama Administration's War on Coal. After graduation, he and his wife Amber relocated within West Virginia to keep his mining job, where he advanced from skilled labor to management positions. Currently, Chris works as an electrician for a power utility company in an area heavily dependent on coal-fired power.
Chris's political activism began at Bluefield State College where he was one of the founding members and first chairman of the Bluefield State College Republicans. Post-graduation, he campaigned for candidates who supported conservative values, constitutional rights, and the coal industry. His involvement with the Tea Party movement as a regional field director was significant, aiding in the campaigns of U.S. Senators Rand Paul, Mike Lee, and Ron Johnson.
Chris was particularly active in supporting President Donald J. Trump, volunteering for both his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, aligning with Trump’s policies that favored deregulation of the coal industry. His advocacy for the coal sector was intertwined with his support for Trump’s broader economic policies aimed at revitalizing American industries.
A staunch defender of the Second Amendment, Chris is an avid outdoorsman, a lifetime NRA member, and involved with WVCDL and GOA, emphasizing the importance of these rights in protecting other constitutional freedoms.
Married to Amber for over ten years, they are both active in Christian and pro-life communities, defending religious freedom and life. Together, they enjoy West Virginia's natural beauty, from its mountains to its rivers.
Chris Rose stands as a 4th generation coal miner, a Christian, and a constitutional conservative, committed to putting West Virginia and its people first. He positions himself as the genuine voice of the working-class West Virginian, earning the moniker "West Virginia's Blue-Collar Conservative."