Wheeler and Hundley Debate West Virginia School Funding
Senate District 9 candidates offer competing visions for the state school aid formula and the HOPE Scholarship program.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Candidates Lance Wheeler and Kim Hundley are squaring off for the West Virginia Senate District 9 seat. Their campaign focus centers on the future of state education funding, including the current school aid formula and the HOPE Scholarship.
Why it matters
The race carries significant weight for West Virginia schools as the legislature prepares to address education priorities in the upcoming session. Candidates are debating how to manage the state's financial resources effectively while serving diverse student needs.
The HOPE Scholarship program, which provides vouchers for private school tuition, currently operates with a $300 million annual budget. This funding is central to the ongoing discourse regarding West Virginia's educational fiscal priorities.
The players
Lance Wheeler
He is a candidate for the West Virginia Senate and serves as the Executive Director of KCEAA.
Kim Hundley
She is a candidate for the West Virginia Senate and works as a teacher at South Charleston High School.
Kevan Bartlett
He is the former incumbent senator for District 9 who was defeated in the primary election.
The details
Lance Wheeler, the Executive Director of KCEAA, previously defeated incumbent Sen. Kevan Bartlett in the primary. His opponent, Kim Hundley, is a public high school teacher at South Charleston High School who brings classroom experience to the debate over the state aid formula.
Timeline
The current school aid funding formula was implemented in 1982.
The new state senator begins their term in January 2027.
Culture Shift
The ongoing debate over education funding follows the legal framework established by the Recht decision. This development marks a shift in how candidates approach the historic formula versus modern school choice mechanisms.
The outcome of this race will dictate how public education resources are allocated across local school districts in West Virginia. Residents can expect the new senator to vote on significant changes to both the school aid formula and the voucher program starting in 2027.
The takeaway
Voters should review the specific positions each candidate holds on voucher programs versus traditional public school funding. Understanding these differences provides clarity on how state tax dollars will be directed toward local classrooms in the coming years.
Further reading
For more on how state support is distributed, see our coverage of Financial Aid.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WOWK 13 Huntington.
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Should private school voucher programs require income limits and proven student academic growth?
