Laura Wakim Chapman is a Republican state senator representing District 1 in West Virginia, which includes Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, and part of Marshall Counties. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, she lives there with her husband Matthew, their two children , and is the daughter of Christopher and Jeannette Wakim. A constitutional lawyer, she advocates for First and Second Amendment rights and entered politics to give the Northern Panhandle an effective voice. She is Catholic and affiliated with groups like the Woman's Club of Wheeling and local chambers of commerce. Notable achievements include serving as Senate Health and Human Resources Committee Chair , leading West Virginia to become the first state to ban harmful food dyes, and sponsoring SB 472 in 2024 for human trafficking awareness training in hotels.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from Middlebury College and West Virginia University College of Law .
• Political Experience: Elected as one of four women in the 34-member West Virginia State Senate; previously advocated during the COVID-19 pandemic and focused on healthcare access, human trafficking prevention, and public health legislation.