Mike Pushkin's family arrived from Eastern Europe, most likely from Russia, in the late nineteenth century and settled in Charleston.
23 Facts About Mike Pushkin
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Mike Pushkin is the son of a doctor who worked at the Charleston Area Medical Center.
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Mike Pushkin started playing drums at the age of eight and switched to guitar at 13.
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Mike Pushkin attended West Virginia University but did not obtain a degree largely due to struggles with addiction.
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In 2001, Mike Pushkin moved from Morgantown to Charleston and started working as a taxi driver, but continued to fight his addiction and was fired.
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Mike Pushkin was rehired after attaining sobriety, which he maintains.
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Mike Pushkin sometimes serves as a designated driver for his legislative colleagues.
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Mike Pushkin is a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 136.
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Mike Pushkin's most famous song is a reaction to the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster, a 2010 mine collapse.
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Mike Pushkin taxied reporters to the site of the mine and was moved to sadness by the plight of miners.
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In 2014, Mike Pushkin announced plans to run for Elections to West Virginia's 37th District after the incumbent launched a Congressional campaign.
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Mike Pushkin carried the same district with 75.2 percent of the vote in that year's general election, outrunning the Democratic presidential nominee by more than ten percentage points.
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The West Virginia Democratic Party elected Mike Pushkin to be Chair of the party at their organizational meeting on June 18,2022 in Bridgeport, West Virginia.
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Mike Pushkin has developed a reputation for providing an independent voice on bills.
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Mike Pushkin opposed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which gives businesses the right to decline to serve gay customers.
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Mike Pushkin unsuccessfully introduced a bill to legalize recreational marijuana during his first term.
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Mike Pushkin reintroduced the Second Chance bill during his second term and the bill passed when a compromise was reached that would expunge misdemeanors, not felonies.
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Mike Pushkin fought to successfully pass the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act, thanks to support Pushkin secured from his Libertarian colleagues.
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In 2018, Mike Pushkin was a staunch proponent of the successful impeachment of the Supreme Court of West Virginia.
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Mike Pushkin was one of the first legislators to push for an investigation into Justice Loughry for his personal use of state property and the subsequent cover-up.
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In 2018, Mike Pushkin was a vocal supporter of the efforts to give teachers a pay raise and improve wages in the public sector.
22.
In 2019, Mike Pushkin directed derogatory comments towards fellow Kanawha County Delegate Diana Graves.
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Mike Pushkin is the only Jewish member of the West Virginia legislature.