Phillip Wheeler | |
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![]() Wheeler in 2019 | |
Member of the Kentucky Senate from the 31st district | |
Assumed office March 19, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Ray Jones |
Personal details | |
Born | Pikeville,Kentucky,U.S. | April 13,1978
Political party | Republican |
Education | Transylvania University (BA) University of Kentucky (JD) |
Charles Phillip Wheeler Jr. (born April 13,1978) is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the Kentucky Senate from the 31st district. Wheeler came into office during a Special Election on March 5,2019,defeating Democrat Darrell Pugh. He assumed office on March 19,2019. Wheeler was re-elected for a full term with 72.8% of the vote on November 3,2020,defeating Democratic challenger Glenn Martin Hammond.
Wheeler was born in Pikeville,Kentucky in 1978. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and German from Transylvania University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Wheeler was a Fulbright scholar in Regensburg,Germany from 2000 and 2001. [1]
Outside of politics,Wheeler works as a lawyer at Wheeler &Baker,PLLC in Pikeville,KY. As a lawyer,Wheeler has represented former coal miners who suffer from black lung disease. [2] He was elected to the Kentucky Senate in a March 2019 special election,succeeding Ray Jones. [3] He also serves as vice chair of the House Economic Development,Tourism and Labor Committee. [4]