Shelley was elected to United States House of Representatives in the fall of 2000 and has consecutively served the district since.  Shelley has made her priorities simple and straightforward:  "When I vote on  important issues like reducing spending, cutting taxes and strengthening our economy, I make these decisions first, foremost, and always, based on doing what is best for the hard-working citizens of West Virginia."

Shelley's political service began when she was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1996, representing the 30th District. Serving two terms in the state House of Delegates, she was named Minority Chairperson of the Health and Human Resources Committee as well as a member of the Judiciary, Banking, and Insurance Committees.

The Congresswoman serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and also the House Committee on Financial Services where she is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit. 

In February of 2010, Shelley founded the Congressional Coal Caucus, to actively engage members of coal producing districts in a unified voice in Congress.  The Coal Caucus has since grown to 81 members. 

Beginning with her first day in office, Shelley made a promise to work tirelessly for the people of West Virginia, placing a premium on listening to her constituents and promoting progress on the real issues important to all West Virginians. She is focused on fixing our nation's serious challenges from record unemployment and government debt and overspending to greater demand for domestic energy production and increased health care costs.    
 
Capito graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Zoology, and also holds a M.Ed. from the University of Virginia. She is married to Charles L. Capito, Jr., and together they have three children Charles and his wife Laura, Moore, and Shelley.  Shelley and Charlie also welcomed their first grandchild Celia Vivienne Capito on April 15, 2010.