Robert Lee Karnes is an American politician born in and representing West Virginia.

He is a Republican member of the West Virginia Senate,[1][2] representing the 11th district from January 14, 2015 until 2019 and from November 30, 2020 to current date.

Karnes initially took office after defeating Incumbent Democratic Senator Greg Tucker in 2014.

This was the first election cycle in which West Virginian Republicans gained control in either the state House or Senate in over 80 years.

Karnes then won re-election in the 2020 General Election after defeating Incumbent Republican Senator John Pitsenbarger in the 2020 Republican primary and Democrat Denise Campbell in the general election.