WHEELING — Voters in West Virginia’s most northern counties will see a contested Republican primary for West Virginia Senate.

On Wednesday, Joe Eddy of Wheeling filed his paperwork with the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office to run for the District 1 seat in 2026.

Incumbent Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio, filed for re-election on the first day of filing on Jan. 12.

The next day, on Jan. 13, Chapman gained notice at the start of the current legislative session when she informed Senate President Randy Smith she was stepping down as chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. In her letter, Chapman explained she was resigning because she refused to promise her full support to Smith.

Chapman, an attorney, is completing her first term in the Senate.

Eddy retired as the president and CEO of Eagle Manufacturing in 2019. Since that time he has been managing real estate holdings through Heritage Holdings.

No Democrats have yet to file in the West Virginia Senate District 1 race. The filing deadline is midnight on Jan. 31.