Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, officially filed the paperwork late Friday afternoon to run for the seat presently occupied by State Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio. Republican Joe Eddy already has filed to run on the GOP ticket against Chapman. (Photo provided)

WHEELING – Delegate Shawn Fluharty won’t seek re-election to the House of Delegates in 2026, but will instead run for the District 1 Senate seat.

Fluharty, D-Ohio, officially filed the paperwork late Friday afternoon to run for the seat presently occupied by State Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio. Republican Joe Eddy already has filed to run on the GOP ticket against Chapman.

“I am tired of seeing the Senate being run from the extremes,” Fluharty said. “Like many of you, I share the frustrations of what we are seeing in Charleston – the Northern Panhandle being ignored while the legislature chases culture wars and fringe agendas.

“We need to get back to real issues that impact real people instead of doubling down on dividing our neighbors…. I look forward to having serious discussions about real solutions that impact our everyday lives and returning government back from the extremes and to the people.”

Fluharty, a Wheeling attorney, was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2014, and serves as minority chair of the judiciary committee.

He noted since taking office he has been vocally fighting for the total Northern Panhandle in the Legislature, and “now it is time that I truly represent it.”

Fluharty’s House District includes parts of Ohio County, while the District 1 Senate seat would have him representing Hancock, Brooke, Ohio and Marshall counties.

“Everytime I walk in the chamber I am there fighting for the Northern Panhandle,” he said. “Now it is time my representation includes the whole panhandle.”

Fluharty’s father Doug hails from Brooke County, and his mother Mary Ellen is a Marshall County native who teaches in Marshall County Schools.

Fluharty, however, remembers from childhood riding up and down the Ohio River line with his grandfather Warren, an electrician who drove to jobs throughout the Northern Panhandle.

“He was a proud electrician,” Fluharty said. “But that is how I was raised…. I will be going up and down the panhandle having serious discussions with people who care about solutions to our problems.”

Republican Riley Watkins, has filed to run for the Delegate District 5 seat presently occupied by Fluharty. As of late Friday, no Democrats had yet to file for the seat.

Fluharty said he believes there is a Democrat planning to do so, but he couldn’t divulge the name

Candidates have until midnight Saturday to file.