Photo by Steven Allen Adams U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito told coal industry leaders on Wednesday that permitting reform could become a reality by the end of 2026.

The Associated Press has called the race for the U.S. Senate Republican nomination in West Virginia for incumbent Shelley Moore Capito.

In early returns, Capito had received 64.85% of the vote in a six-candidate primary. Her next closest opponent at that point was West Virginia Sen. Tom Willis, who held 18.47% of the Republican vote.

Capito now heads to November and will face the winner of a five-candidate Democratic primary. In early returns, Rachel Fetty Anderson was ahead with 44.92% of the vote, with Moundsville native and former West Virginia Senate President Jeff Kessler in second with 21.03% of the vote.