Blue Splash: W.Va. Democratic candidates add to statehouse numbers
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CHARLESTON - A blue wave swept across the nation Tuesday day, flipping both chambers of Congress to Democratic control. The State Capitol Building was splashed by the water from that wave, with Democratic statehouse candidates in deep-red West Virginia making gains.
According to an analysis of unofficial election results from all 55 counties through the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office, the number of Democratic seats in the Legislature will grow from 11 to 25, assuming no races flip when county commissions begin meeting next week to canvas the votes.
Democratic wins in the House of Delegates and state Senate reversed all-time lows in elected Democratic members since the Republicans captured majorities in both chambers in 2015 for the first time in since the 1930s.
In the 34-member state Senate, the total number of Democrats will grow from two to four, with three new members joining that body. In the 100-member House, the Democratic caucus will increase from nine members to 21. Speaking at an election night watch party at Short Story Brewing in downtown Charleston, Del. Mike Pushkin, the chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party, said the election results send a clear message to the GOP supermajority.
"We doubled the number of Democrats in the state Senate. We more than doubled our numbers in the house. That’s huge," said Pushkin, D-Kanawha, who also won re-election to the House Tuesday night over independent candidate Tara Martinez. "With every race that we win, that adds a little bit of much needed humility to the Republican side of the aisle.
"Look, they’ve been operating under this air of invincibility for far too long, and they have just ignored what the people of West Virginia really need," he continued. "Instead, they’ve just been doing what they want. So, maybe this loss will help them be better at their job."
There were 17 seats up for election in the Senate along with two special elections to fill unexpired terms with 16 total incumbents on the ballot. 14 Republican incumbents will return including state Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio who fended off a challenge by Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio for the 1st Senatorial District seat representing Hancock, Brooke and Ohio counties plus part of Marshall County.
State Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia was denied a second four-year term by voters, being defeated by Del. John Williams, D-Monongalia in the 13th Senatorial District representing parts of Monongalia and Marion counties.
State Sen. Anne Charnock, R-Kanawha who succeeded former state senator and current Department of Revenue Secretary Eric Nelson was defeated by former South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb for the 17th Senatorial District representing much of Kanawha County.
In the race to succeed retiring Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell Democratic candidate Duron Jackson defeated former 2024 Republican candidate for governor Chris Miller in the 5th Senatorial District representing parts of Cabell and Wayne counties.
Senate Assistant Minority Leader Joey Garcia, D-Marion played a large role in recruiting and supporting Democratic state Senate candidates this cycle. Speaking by phone Tuesday night at Short Story's Fairmont location, Garcia said he was excited for his new incoming Democratic colleagues.
"We're doubling the minority in both the Senate and the House, and that may not sound like a lot to different people in West Virginia, but you know what? It makes a difference," Garcia said. "I feel like there have been so many Republicans for the last several years that feel like they have a free pass and they can do whatever they want to do. And I think this election sends a message that there has to be some accountability."
In the House, all 100 members were on the ballot, with 69 incumbent delegates. Fifty-four Republican incumbents will return next year. With the departures of Fluharty and Williams, who both ran for Senate seats, seven of the nine Democratic House incumbents will return as well, with 14 new Democrats joining the caucus next year.
"We are still in a sea of red, and for us to more than double our caucus says that people truly are wanting to get back to kitchen table issues and things that matter," said House Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell who was unopposed. "This is a testament to the voters, the people of West Virginia saying enough is enough. They don’t like the way that we’re going. ... To the people that won, wow, my hat’s off to them. I’m so excited."
Nine Republican House members lost their elections Tuesday night. In Wood County's 12 House District, Democratic candidate Dennis Rempel defeated Charles Hartzog, the candidate backed by Gov. Patrick Morrisey in the May Republican primary over House Finance Committee Chairman Vernon Criss, R-Wood. Despite mounting an aggressive write-in campaign since August, Criss only received 261 votes. Rempel will be the first Democratic delegate from Wood County since former delegate Dan Poling was defeated in 2014.
In the 24th House District in Cabell County, Steve Williams - the former delegate, Huntington mayor and Democratic nominee for governor in 2024 - will return to the House, defeating Del. Patrick Lucas, R-Cabell. In the 58th House District which includes parts of Nitro and St. Albans in Kanawha County, Del. Walter Hall, R-Kanawha, was defeated by Democratic opponent Marisa Jackson. In the 75th House District in Marion County, voters chose former Democratic House members Linda Longstreth over Del. Phil Mallow, R-Marion.
House Education Committee Chairman Joe Statler, R-Monongalia was the only Republican voters returned to the House from Monongalia County (77th District), with Del. Geno Chiarelli being defeated by Democrat Michael Wendell (78th District) and Del. David McCormick being defeated by Democrat Eddie Wagoner (82nd District).
For House districts in Jefferson County, voters swept out all but one of their Republican incumbents. In the 97th District, Lucia Valentine defeated Del. S. Chris Anders, R-Jefferson. In the 99th District, Regina Dyer defeated Del. Wayne Clark, R-Jefferson. And in the 100th District, Jenny Thacker defeated Del. Bill Ridenour, R-Jefferson.
Of the 14 new House Democrats, eight are women, bringing the total number of women in the House Democratic caucus to 10 and the total number in the House to 19. New women in the House include Karen Shuler Stakem, the sister of Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin, who will succeed Fluharty as the Democratic delegate for the 5th District.
Others include Melissa McCrady, the Republican in the 13th District; Mackenzie Holdren, the Republican in the 48th District; Jackson; Longstreth; Olivia Miller, the Democrat succeeding Williams in the 80th District; Valentine; Dyer; and Thacker.
Some statehouse races remain close, with some in the House separated by less than 100 votes and one race by fewer than 40. In the Senate's 8th District, the race between former Republican Kanawha County Commissioner Lance Wheeler and Democratic opponent Kim Hundley is only separated by 568 votes.
"Maybe more than anything, the fact that we’re having close races everywhere, even in places that are unexpected in West Virginia, means that our elected officials have to consider that their actions have consequences," Garcia said.
"The best thing is we are moving closer to true balance," Hornbuckle said. "When there is true balance in government, especially the West Virginia Legislature, the people are going to win and everybody - not just Republicans or independents or whoever else - wins when you have all people at the table ... to get a better product."