West Virginia State Senate District 1

Incumbents

Owens Brown

Ryan Weld

About the District Census Topic | Value

|

Population | 98,120
Gender |

48.5% Male

51.5% Female

Race |

90.8% White

2.8% Black

0.6% Asian

0.2% Native American

0% Pacific Islander

Ethnicity | 1.4% Hispanic
Median household income | $47,877
High school graduation rate | 91.4%
College graduation rate | 23.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 census and 2020 ACS data

West Virginia State Senate District 1 is represented by Owens Brown (D) and Ryan Weld (R).

As of the 2020 Census, West Virginia state senators represented an average of 52,756 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 54,499 residents.

## Contents

* 1 About the office
* 1.1 Qualifications
* 1.2 Salaries
* 1.3 Vacancies
* 2 District map
* 3 Redistricting
* 3.1 2020-2022
* 4 Elections
* 4.1 2022
* 4.2 2020
* 4.3 2018
* 4.4 2016
* 4.5 2014
* 4.6 2012
* 4.7 2010
* 5 Campaign contributions
* 6 See also
* 7 External links
* 8 Footnotes

## About the office[edit]

Members of the West Virginia State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. West Virginia legislators assume office the first day of December following the election.

### Qualifications[edit]

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Section 12 of Article 6 of the West Virginia Constitution states, "No person shall be a senator or delegate who has not for one year next preceding his election, been a resident within the district or county from which he is elected; and if a senator or delegate remove from the district or county for which he was elected, his seat shall be thereby vacated."[1]

Section 4 of Article IV also states senators must be at least 25 years old.

Section 13 of Article 6 of the West Virginia Constitution states, "No person holding any other lucrative office or employment under this state, the United States, or any foreign government; no member of Congress; and no person who is sheriff, constable, or clerk of any court of record, shall be eligible to a seat in the Legislature."

### Salaries[edit]

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislators

Salary| Per diem
$20,000/year| $131/day. Set by compensation commission. Unvouchered.

### Vacancies[edit]

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the West Virginia State Legislature, the governor must select a replacement to fill the vacant seat.[2][3]

For vacancies in the House of Delegates, the executive committee of the political party that holds the seat can submit a list of three candidates to the governor. The list must be submitted to the governor within 15 days of the vacancy. The governor must make a selection within five days of receiving the list. If the committee does not submit a list within 15 days, the governor must appoint someone of the same political party as the person who left office. The person that is selected to fill the vacancy serves the remainder of the unfilled term.[3]

For vacancies in the Senate, a gubernatorial appointment is required if less than two months and two years are left in the vacant senator's term. A temporary gubernatorial appointment is required for any vacancy that has more than two months and two years remaining. The person who is selected by the governor to fill the seat on an interim basis, serves until the next scheduled general election. A special election must be held to determine a permanent replacement. The executive committee of the political party that holds the vacant Senate seat is responsible for making recommendations to the governor on any appointment.[3]

See sources: West Virginia Const. Art. 4, Sec. 7 and West Virginia Code Ann. §3-10-5

## District map[edit]

The map below shows this district's current boundaries, not those enacted as part of the 2020 redistricting cycle.

## Redistricting[edit]

### 2020-2022[edit]

See also: Redistricting in West Virginia after the 2020 census

West Virginia enacted district maps for the Senate and House of Delegates on October 22, 2021.[4]On September 30, 2021, the House Redistricting Committees released a single-member district map proposal for the West Virginia House of Delegates.[5] The proposal passed the House on October 13, 2021, in a 79-20 vote and passed the Senate on October 18, 2021, in a 28-5 vote.[6] On October 5, 2021, the Senate Redistricting Committee released five map proposals for West Virginia's State Senate districts.[7] On October 11, 2021, the Senate Redistricting Committee voted to recommend Sen. Charles S. Trump IV's (R) 8th proposed senate map to the full Senate.[8] The Senate approved a map that combined aspects of previous proposals in a 31-2 vote on October 19, 2021. The map, named after Sens. Trump, Tom Takubo (R), Eric Tarr (R) Patricia Rucker (R), and Robert Karnes (R) was approved by the House in a 72-19 vote. Both the House and Senate maps were signed into law by Gov. Jim Justice (R) on October 20, 2021.[9] These maps take effect for West Virginia's 2022 legislative elections.

On the Senate map, Sen. Trump said, “This amendment I believe reconciles and harmonizes some of the issues that were points of contention. This is the product of conversations and compromises over a long period of time by a great number of people.”[10]

“There is a faction within the Republican Party that is worried about their reelection when they shouldn’t be. They should worry about how the state works and how to make it work," said Sen. Mike Romano (D).[11]

How does redistricting in West Virginia work? In West Virginia, congressional and state legislative district boundaries are set by the West Virginia State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[12]

The West Virginia Constitution requires that state Senate districts be "compact, contiguous, and bounded by county lines where doing so is not otherwise unlawful." There are no such requirements in place for congressional or state House districts.[12]

### West Virginia State Senate District 1
before 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

### West Virginia State Senate District 1
after 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

## Elections[edit]

### 2022[edit]

See also: West Virginia State Senate elections, 2022

General election

##### General election for West Virginia State Senate District 1

Randy Swartzmiller and Laura Wakim Chapman are running in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 1 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate

|

| Randy Swartzmiller (D)

| Laura Wakim Chapman (R)

* * *

There are no incumbents in this race.

|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

#####  Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1

Randy Swartzmiller defeated incumbent Owens Brown in the Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1 on May 10, 2022.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Randy Swartzmiller |

53.3

| 3,520

| Owens Brown |

46.7

| 3,088

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source 1 Source 2

| Total votes: 6,608

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1

Laura Wakim Chapman defeated Judi Varner Meyer in the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1 on May 10, 2022.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Laura Wakim Chapman |

69.5

| 5,619

| Judi Varner Meyer |

30.5

| 2,466

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. Source 1 Source 2

| Total votes: 8,085

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

### 2020[edit]

See also: West Virginia State Senate elections, 2020

General election

##### General election for West Virginia State Senate District 1

Incumbent Ryan Weld defeated Randy Swartzmiller in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 1 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Ryan Weld (R)  |

53.0

| 23,844

| Randy Swartzmiller (D)  |

47.0

| 21,137

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 44,981

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Brandon Evans (Independent)

Democratic primary election

#####  Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1

Randy Swartzmiller advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Randy Swartzmiller |

100.0

| 11,514

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 11,514

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1

Incumbent Ryan Weld defeated Jack Newbrough in the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1 on June 9, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Ryan Weld |

64.1

| 7,283

| Jack Newbrough |

35.9

| 4,081

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 11,364

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

### 2018[edit]

See also: West Virginia State Senate elections, 2018

General election

##### General election for West Virginia State Senate District 1

William Ihlenfeld defeated incumbent Ryan Ferns in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 1 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| William Ihlenfeld (D)  |

52.9

| 18,450

| Ryan Ferns (R)  |

47.1

| 16,438

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 34,888
(100.00% precincts reporting)

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

#####  Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1

William Ihlenfeld advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate

|

✔ |

| William Ihlenfeld

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1

Incumbent Ryan Ferns advanced from the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate

|

✔ |

| Ryan Ferns

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

### 2016[edit]

See also: West Virginia State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the West Virginia State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 10, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was January 30, 2016.

Ryan Weld defeated incumbent Jack Yost in the West Virginia State Senate District 1 general election.[13][14]

West Virginia State Senate District 1, General Election, 2016

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  |  Ryan Weld | 51.07% | 21,191
| Democratic  | Jack Yost Incumbent | 48.93% | 20,303
Total Votes | 41,494
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State

Incumbent Jack Yost ran unopposed in the West Virginia State Senate District 1 Democratic primary.[15][16]

West Virginia State Senate District 1, Democratic Primary, 2016

Party | Candidate
| Democratic |  Jack Yost Incumbent (unopposed)

Ryan Weld ran unopposed in the West Virginia State Senate District 1 Republican primary.[15][16]

West Virginia State Senate District 1, Republican Primary, 2016

Party | Candidate
| Republican |  Ryan Weld (unopposed)

### 2014[edit]

See also: West Virginia State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the office of West Virginia State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 13, 2014. The general election was on November 4, 2014. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 25, 2014. Incumbent Rocky Fitzsimmons was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Ryan Ferns was unopposed in the Republican primary. Ferns defeated Fitzsimmons in the general election.[17][18]

West Virginia State Senate District 1, General Election, 2014

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | Ryan Ferns | 51.8% | 13,762
| Democratic  |  Rocky Fitzsimmons Incumbent | 48.2% | 12,821
Total Votes | 26,583

### 2012[edit]

See also: West Virginia State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of West Virginia State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 8, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. Democratic incumbent Jack Yost defeated Republican Pat McGeehan in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the primary elections.[19][20]

West Virginia State Senate, District 1, General Election, 2012

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  | Jack Yost Incumbent | 56.3% | 11,760
| Republican  |  Pat McGeehan  | 43.7% | 9,146
Total Votes | 20,906

### 2010[edit]

See also: West Virginia State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of West Virginia State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 11, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. Democrat Orphy Klempa defeated Republican Charles Schlegel in the general election. Klempa defeated Dan Greathouse in the Democratic primary election. Schlegel defeated Patrick McGeehan and Larry Tighe in the Republican primary election.[21][22]

Klempa resigned December 10, 2012. Rocky Fitzsimmons was appointed to fill the vacancy.[23]

West Virginia State Senate, District 1, General Election, 2010

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  | Orphy Klempa | 58.6% | 17,179
| Republican  |  Charles Schlegel  | 41.4% | 12,137
Total Votes | 29,316
West Virginia State Senate District 1 Democratic Primary, 2010

Candidate | Vote % | Votes
Orphy Klempa | 53.4% | 6,838
Dan Greathouse  | 46.6% | 5,960
Total Votes | 12,798
West Virginia State Senate District 1 Republican Primary, 2010

Candidate | Vote % | Votes
Charles Schlegel | 44.5% | 2,571
Patrick McGeehan  | 43.5% | 2,515
Larry Tighe  | 12.1% | 698
Total Votes | 5,784

## Campaign contributions[edit]

From 2000 to 2018, candidates for West Virginia State Senate District 1 raised a total of $2,620,928. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $109,205 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, West Virginia State Senate District 1

Year | Amount | Candidates | Average
2018 | $553,846 | 2 | $276,923
2016 | $190,210 | 2 | $95,105
2014 | $820,577 | 2 | $410,289
2012 | $128,195 | 2 | $64,098
2010 | $206,925 | 3 | $68,975
2008 | $236,160 | 3 | $78,720
2006 | $126,718 | 3 | $42,239
2004 | $166,810 | 4 | $41,703
2002 | $74,843 | 1 | $74,843
2000 | $116,644 | 2 | $58,322
Total | $2,620,928 | 24 | $109,205

## See also[edit]

| Suggest a link

|

* West Virginia State Legislature
* West Virginia State Senate
* West Virginia House of Representatives

## External links[edit]

* West Virginia State Legislature

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "Article VI, Section 12," accessed February 9, 2021
2. ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "West Virginia Constitution," accessed February 9, 2021 (Section, Article 4, Section 7)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 West Virginia Legislature, "West Virginia Code," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 3-10-5, WV Code)
4. ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "Actions by the Governor," accessed October 25, 2021
5. ↑ WSAZ, "First West Virginia redistricting maps released," September 30, 2021
6. ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "Actions by the Governor," accessed October 25, 2021
7. ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "Senate Select Committee on Redistricting," accessed October 7, 2021
8. ↑ WV News, "(West Virginia) Senate Redistricting Committee selects proposed maps," October 11, 2021
9. ↑ Metro News, "After days of trying, Senate overwhelmingly passes a map of its own districts," October 19, 2021
10. ↑ The Center Square, "West Virginia Senate passes Senate redistricting bill," October 21, 2021
11. ↑ 13 News, "West Virginia State Senate passes new district maps; House to return Wednesday," October 19, 2021
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 All About Redistricting, "West Virginia," accessed May 7, 2015
13. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate search," accessed November 4, 2016
14. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "2016 official general election results," accessed May 3, 2017
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Listing by Office," accessed January 30, 2016
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Statewide Results - Primary Election - May 10, 2016," accessed August 2, 2016
17. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed February 7, 2014
18. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed June 18, 2014
19. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, General Election - November 6, 2012, accessed November 23, 2013
20. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, Primary Election - May 8, 2012, accessed November 23, 2013
21. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, General Election - November 2, 2010, accessed November 23, 2013
22. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, Primary Election - May 11, 2010, accessed November 23, 2013
23. ↑ The State Journal, "Tomblin names Rocky Fitzsimmons to Ohio Co. Senate vacancy," December 27, 2012

[show]

Current members of the West Virginia State Senate

Leadership

Senate President:Craig Blair

Majority Leader:Tom Takubo

Minority Leader:Stephen Baldwin

Senators

District 1

Owens Brown (D)

Ryan Weld (R)

District 2

Charles Clements (R)

Mike Maroney (R)

District 3

Mike Azinger (R)

Donna Boley (R)

District 4

Amy Grady (R)

Eric Tarr (R)

District 5

Robert Plymale (D)

Mike Woelfel (D)

District 6

Mark Maynard (R)

Chandler Swope (R)

District 7

Rupie Phillips (R)

Ron Stollings (D)

District 8

Glenn Jeffries (D)

Richard Lindsay (D)

District 9

Rollan Roberts (R)

David Stover (R)

District 10

Stephen Baldwin (D)

Jack Woodrum (R)

District 11

William Hamilton (R)

Robert Karnes (R)

District 12

Patrick Martin (R)

Mike Romano (D)

District 13

Robert Beach (D)

Michael Caputo (D)

District 14

Randy Smith (R)

David Sypolt (R)

District 15

Craig Blair (R)

Charles Trump (R)

District 16

Hannah Geffert (D)

Patricia Rucker (R)

District 17

Eric Nelson (R)

Tom Takubo (R)

Republican Party (23)

Democratic Party (11)

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