Notable West Virginia races, 2016

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Notable West Virginia Races
Primary	May 10, 2016
General	November 8, 2016

West Virginia's highly contested gubernatorial race was one of 15 West Virginia races Ballotpedia identified as notable 2016 contests.

Overview[edit]

Republicans aimed for full control of the state government[edit]

Main article: West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2016

West Virginia's gubernatorial race was one of the most-watched gubernatorial contests in 2016. In 2014, Republicans won both the state House of Delegates and state Senate, giving the party control of the legislature for the first time since the 1930s.

If Republicans had continued their momentum and captured the governorship, West Virginia would have had a single-party government, or a Republican state government trifecta. This would have been a rapid change from 2014 when West Virginia was a Democratic trifecta.

Three Democrats ran in the primary election: Former U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin (D), businessman Jim Justice (D), and state Senate Minority Leader Jeffrey Kessler (D). Justice won the Democratic nomination.

State Senate President Bill Cole (R) was the sole Republican candidate.^[1][2]

Justice defeated Cole and Mountain Party candidate Charlotte Jean Pritt in the November election.

State House was likely to remain Republican[edit]

Main article: West Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2016

Republicans were likely to retain control of the state House of Delegates after November based on the seats up for election and the size of the GOP majorities. The Democratic Party lost and the Republican Party picked up 17 seats in 2014, the first time since the 1930s that the Democratic Party had not held the state House.

State Senate was one of 20 battleground chambers[edit]

Main article: West Virginia State Senate elections, 2016

The West Virginia State Senate was one of 20 battleground chambers in the November 2016 election. Republicans sought to defend their two-seat majority against the Democrats after Republicans captured the chamber in 2014 after more than 80 years of Democratic control. From 2010-2015, Democrats lost 11 seats in the state Senate.

Outcome of notable West Virginia races[edit]

Of the eight notable legislative contests, only one incumbent—Robert Ashley (R)—failed to advance to the November election. The two legislative leaders, state Senate Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael (R) and state House Speaker Tim Armstead (R), won their primary contests.

What makes a race notable?[edit]

Ballotpedia uses these criteria to identify notable races:

• Incumbents facing more conservative or liberal challengers
• Rematches between candidates
• Races that receive considerable media attention
• Races that could significantly affect the state's partisan balance
• Competitive races involving party leaders
• Open, competitive races with Republican and Democratic primaries
• Races that capture money and attention from outside groups, including key endorsements

Know of an interesting race we should include here? Email us!

Notable primary elections[edit]

Governor[edit]

Three Democratic candidates sought their party's nomination while the Republican candidate was unopposed

Incumbent Governor Earl Ray Tomblin (D) did not run for re-election due to term limits.

Three Democrats ran in the primary election: Former U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin (D), businessman Jim Justice (D) and West Virginia's state Senate Minority Leader Jeffrey Kessler (D). Justice won the Democratic nomination.

State Senate President Bill Cole (R) was unopposed in the Republican primary contest.

Race background[edit]

The Democratic contest focused on multiple issues, including jobs, the state's budget, infrastructure, and drug abuse.

Goodwin's campaign website emphasized his record as a prosecutor and stated his support for improving communication, transportation, natural gas mining and drinking water infrastructure; expanding community programs for children; higher teacher pay and expectations; and investments in tourism, law enforcement, and senior citizen programs.^[3] It also pointed to his time as the federal prosecutor in the trial stemming from one of the worst mine explosions in United States history: the 2010 explosion of West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine that killed 29 men.^[4]

Kessler's campaign website emphasized his record as a senator and stated his support for improving transportation infrastructure, increasing workforce participation, combating drug abuse through treatment programs, and investment in the state's Future Fund.^[5][6]

Justice attributed many of the state's issues—including the teacher shortage, drug abuse epidemic, and the budget crisis—to a lack of available jobs. Justice was a businessman and the owner of Greenbrier, a resort located in West Virginia, as of the election.^[7]

A March 9, 2016, poll released by West Virginia Veterans, a nonprofit group, found that Justice led Goodwin and Kessler with 36 percent support from 600 likely Democratic primary contest voters in West Virginia. Goodwin received 20 percent, and Kessler received 16 percent, with 28 percent undecided. The full poll can be found here.

Campaign finance[edit]

In West Virginia, candidates are required to file campaign finance reports at regular intervals. They were required to file:

• Primary, first report: covers period between March 28, 2015 and March 25, 2016
• Pre-Primary report: covers period between March 26, 2016 and April 24, 2016
• Post-Primary report: covers period between April 25, 2016 and May 22, 2016
• General, first report: covers period between May 23, 2016 and September 25, 2016
• Pre-General report: covers period between September 26, 2016 and October 23, 2016
• Post-General report: covers period between October 24, 2016 and November 20, 2016
• 2017 annual report: covers period between November 21, 2016 and March 24, 2017

General election[edit]

The following chart detailed the campaign finances for Jim Justice (D) and Bill Cole (R), the two major party nominees for governor in 2016.

Primary election[edit]

State Senate District 3(a)[edit]

Two Republican incumbents competed for the same state Senate seat.

Incumbent state Sen. Robert Ashley (R), who was appointed by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) in 2015 to complete the remaining term of outgoing state Sen. David Nohe (R) in one of the district's two senate seats, challenged incumbent state Sen. Donna Boley (R) for the other Senate District 3 seat. John Riggs (R) also ran in the Republican primary contest. Boley defeated Ashley and Riggs in the Republican primary contest. Bradley Vanzile (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary contest.

Boley and Ashley had each held leadership positions in the state legislature. Boley was first appointed to the chamber in 1985. She served as State Senate Minority Leader between 1991 and 1997. Ashley served in the state House between 1984 and 1998 and between 2000 and 2015. From 1988 to 1994 and again from 1999 to 2000, he served as State House Minority Whip.

State Senate District 4[edit]

The state Senate majority leader faced a primary challenger as well as criticism from the left and the right.

State Senate Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael (R) ran for re-election. He defeated Dustin Lewis (R) in the Republican primary contest by a margin of 60-40. Rocky Seay (D) defeated Brandon Barker (D) in the Democratic primary contest.

Carmichael received criticism on both the right and the left for some of his actions as majority leader. The Family Policy Council, a conservative group, criticized Carmichael for not supporting the organization's favored version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The proposed legislation died in the state Senate. Meanwhile, West Virginia Family Values, a pro-union group, criticized Carmichael's role in passing "right to work" legislation in the state Senate, which eliminated the state's prevailing wage.^[8]

State House District 13[edit]

Four Republican candidates sought the seat left open by an outgoing GOP incumbent.

Incumbent state Rep. Michael Ihle (R) ran for re-election. Incumbent state Rep. Scott Cadle (R) declined to run for re-election, leaving the seat open. In addition to Ihle, four Republican candidates ran in the Republican primary contest: Amanda Cadle (R), Kathie Hess Crouse (R), Joshua Higginbotham (R) and Robert Marchal (R). Ihle and Higginbotham won the Republican primary contest and advanced to the November election.

Three of the Republican candidates, Ihle, Crouse and Higginbotham, attended a candidate forum in April 2016 to discuss their campaign issues. The three candidates supported a state-level version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in order to protect the religious freedom of private companies. Higginbotham, a 19-year-old college student, said the legislation would help protect "religious minorities"; Crouse, a microbiologist, said she would have voted for a religious freedom bill as a state delegate.^[9]

Other issues discussed at the forum included West Virginia's tobacco tax; Ihle, Crouse and Higginbotham opposed raising the state tobacco tax in order to balance the state's budget. The three candidates also supported the state legislature's approval of a voter ID bill requiring voters to present photo identification before they could vote.^[9]

State House District 16[edit]

Four Democratic candidates sought the seat left open by an outgoing Democratic incumbent.

Incumbent state Reps. Carol Miller (R) and Sean Hornbuckle (D) ran for re-election. Incumbent state Rep. Jim Morgan (D) declined to run for re-election, leaving the seat open. Four Democratic candidates ran in the primary contest for the open seat: Joe Akers (D), Justin Murdock (D), James Stacy (D) and Matt Spurlock (D).

Hornbuckle, Spurlock, and Akers received the most votes in the Democratic primary contest and advanced to the November election.

The Democratic candidates focused on several issues throughout their campaigns, including economic opportunities in the state, job growth, infrastructure, and substance abuse problems in the state.^[10]

Stacy, an electrician, said he focused his campaign on blue-collar workers. "Most West Virginians have more in common with someone who wears a hard hat to work than someone who wears a suit, so I believe our legislature needs to reflect that," Stacy said.^[10]

Spurlock, a property manager and accountant, said he focused his campaign on several issues, including business growth, infrastructure and education. "Attracting new industry, providing businesses with tools for success, increasing population, educating students, paying teachers competitive wages, fixing roads, providing high-speed internet access to all West Virginians, protecting water supply and helping addicts get off harmful drugs are issues that matter," Spurlock said.^[10]

Murdock, a business manager, said he focused his campaign on substance abuse in the state, small business growth, and education, among other issues. "We must work together to bring opportunity and hope back. This is the long term cure for the heroin epidemic and the rest of our issues. Right now we must improve education, diversify the economy and fix our infrastructure, broadband included," Murdock said.^[10][11]

Akers, a business owner, said he focused his campaign on education, infrastructure and healthcare, among other issues. "Everyone should have the opportunity to earn a liveable wage, access to affordable healthcare, receive a quality education, and make use of an infrastructure suitable for a modern economy," Akers said.^[12]

The Democratic candidates received the following key endorsements:^{[13][14][15][16]}

State House District 26[edit]

Four Democratic candidates competed for an open seat left by the Democratic incumbent.

Incumbent state Rep. Clif Moore (D) declined to run for re-election. Four Democratic candidates, two of whom lost to Moore in previous Democratic primary contests, ran for the Democratic nomination: Ed Evans (D), Pat McKinney (D), Shaun Nevi (D) and Mary Shandor (D). Evans won the Democratic primary contest. Brian Harrison (R) defeated Sam Freeman (R) in the Republican primary contest.

Two of the Democratic candidates, McKinney and Evans, challenged Clif Moore in the Democratic primary contests in 2014 and 2012, respectively. McKinney lost to Moore in 2014 by a margin of 55 to 44. Evans lost to Moore in 2012 by 203 votes out of 3,007 votes cast.

State House District 32[edit]

The 11-way Democratic primary contest featured two former incumbents.

Incumbent state Reps. Kayla Kessinger (R) and Tom Fast (R) ran for re-election. Incumbent state Rep. David Perry (D) declined to run for re-election, leaving the seat open. In addition to Fast and Kessinger, Austin Haynes (R) ran in the Republican primary contest.

The Democratic primary contest featured 11 Democratic candidates, the most candidates of any West Virginia state legislative primary contest in 2016: Tighe Bullock (D), Joel Davis (D), Randy Halsey (D), Luke Lively (D), Shirley Love (D), John Pino (D), William R. Sulesky (D), Dustin Teel (D), Greg Crist (D), Mel Kessler (D), and Margaret Staggers (D).

Staggers, Love, and Pino won the Democratic primary contest and advanced to the November election.

Pino and Staggers, who previously represented House District 32, were defeated in the 2014 general election; they were edged out by current Republican incumbents Kessinger and Fast as well as outgoing Democratic incumbent Perry.

State House District 35[edit]

The seven-way Republican primary contest featured two open seats vacated by GOP incumbents.

Incumbent state Reps. Andrew Byrd (D) and Eric Nelson (R) ran for re-election. State Reps. John B. Mccuskey (R) and Chris Stansbury (R) declined to run for re-election, leaving the two seats open. In addition Nelson, six non-incumbent Republicans ran in the primary contest: Moore Capito (R), Calvin Grimm (R), Bill Johnson (R), Matt Kelly (R), Charlotte Lane (R), and Keith Pauley (R).

In addition to Byrd, eight non-incumbent Democrats ran in the primary contest: Ben Adams (D), C.B. Britton (D), Devin J. Casey (D), Thornton Cooper (D), John Knight (D), Shawn Little (D), Jack Rogers (D), and Benjamin M. Sheridan (D).

Byrd, Adams, Cooper, and Sheridan won the Democratic primary contest and advanced to the November election. Capito, Nelson, Lane, and Pauley won the Republican primary contest and advanced to the November election.

Moore Capito is the son of U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R) and grandson of former West Virginia Gov. Arch Moore (R). Capito's campaign website emphasized economic issues such as job creation and simplified taxes, among other issues. "We want to promote job creation in the private sector. To achieve this, we need to have a pro-growth strategy which includes cutting regulation and a tax structure that is simpler and less burdensome," Moore's website stated.^[17]

Charlotte Lane is a former member of the state House of Delegates, a former commissioner of the West Virginia Public Service Commission, and a former commissioner of the U.S. International Trade Commission. She previously sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 2nd Congressional District. On her campaign website, Lane cited her experience on the public service commission on issues such as local infrastructure and water and sewer services. She also cited her experience as U.S. international trade commissioner in which she "stood up to China's unfair trade practices that cost West Virginia jobs here at home."^[18]

State House District 40[edit]

The state House Speaker faced two primary challengers and criticism over labor union issues.

State House Speaker Tim Armstead (R) ran for re-election. He defeated Ronald Shamblin (R) and Lewis A. Taylor (R) in the Republican primary contest. Melissa Riggs Huffman (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary contest.

Like his counterpart in the state Senate, Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael (R), Armstead helped push through right to work legislation and the repeal of the state's prevailing wage through the legislature. Shamblin, a union crane operator, said he was motivated to run against Armstead based on Armstead's position on labor issues. "Just watching the attack on the working class this session ... that's when I decided myself, you know, I need to stand up," Shamblin said.^[8]

Notable general elections[edit]

State Senate District 8 - General election

Incumbent state Sen. Chris Walters (R) ran for re-election. Walters was defeated by Glenn Jeffries (D) in the November election.

In 2012, Chris Walters (R) defeated the Democratic incumbent by about six points. This relatively small margin of victory qualified the district as a competitive district in 2016.

State Senate District 9 - General election

In the 2014 election, Daniel Hall, a Democrat at the time, won by a margin of seven points. Immediately after the election, Hall changed to the Republican Party, and later resigned. Republican Sue Cline was appointed to take his place, and defeated Mike Goode in the general election.

State Senate District 11 - General election

Incumbent state Sen. Greg Boso (R), who was appointed by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) in January 2015, ran for a full term. Boso defeated state Rep. Denise Campbell (D) and Bruce Breuninger (Mountain Party) in the November election. Campbell was first elected to the state House of Delegates in 2010.

State Senate District 14 - General election

Incumbent state Sen. Robert Williams (D) ran for re-election. Williams and Matthew Persinger (Libertarian) were defeated by state Rep. Randy Smith (R) and in the November election. Williams was first elected to the state Senate in 2008; Smith was first elected to the state House in 2012.

Williams won in 2008 by 1,107 votes out of 43,303 votes cast—a 51 to 48 margin. He was unchallenged in 2012.

State Senate District 16 - General election

Senator Herb Snyder (D), who won his last general election by about 8 points, declined to seek re-election. Challengers Stephen Skinner (D) and Patricia Rucker (R) faced off to claim the open seat. The relatively small margin of victory in 2012 qualified the district as a 2016 competitive district. Rucker defeated Skinner in the November election.

This district was included in the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee's list of "2016 Essential Races." Read more »
This district was included in the Republican State Leadership Committee's list of "16 in '16: Races to Watch." Read more »

State House District 38 - General election

Incumbent Patrick Lane (R) did not run for re-election. Tom Tull (D) was defeated by Nancy Reagan Foster (R) in the general election.

This district was included in the Republican State Leadership Committee's list of "16 in '16: Races to Watch." Read more »

Freshman legislators[edit]

The following is a list of challengers who won election on November 8.

1. Andrew Robinson (West Virginia) (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 36
2. Ben Queen (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 48
3. Chad Lovejoy (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 17
4. Chandler Swope (Republican), .West Virginia State Senate, District 6
5. Charlotte Lane (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 35
6. Chuck Romine (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 16
7. Ed Evans (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 26
8. Glenn Jeffries (Democratic), .West Virginia State Senate, District 8
9. Guy Ward (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 50
10. Jason Barrett (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 61
11. Jason Harshbarger (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 7
12. Joe Canestraro (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 4
13. John Williams (West Virginia) (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 51
14. Joshua Higginbotham (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 13
15. Kenny Mann (Republican), .West Virginia State Senate, District 10
16. Mark Dean (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 21
17. Mike Azinger (Republican), .West Virginia State Senate, District 3
18. Mike Maroney (Republican), .West Virginia State Senate, District 2
19. Moore Capito (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 35
20. Nancy Reagan Foster (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 38
21. Patricia Rucker (Republican), .West Virginia State Senate, District 16
22. Patrick S. Martin (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 46
23. Phil Diserio (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 2
24. Phil Isner (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 43
25. Randy Smith (West Virginia) (Republican), .West Virginia State Senate, District 14
26. Ray Hollen (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 9
27. Richard Iaquinta (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 48
28. Richard Ojeda (Democratic), .West Virginia State Senate, District 7
29. Riley Moore (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 67
30. Robert Thompson (West Virginia) (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 19
31. Rodney A. Miller (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 23
32. Rodney Pyles (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 51
33. Ryan Weld (Republican), .West Virginia State Senate, District 1
34. S. Marshall Wilson (West Virginia) (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 60
35. Scott Brewer (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 13
36. Shirley Love (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 32
37. Stephen Baldwin Jr. (Democratic), .West Virginia State Senate, District 10
38. Terri Funk Sypolt (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 52
39. Tony Lewis (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 53
40. Tony Paynter (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 25
41. Vernon Criss (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 10
42. Zack Maynard (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 22

Defeated incumbents[edit]

The following is a list of incumbents who were defeated on November 8.

1. Chris Walters (West Virginia) (Republican), .West Virginia State Senate, District 8
2. David Evans (West Virginia) (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 4
3. Denny Canterbury (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 42
4. Frank L. Blackwell (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 25
5. Jack Yost (Democratic), .West Virginia State Senate, District 1
6. Margaret Smith (West Virginia legislator) (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 46
7. Michael Ihle (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 13
8. Michel Moffatt (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 22
9. Nancy Guthrie (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 36
10. Phyllis White (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 21
11. Robert Williams, West Virginia Senator (Democratic), .West Virginia State Senate, District 14
12. Steven Shaffer (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 52
13. Terry Waxman (Republican), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 48
14. Timothy Manchin (Democratic), .West Virginia House of Delegates, District 50

See also[edit]

• West Virginia House of Representatives
• West Virginia State Legislature
• State legislative elections, 2016

External links[edit]

Suggest a link

• West Virginia Secretary of State - Candidate filings

Footnotes[edit]

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