The 2016 West Virginia Senate elections were held on November 8, 2016, as part of the biennial United States elections. Seventeen of West Virginia's 34 state senators were up for regular selection, along with an unexpired term for another seat. West Virginia Senate districts each have two elected representatives. State senators serve staggered four-year terms in West Virginia, with one senator from each district up in even-numbered years corresponding to presidential election years (such as 2016), and the other up in even-numbered years corresponding to presidential midterm years.
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18 of the 34 seats in the West Virginia Senate[a] 18 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Results of the elections: Democratic gain Republican gain Democratic hold Republican hold Rectangular inset (District 3): both seats up for election | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Primary elections in the state were held on May 10. After the previous 2014 state elections, Republicans held a slim majority in the Senate, holding 18 seats to the Democrats' 16. The Republican Party had long been the minority party in West Virginia, but the decline of the strength of coal worker unions, the Democratic Party's increasing focus on environmentalism, the unpopularity of President Barack Obama, and the increasing social conservatism of the Republican Party have helped the GOP solidify power in the state rapidly since 2000.
The high popularity of candidate Donald Trump within the state and his 42-point margin of victory, helped the Republicans gain four seats. This can be attributed to the increasing association of the West Virginia Democratic Party with the national Democratic Party, and a strong year for the Republican Party nationally, in which they gained control of the presidency, and kept control of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. Donald Trump won West Virginia with 68.5% of the vote, his largest share of the vote in any state. Trump's performance helped Republican Senate candidates down-ballot, as he won every senate district in the state.[1]
Following the state's 2016 Senate elections, Republicans maintained and increased their control of the Senate with 22 seats to the Democrats' 12.
Retirements
editFour incumbents did not run for re-election in 2016. Those incumbents are:
Republicans
edit- District 6: Bill Cole: Retired to run in the 2016 Gubernatorial Election.
Democrats
edit- District 2: Jeff Kessler: Retired to run in the 2016 Gubernatorial Election.
- District 10: William Laird: Retired
- District 16: Herb Snyder: Retired
Incumbents defeated
editIn primary elections
editTwo incumbents were defeated in the May 10 primaries. Senator Bob Ashley was appointed to the 3rd Senate District and was the incumbent for the remainder of the unexpired term. However, Ashley chose to challenge fellow incumbent senator Donna Boley for a full term.
Republican
edit- District 3: Bob Ashley lost nomination to fellow incumbent Donna Boley.
Democrat
edit- District 7: Art Kirkendoll lost renomination to Richard Ojeda.
In the general election
editRepublican
edit- District 8: Chris Walters lost to Glenn Jeffries.
Democrats
edit- District 1: Jack Yost lost to Ryan Weld.
- District 14: Bob Williams lost to Randy Smith.
Results summary
editVotes, of total, by party
Republican (51.83%)
Democratic (47.21%)
Libertarian (0.77%)
Mountain (0.19%)
All results are certified by the Secretary of State of West Virginia.
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| Party | Votes | Seats | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Total before |
Up | Won | Total after |
± | ||||||||
| Republican Party | 379,414 | 51.83 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 22 / 34
|
 4
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| Democratic Party | 345,598 | 47.21 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 12 / 34
|
 4
| |||||||
| Libertarian Party | 5,619 | 0.77 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 / 34
|
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| Mountain Party | 1,404 | 0.19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 / 34
|
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Close races
edit| District | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| District 12 | Democratic | 0.3% |
| District 4 | Republican | 2.1% |
| District 1 | Republican (flip) | 2.1% |
| District 11 | Republican | 2.1% |
| District 9 | Republican | 3.6% |
| District 16 | Republican (flip) | 5.6% |
| District 8 | Democratic (flip) | 6.2% |
| District 3
(Special) |
Republican | 9.3% |
| District 10 | Republican (flip) | 9.5% |
Summary of results by State Senate District
edit| District | Incumbent | Elected Senator | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | First elected | Member | Party | ||
| District 1 | Jack Yost | Democratic | 2008 | Ryan Weld | Republican | Republican Gain |
| District 2 | Jeff Kessler | Democratic | 1997 (appointed) | Mike Maroney | Republican | Republican Gain |
| District 3 | Donna Boley | Republican | 1985 (appointed) | Donna Boley | Republican | Republican Hold |
| District 3 (sp.) | Bob Ashley | Republican | 2015 (appointed) | Mike Azinger | Republican | Republican Hold |
| District 4 | Mitch Carmichael | Republican | 2012 | Mitch Carmichael | Republican | Republican Hold |
| District 5 | Robert Plymale | Democratic | 1992 | Robert Plymale | Democratic | Democratic Hold |
| District 6 | Bill Cole | Republican | 2012 | Chandler Swope | Republican | Republican Hold |
| District 7 | Art Kirkendoll | Democratic | 2011 (appointed) | Richard Ojeda | Democratic | Democratic Hold |
| District 8 | Chris Walters | Republican | 2012 | Glenn Jeffries | Democratic | Democratic Gain |
| District 9 | Sue Cline | Republican | 2016 (appointed) | Sue Cline | Republican | Republican Hold |
| District 10 | William Laird | Democratic | 2008 | Kenny Mann | Republican | Republican Gain |
| District 11 | Greg Boso | Republican | 2015 (appointed) | Greg Boso | Republican | Republican Hold |
| District 12 | Doug Facemire | Democratic | 2008 | Doug Facemire | Democratic | Democratic Hold |
| District 13 | Roman Prezioso | Democratic | 1996 | Roman Prezioso | Democratic | Democratic Hold |
| District 14 | Bob Williams | Democratic | 2008 | Randy Smith | Republican | Republican Gain |
| District 15 | Craig Blair | Republican | 2012 | Craig Blair | Republican | Republican Hold |
| District 16 | Herb Snyder | Democratic | 2008 | Patricia Rucker | Republican | Republican Gain |
| District 17 | Corey Palumbo | Democratic | 2008 | Corey Palumbo | Democratic | Democratic Hold |
Detailed results by State Senate District
edit|
District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 |
All results are certified by the Secretary of State of West Virginia.[3]
District 1
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ryan Weld | 21,191 | 51.07% | |
| Democratic | Jack Yost (incumbent) | 20,303 | 48.93% | |
| Total votes | 41,494 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
District 2
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Mike Maroney | 6,585 | 54.30% | |
| Republican | Ginger Nalley | 5,541 | 45.70% | |
| Total votes | 12,126 | 100.00% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Mike Maroney | 22,902 | 54.30% | |
| Democratic | Lisa Zukoff | 15,754 | 37.35% | |
| Libertarian | H. John Rogers | 3,521 | 8.35% | |
| Total votes | 42,177 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
District 3
editIn 2016, both seats were up for election due to an unusual series of events. Republican Bob Ashley, who had been appointed to the Senate following the departure of David Nohe in 2015, chose to run in a primary against his fellow senator Donna Boley, leaving his own seat open and triggering a special election.[6]
Regular
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Donna Boley (incumbent) | 11,508 | 62.97% | |
| Republican | Bob Ashley | 3,398 | 18.59% | |
| Republican | John Riggs | 3,368 | 18.43% | |
| Total votes | 18,274 | 100.00% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Donna Boley (incumbent) | 27,172 | 64.70% | |
| Democratic | Bradley Vanzile | 14,826 | 35.30% | |
| Total votes | 41,998 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Special
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Mike Azinger | 9,065 | 60.72% | |
| Republican | Sam Winans | 5,865 | 39.28% | |
| Total votes | 14,930 | 100.00% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Mike Azinger | 23,034 | 54.64% | |
| Democratic | Gregory K. Smith | 19,125 | 45.36% | |
| Total votes | 42,159 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 4
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Mitch Carmichael (incumbent) | 8,442 | 59.49% | |
| Republican | Dustin Lewis | 5,749 | 40.51% | |
| Total votes | 14,191 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic | Brian Prim | 6,999 | 58.77% | |
| Democratic | Bruce Ashworth | 4,910 | 41.23% | |
| Total votes | 11,909 | 100.00% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Mitch Carmichael (incumbent) | 22,032 | 51.05% | |
| Democratic | Brian Prim | 21,123 | 48.95% | |
| Total votes | 43,155 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 5
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert Plymale (incumbent) | 22,863 | 60.24% | |
| Republican | Tyson Smith | 15,092 | 39.76% | |
| Total votes | 37,955 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 6
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Rocky Seay | 8,618 | 64.64% | |
| Democratic | Brandon Barker | 4,715 | 35.36% | |
| Total votes | 13,333 | 100.00% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Chandler Swope | 20,776 | 57.11% | |
| Democratic | Rocky Seay | 15,606 | 42.89% | |
| Total votes | 36,382 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 7
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Richard Ojeda | 11,154 | 55.17% | |
| Democratic | Art Kirkendoll (incumbent) | 9,065 | 44.83% | |
| Total votes | 20,219 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican | Jordan Bridges | 2,807 | 57.04% | |
| Republican | Gary Johngrass | 2,114 | 42.96% | |
| Total votes | 4,921 | 100.00% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Richard Ojeda | 19,978 | 58.82% | |
| Republican | Jordan Bridges | 13,987 | 41.18% | |
| Total votes | 33,965 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 8
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Glenn Jeffries | 20,768 | 53.08% | |
| Republican | Chris Walters (incumbent) | 18,357 | 46.92% | |
| Total votes | 39,125 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
District 9
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sue Cline (incumbent) | 18,861 | 51.81% | |
| Democratic | Mike Goode | 17,545 | 48.19% | |
| Total votes | 36,406 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 10
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Kenny Mann | 4,343 | 47.05% | |
| Republican | Tom Ewing | 3,444 | 37.31% | |
| Republican | Dan Hill | 1,443 | 15.64% | |
| Total votes | 9,230 | 100.00% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Kenny Mann | 21,148 | 54.73% | |
| Democratic | Dave Perry | 17,494 | 45.27% | |
| Total votes | 38,642 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
District 11
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Greg Boso (incumbent) | 20,610 | 49.39% | |
| Democratic | Denise Campbell | 19,718 | 47.25% | |
| Mountain | Bruce Breuninger | 1,404 | 3.36% | |
| Total votes | 41,732 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 12
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Franklin Cornette | 5,442 | 54.23% | |
| Republican | Derrick W. Love | 4,593 | 45.77% | |
| Total votes | 10,035 | 100.00% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Doug Facemire (incumbent) | 21,295 | 50.13% | |
| Republican | Franklin Cornette | 21,188 | 49.87% | |
| Total votes | 42,483 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 13
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Roman Prezioso (incumbent) | 10,433 | 59.58% | |
| Democratic | Jack Oliver | 7,078 | 40.42% | |
| Total votes | 17,511 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican | Barry Bledsoe | 4,615 | 58.17% | |
| Republican | James Clawson | 3,318 | 41.83% | |
| Total votes | 7,933 | 100.00% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Roman Prezioso (incumbent) | 24,404 | 59.60% | |
| Republican | Barry Bledsoe | 16,544 | 40.40% | |
| Total votes | 40,948 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 14
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Randy Smith | 23,201 | 53.26% | |
| Democratic | Bob Williams (incumbent) | 18,264 | 41.93% | |
| Libertarian | Matthew Persinger | 2,098 | 4.82% | |
| Total votes | 43,563 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
District 15
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Craig Blair (incumbent) | 9,702 | 67.82% | |
| Republican | Larry Kump | 4,604 | 32.18% | |
| Total votes | 14,306 | 100.00% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Craig Blair (incumbent) | 32,475 | 70.44% | |
| Democratic | Brad Noll | 13,629 | 29.56% | |
| Total votes | 46,104 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 16
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Patricia Rucker | 5,359 | 55.95% | |
| Republican | Joe Funkhouser | 4,219 | 44.05% | |
| Total votes | 9,578 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic | Stephen Skinner | 6,904 | 67.21% | |
| Democratic | David Manthos | 3,368 | 32.79% | |
| Total votes | 10,272 | 100.00% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Patricia Rucker | 22,499 | 52.79% | |
| Democratic | Stephen Skinner | 20,122 | 47.21% | |
| Total votes | 42,621 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
District 17
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Corey Palumbo (incumbent) | 22,781 | 55.39% | |
| Republican | Chris Stansbury | 18,345 | 44.61% | |
| Total votes | 41,126 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Notes
edit- ^ A special election was held in District 3, adding a race to the normal 17 seat election cycle.
References
edit- ^ "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts". Daily Kos.
- ^ "Election Night Reporting".
- ^ "Election Night Reporting".
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ Jeff Jenkins (February 1, 2016). "Ashley to take on Boley in Republican Senate primary". WV MetroNews. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.