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Elections in West Virginia |
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The 2014 West Virginia Senate elections were held on November 4, 2014, as part of the biennial United States elections. Seventeen of West Virginia's 34 state senators were up for regular selection. 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, and the other up in even-numbered years corresponding to presidential midterm years (such as 2014).
Primary elections in the state were held on May 13. After the previous 2012 state elections, Democrats held a healthy supermajority in the Senate, holding 24 seats to the Republicans' 10. Despite the national Democratic Party's increasing focus on environmentalism, the unpopularity of President Barack Obama, and the increasing social conservatism of the Republican Party that have helped the GOP solidify power in the state rapidly since 2000, control of the West Virginia Legislature still rested with Democrats.
However, the negative backlash to the national Democratic Party and policies of Barack Obama helped the Republicans gain a whopping eight seats, leaving the Senate tied 17-17 on election night. The next day, Senator Daniel Hall switched his party registration from Democrat to Republican, allowing the GOP to gain control of the West Virginia Senate for the first time since 1932. Republicans also took over the House of Delegates, giving Republicans control of both legislative chambers for the first time since 1930.
The Republicans' strong showing 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 seats in and kept control of the U.S. House of Representatives and took over the U.S. Senate for the first time since 2006.
Following the state's 2014 Senate elections and Daniel Hall's party switch, Republicans gained control of the Senate with 18 seats to the Democrats' 16.
Retirements
editTwo incumbents did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents are:
Republicans
edit- District 5: Evan Jenkins: Retired to run for the Third Congressional District.
Democrats
edit- District 2: Brooks McCabe: Retired.
Incumbents defeated
editIn primary elections
editOne incumbent was defeated in the May 13 primaries. Senator Sam Cann was appointed to the 12th Senate District and was the incumbent for the remainder of the term. However, Harrison County Commissioner Mike Romano challenged and defeated Cann.
Democrat
edit- District 12: Sam Cann lost renomination to Mike Romano.
In the general election
editDemocrats
edit- District 1: Rocky Fitzsimmons lost to Ryan Ferns.
- District 2: Larry John Edgell lost to Kent Leonhardt.
- District 6: Truman Chafin lost to Mark Maynard.
- District 8: Erik Wells lost to Ed Gaunch.
- District 9: Mike Green lost to Jeff Mullins.
- District 11: Greg Tucker lost to Robert Karnes.
- District 15: Donald Cookman lost to Charles Trump.
Results summary
editAll results are certified by the Secretary of State of West Virginia.
Party | Votes | Seats | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Total before |
Up | Won | Total after |
± | ||||||||
Republican Party | 239,003 | 55.28 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 18 / 34
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8 | |||||||
Democratic Party | 186,661 | 43.17 | 24 | 10 | 6 | 16 / 34
|
8 | |||||||
Libertarian Party | 2,192 | 0.51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 / 34
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Constitution Party | 1,722 | 0.40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 / 34
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Mountain Party | 1,221 | 0.28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 / 34
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Independent | 793 | 0.18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 / 34
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American Freedom | 767 | 0.18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 / 34
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Close races
editDistrict | Winner | Margin |
---|---|---|
District 6 | Republican (flip) | 1.6% |
District 2 | Republican (flip) | 2.6% |
District 5 | Democratic | 2.8% |
District 1 | Republican (flip) | 3.5% |
District 16 | Democratic | 5.0% |
District 13 | Democratic | 6.3% |
District 10 | Democratic | 7.7% |
District 12 | Democratic | 7.8% |
District 17 | Republican (flip) | 8.3% |
District 8 | Republican (flip) | 9.9% |
Summary of results by State Senate District
editState Senate District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
West Virginia 1 | Rocky Fitzsimmons* | Dem | Ryan Ferns | Rep | ||
West Virginia 2 | Larry Edgell* | Dem | Kent Leonhardt | Rep | ||
West Virginia 3 | David Nohe | Rep | David Nohe | Rep | ||
West Virginia 4 | Mike Hall | Rep | Mike Hall | Rep | ||
West Virginia 5 | Evan Jenkins | Rep | Mike Woelfel | Dem | ||
West Virginia 6 | Truman Chafin* | Dem | Mark Maynard | Rep | ||
West Virginia 7 | Ron Stollings | Dem | Ron Stollings | Dem | ||
West Virginia 8 | Erik Wells* | Dem | Ed Gaunch | Rep | ||
West Virginia 9 | Mike Green* | Dem | Jeff Mullins | Rep | ||
West Virginia 10 | Ron Miller | Dem | Ron Miller | Dem | ||
West Virginia 11 | Gregory Tucker* | Dem | Robert Karnes | Rep | ||
West Virginia 12 | Sam Cann* | Dem | Mike Romano | Dem | ||
West Virginia 13 | Bob Beach | Dem | Bob Beach | Dem | ||
West Virginia 14 | David Sypolt | Rep | David Sypolt | Rep | ||
West Virginia 15 | Donald Cookman* | Dem | Charles Trump | Rep | ||
West Virginia 16 | John Unger | Dem | John Unger | Dem | ||
West Virginia 17 | Brooks McCabe | Dem | Tom Takubo | Rep |
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.[2]
District 1
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ryan Ferns | 13,762 | 51.77% | |
Democratic | Rocky Fitzsimmons (incumbent) | 12,821 | 48.23% | |
Total votes | 26,583 | 100.00% | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
District 2
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Kent Leonhardt | 13,034 | 49.99% | |
Democratic | Larry Edgell (incumbent) | 12,358 | 47.40% | |
Constitution | Jeffrey Jarrell | 681 | 2.61% | |
Total votes | 26,073 | 100.00% | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
District 3
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | David Nohe (incumbent) | 19,321 | 76.26% | |
Democratic | Robert "Robin" Wilson | 6,014 | 23.74% | |
Total votes | 25,335 | 100.00% | ||
Republican hold |
District 4
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mike Hall (incumbent) | 22,561 | 100.00% | |
Total votes | 22,561 | 100.00% | ||
Republican hold |
District 5
editPrimary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Mike Woelfel | 5,218 | 74.52% | |
Democratic | Robert Alexander | 1,784 | 25.48% | |
Total votes | 7,002 | 100.00% | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Mike Woelfel | 12,511 | 49.80% | |
Republican | Vicki Dunn-Marshall | 11,818 | 47.04% | |
Independent | Roy Ramey | 793 | 3.16% | |
Total votes | 25,122 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic gain from Republican |
District 6
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mark Maynard | 11,620 | 50.82% | |
Democratic | Truman Chafin (incumbent) | 11,245 | 49.18% | |
Total votes | 22,865 | 100.00% | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
District 7
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Ron Stollings (incumbent) | 14,177 | 65.72% | |
Republican | Gary Johngrass | 7,394 | 34.28% | |
Total votes | 21,571 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic hold |
District 8
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ed Gaunch | 14,094 | 52.97% | |
Democratic | Erik Wells (incumbent) | 11,472 | 43.12% | |
Constitution | Mike Fisher | 1,041 | 3.91% | |
Total votes | 26,607 | 100.00% | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
District 9
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jeff Mullins | 14,465 | 56.87% | |
Democratic | Mike Green (incumbent) | 10,970 | 43.13% | |
Total votes | 25,435 | 100.00% | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
District 10
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Ron Miller (incumbent) | 13,776 | 53.83% | |
Republican | Duane Zobrist | 11,815 | 46.17% | |
Total votes | 25,591 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic hold |
District 11
editPrimary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | Robert Karnes | 3,327 | 53.08% | |
Republican | Steve Foster | 2,941 | 46.92% | |
Total votes | 6,268 | 100.00% | ||
General election | ||||
Republican | Robert Karnes | 15,171 | 55.59% | |
Democratic | Gregory Tucker (incumbent) | 12,122 | 44.41% | |
Total votes | 27,293 | 100.00% | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
District 12
editPrimary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Mike Romano | 7,308 | 55.65% | |
Democratic | Sam Cann (incumbent) | 5,823 | 44.35% | |
Total votes | 13,131 | 100.00% | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Mike Romano | 14,036 | 49.99% | |
Republican | Michael L. "Mike" Queen | 11,850 | 42.20% | |
Libertarian | Roy Ramey | 2,192 | 7.81% | |
Total votes | 28,078 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic hold |
District 13
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bob Beach (incumbent) | 12,061 | 51.49% | |
Republican | Kris Warner | 10,596 | 45.24% | |
American Freedom | Harry Bertram | 767 | 3.27% | |
Total votes | 23,424 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic hold |
District 14
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | David Sypolt (incumbent) | 17,283 | 65.36% | |
Democratic | Stan Shaver | 9,160 | 34.64% | |
Total votes | 26,443 | 100.00% | ||
Republican hold |
District 15
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Charles Trump | 17,609 | 67.13% | |
Democratic | Donald Cookman (incumbent) | 8,622 | 32.87% | |
Total votes | 26,231 | 100.00% | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
District 16
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Unger (incumbent) | 12,287 | 52.49% | |
Republican | Larry Faircloth | 11,122 | 47.51% | |
Total votes | 23,409 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic hold |
District 17
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Tom Takubo | 15,488 | 52.08% | |
Democratic | Doug Skaff | 13,029 | 43.81% | |
Mountain | Jesse Johnson | 1,221 | 4.11% | |
Total votes | 29,738 | 100.00% | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
References
edit- ^ https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/WV/106210/web.262169/#/summary
- ^ https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/WV/92360/Web02-state.222648/#/
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved February 27, 2021.