A blue ripple in a red state

Republicans hold their supermajorities & federal offices, but Democrats gained seats in the Legislature on Tuesday.

By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – As Democrats take control of the United States Congress following a blue wave of federal election results on Tuesday night, that wave produced a small blue ripple which extended into the mountains of West Virginia. 

Republicans hold legislative supermajorities in the House and Senate in West Virginia and will maintain those, but Democrats were able to gain seats in both bodies. 

Democrats will now hold 21 of 100 seats in the House, up from 9. They will hold 4 of 34 seats in the Senate, up from 2.

In the WV House, Democratic pickups include Steve Williams over Patrick Lucas, Linda Longstreth over Phil Mallow, Michael Wendell over Gino Chiarelli, Eddie Wagoner over David McCormick, Lucia Valentine over Chris Anders, Regina Dyer over Wayne Clark, Jenny Thacker over William Ridenhour, and Matthew Anderson in a vacated Republican seat. 

WV Republican Party Chair and Delegate Josh Holstein appears to have won his race against Democrat Jennifer Bryant, but by less than 100 votes. 

WV Democratic Party Chair and Delegate Mike Pushkin won comfortably over Independent Tara Martinez. 

In the WV Senate, Democratic pickups include John Williams over Mike Oliverio and Richie Robb over Anne Charnock. Additionally, DuRon Jackson defeated Chris Miller in the race for the seat of retiring Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, a surprise hold for Democrats. 

On the federal side, though, West Virginia Republicans held court, maintaining their seats by comfortable margins. Sen. Shelly Moore Capito, Congressman RIley Moore, and Congresswoman Carol Miller will all return to Washington. 

A Republican-sponsored change to the state constitution was also approved by voters by a wide margin. Amendment 1 will change the wording in the state’s Constitution from “citizens of the state shall be entitled to vote” to “only citizens of the United States who are citizens of the state shall be entitled to vote.” 

For full state election results, click here. All vote tallies are unofficial until certified by counties.

Stay tuned for additional election results stories and analysis in the coming days.