As Republicans handily won statewide elections in West Virginia, the party’s super stronghold in the state legislature grew Tuesday. Democrats suffered losses in the Senate and House of Representatives.
After decades of Democratic control, the next session of the 134-member Legislature will have 11 Democrats (up from 14). Only two Democrats remain in the Senate; Nine remain in the House of Representatives following the election results.
No incumbent, mostly Republicans, lost their elections.
“Once again, West Virginians have spoken decisively, trusting the Republican Party with even greater growth in our overwhelming supermajority,” said Tony Hodge, co-chair of the West Virginia Republican Party. “Our dominance in the House and Senate underscores that West Virginians reject the divisive, radical left agendas being foisted on our citizens. Instead, voters have chosen representation that respects their values and defends their way of life.”
Former President Donald Trump lightly worn West Virginia. State Democratic Party Chairman Mike Pushkin said the presidential outcome in the state has a huge impact on Democratic voting results statewide.
“It is incredibly difficult when the top of the electoral list receives less than 30% of the vote. The calculation doesn’t add up. It has very little to do with the quality of our candidates,” he said. “To be honest, we are incredibly disappointed that we had some great candidates that we recruited on the ballot but came up short.”
Forty-nine Senate and House races – mostly with Republican candidates – were held unopposed.
Senate Democrats support bipartisan efforts on foster care and child care
In the Senate, Democrat Ric Griffith, who currently sits in the House of Representatives, lost his race for a Senate seat to Republican challenger Scott Fuller. Sen. Bob Plymale, D-Wayne, who currently holds the seat, did not seek re-election.
Joey Garcia, a Democratic House member, won his election to the Senate, defeating his opponent, Republican Rebecca Polis. He replaces Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, who is retiring.
Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, said he and Garcia, the remaining Democrats, would enter the 2025 legislative session with “enthusiasm and purpose.”
“The numbers are what they are, but we’re excited,” Woelfel said. “I am I am thrilled that we will stay away from the election. I’ve found that you can really achieve something when people aren’t necessarily boastful.”
He said Democrats’ goals include working across party lines to improve the state’s situation problematic care system portion 6,008 childrenalong with the passage of comprehensive child care laws.
Legislature in September a childcare tax credit passedbut a number of bills focused on child care, including legislation that would Creation of needed childcare placesHe had trouble finding his footing.
“We’re both very focused on it,” Woelfel said. “There has been a lot of lip service paid to childcare during the meeting and this year, but the results have been rather poor and disappointing for people looking for work.”
Incumbent Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, defeated Democratic challenger and former House Rep. John Doyle.
“I am very satisfied with the election results and grateful for the support I received. I worked very hard,” she said, adding that she and Doyle continued to respect each other even after a “clean campaign.”
Rucker continued, “I tell you, I am excited about the new members we are adding and all the victories we have achieved. I also think I will make sure we continue to be open to ideas from all West Virginians.”
In Mingo County, Republican candidate Craig Hart has clearly won his race against Democratic opponent Jeff Disibbio. The The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Mingo County Clerk Larry Croaff regarding the race, as Disibbio was left out of some early ballots.
The House of Representatives now has 9 Democrats
In the House of Representatives, where all 100 members took part in the vote, the composition of the members will not change much. Fourteen up-to-date members – 13 Republicans and one Democrat – will join the Legislature.
There are now 93 Republicans in the lower house.
“The Republican message at the top is resonating, and that is President Trump,” said Majority Leader Marty Gearhart, R-Mercer. “And hopefully the Republican message that the rest of us have resonates as well, and that not only ensures the victories, but by a big margin.”
Gearhart won his race with 74% of the vote over the Democrat Polla Rumberg.
“I don’t expect much of an impact,” Gearhart said of the growing Republican membership. “The ability to override constitutional rules and do various things still exists if members of the Republican Party actually agree. Opinions within the party are still broad, so that’s not always a given.”
Two Democratic seats flipped red; Tresa Howell won the seat vacated by retiring Del. Larry L. Rowe, R-Kanawha, was vacated, and Michael Amos won the seat Griffith had vacated for him Senate election.
Eight incumbent Democrats retained their seats, and Rick Garcia, a Democrat, won his race with 129 votes for the District 76 (Marion County) seat vacated by Joey Garcia.
Race results for several House members representing Kanawha County, including Democrats Hollis Lewis and Kayla Young, were delayed until Wednesday morning due to one Damaged data stick.
Young won her race against Republican Andrew Anderson with 51.75% of the vote compared to his.
“Someone like Kayla Young is the model of how a Democrat should run in a red state. She had a district where the redistricting was gerrymandered and she was able to overcome that,” Pushkin said, adding that the redistricting disadvantaged other Democrats across the state.
Gearhart said bipartisan efforts are not always necessary when drafting legislation, but hoped that good legislation is the goal of all members.
“We don’t have to compromise with the Democrats, but if they have a good idea, maybe we can implement it,” he said. “The idea is to enact good laws and adopt sound spending and sound tax policies.”
Lawmakers will gather in Charleston for November interim sessions beginning Sunday.
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