This week on Inside Appalachia, crossing a river by ferry can be a special experience, and hard to come by. On the Ohio River, a retiring ferry captain passes the torch to his deck hand. And Hurricane Helene destroyed roads and knocked out power and cell service across western North Carolina. But there was still a way to keep people in touch.
Capito Wins U.S. Senate, Helps Tip Federal Balance to GOP
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A mere seconds after the polls closed across the state, national media outlets began calling the U.S. Senate race in favor of Republican Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito.
The seat is being vacated by long-time Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller who announced his retirement last year.
For weeks, Democratic Secretary of State Natalie Tennant trailed Capito in the polls by double digits in some cases, but she remained confident Tuesday evening as she waved to potential voters on Washington Street in downtown Charleston surrounded by volunteers. That confidence, however, wasn’t enough to pull off a win.
Shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday evening, Capito took the stage to accept her newly won seat.
“I want to be the first to share with you how optimistic I am about the future,” she said. “Around the state today West Virginia came together and made their voices heard to tell Washington that we can do better.”
Capito spoke to a packed room of supporters, saying it’s been nearly 60 years since the state sent a Republican to the Senate.
Just a few blocks away, Tennant conceded the race just after 8:30 p.m., thanking her family, staff and supporters.
“Tonight is not an end, it’s only a beginning,” Tennant said, “and I have said that West Virginia’s story all along is my story. I am proud and I look forward to writing the next chapter as your Secretary of State.”
On this West Virginia Week, we’ll look at flooding funding, we talk to Gayle Manchin, and we’ll delve into efforts to support first generation students.
The Public Employees Insurance Agency’s finance board adopted its 2026 fiscal year plan on Thursday – including a much-disputed hike to premiums and other costs for current members.
After weeks of ...