Eight state senators will not be returning for next year’s legislative session. That makes up nearly 25 percent of the upper chamber.
Eight state senators will not be returning for next year’s legislative session. That makes up nearly 25 percent of the upper chamber.
Tuesday’s shake up resulted in four senators losing their primary races: Sens. Chandler Swope, R-Mercer, Robert Karnes, R-Randolph, Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, and, most notably, Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley.
Sens. David Stover, R-Wyoming, Robert Plymale, D-Wayne, Charles Trump, R-Morgan, and Mike Caputo, D-Marion, all decided not to run for a Senate seat this year. Trump is headed to serve on the state’s Supreme Court.
Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, held onto her Republican nomination, but with a thin two percent margin.
Sen. Mark Hunt, R-Kanawha, won the Republican nomination for state auditor. If he wins in November, he will be the ninth senator to leave the Senate this year.
The stage is now set for a two man, two party race for governor of West Virginia.
The stage is now set for a two man, two party race for governor of West Virginia.
In his acceptance speech, Republican nominee Attorney General Patrick Morrisey told supporters the Republican Party was splintered in the primary, but it will become unified to keep a conservative majority in West Virginia.
“We’re not done fighting and winning for our conservative values,” Morrisey said. “We’re not done fighting and winning for the right to life, fighting and winning for our God-given Second Amendment rights.”
The Democratic nominee for governor, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, said his campaign began in earnest at 7:31 p.m. primary night. He said his platform will center on creating job opportunities and an environment that encourages investment.
“The way we get there is by making sure that our education system is the strongest in the country,” Williams said. “That we have the best infrastructure in the country and that we have the best health care in the country.”
With a primary campaign based on battling federal overreach and limiting transgender students rights, Morrisey told supporters he expects to have a close consultation after November with former President Donald Trump.
“We’re gonna have a spirited discussion about how West Virginia will be that shining state in the mountains,” Morrisey said. “To increase our standard of living, to drive educational attainment, stop the drug menace, improve our infrastructure, and our internet speeds and to stop ‘woke’ policies at the state line.”
Williams hopes the campaign advertising battles remain issue-oriented and positive, but said that he’s leaving all options open.
“Somebody punches me, I’m going to punch back,” Williams said. “One thing that is very clear from what we saw in the primary is that they will say anything, and the truth doesn’t necessarily have to get in the way.”
On this West Virginia Morning, the results from Tuesday’s primary election came in mostly as expected. Government Reporter Randy Yohe has covered the intense campaigning leading up to the primary and he joins us live in the studio with results and reactions.
On this West Virginia Morning, the results from Tuesday’s primary election came in mostly as expected. Government Reporter Randy Yohe has covered the intense campaigning leading up to the primary and he joins us live in the studio with results and reactions.
Also, in this show, we have the latest installment of our series “Now What? A Series on Parenting.” Parents are often left with many questions about how to raise a child. Two of the areas that are most concerning and confusing are feeding and nutrition. Government programs can offer many kinds of support, as Chris Schulz learned when he sat down to speak with WIC Outreach Liaison Sarah Moore.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Voters across West Virginia are heading to the polls to vote in the 2024 primary election. WVPB’s reporters are visiting polls and speaking with voters. Stay tuned to this live blog for the latest election news from across the state.
Updated on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 10:30 p.m.
Voters across West Virginia are heading to the polls to vote in the 2024 primary election.
The governor’s race has been one of the most closely watched. On the Republican ticket, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, former Del. Moore Capito, R-Kanawha, car dealership magnate Chris Miller and Secretary of State Mac Warner have advertised heavily, and at least three of them have engaged in significant mudslinging — something voters said they don’t like.
The lone Democrat running for governor, three-term Huntington Mayor Steve Willams, has saved his campaign war chest and rhetoric for the general election.
The four primary candidates running for Attorney General are Republicans Sen. Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha, and State Auditor J.B. McCuskey. They are vying for votes against Democratic candidates Richie Robb and Wheeling attorney Teresa Toriseva.
Term-limited Republican Gov. Jim Justice is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. His competition in the primary is U.S. Congressman Alex Mooney, R-W.Va. Polling has shown Justice with a commanding lead throughout the campaign season.
Manchin endorsed Wheeling Mayor Glen Elliot for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate race. Elliot’s primary challengers include former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship and Marine Corps veteran Zach Shrewsbury of Princeton.
For up-to-date information on the candidates and election results, visit the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office and stay tuned to this live blog from West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Polls close at 7:30 p.m.
Follow the WVPB Newsroom on Instagram @wvpublicnews.
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has declared victory as the Republican nominee for governor. Former Del. Moore Capito has given a concession speech.
In a state that voted heavily for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, Morrisey will start as the frontrunner for the November election. He’ll face Steve Williams, who’s in his third term as the mayor of Huntington in November. Unopposed in the Democratic primary, Williams has been able to wait and focus his efforts on the upcoming general election.
The Associated Press has called the Republican race for West Virginia’s Second Congressional District seat for State Treasurer Riley Moore. Steve Wendelin was uncontested in the Democratic primary for the same seat, setting up a match-up between the two men this fall.
The AP has also called the GOP primary for the First Congressional District for Carol Miller over Derrick Evans, a former Republican lawmaker who pleaded guilty to charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.
Republican Gov. Jim Justice has won West Virginia’s GOP U.S. Senate nomination, according to the Associated Press. He is immediately favored to flip a Democratic seat that will be vacated by Sen. Joe Manchin.
As expected, Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican rival Donald Trump easily won their primaries in West Virginia. However, as of 8:30 p.m. on the Secretary of State’s website, Nikki Haley has approximately 10 percent of the Republican vote.
Secretary Of State’s Office Gives Primary Voting Update
The Morgan County Courthouse served as a polling location for West Virginia’s 2024 primary election.
Photo Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
WVPB checked in with Secretary of State (SOS) Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Communications Mike Queen mid-afternoon on primary election day to see what was working well and what challenges were being met. Queen said, so far, so good.
He said 1,643 polling places opened this morning. “With the exception of just little glitches that you normally have, everything is going really well so far in all 55 counties.”
Queen said the SOS started primary day planning 10 months ago, working with a network of 55 county clerks.
“We have 1,643 precincts online,” Queen said. “We’ve got backup generator systems with the National Guard on alert all day long in case there would be an electrical issue. The power companies are our partners on Election Day and all in with us in case there would be a problem.“
Asking about statewide voter turnout after about seven hours of voting, Queen turned a disappointing three word phrase.
“Slow and low,” he said. “And that’s probably the biggest disappointment in the election process for us this year. We started the day out with about 17 percent of the registered voters having actually cast ballots, either in person during early voting, or by absentee ballot by mail. That 17 percent is low. By this time, we’re usually in the 21 to 25 percent range. We’d love to get to 40 percent, but I think it’s probably going to be around a 33 to 35 percent turnout for today.”
Queen said voters should visit GoVoteWV.com to follow all the statewide primary races in real time.
Stories From Around The State
Scroll below for stories from around West Virginia as our WVPB reporters speak with voters.
Cabell County
Governor’s Race Runs In The Family For Huntington Resident
For some Huntington voters Tuesday, the primary election was a family event.
Mark Miller is a lifelong Huntington resident. When asked what motivated him to vote in Tuesday’s primary, his answer was simple.
“Yes, my nephew is running for governor,” he said. “I’m Chris Miller’s uncle. So I don’t know if that’s a plug, but it probably is.”
Chris Miller, a businessman, is one of several Republican candidates vying to succeed Republican Gov. Jim Justice. He’s also the son of GOP Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va.
Mark Miller said voting went smoothly for him at Huntington High School on Tuesday.
“It probably took us, all told, maybe half an hour.”
Other voters said they waited an hour or more to cast their ballots at the high school.
Nancie Perry of Huntington said she waited more than an hour to vote at Huntington High School on May 14, 2024. She even saw some people leave because of the wait.
Photo Credit: Curtis Tate/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
People waited an hour or more to vote at Huntington High School Tuesday.
Nancie Perry of Huntington said she’s been participating in elections for six decades. But she’d never spent as much time waiting to vote as she did on Tuesday.
“I’ve never seen it like that,” she said. “And I really don’t know what they’re standing in line for.”
Perry said she didn’t take advantage of early voting because she didn’t expect a long wait on Election Day.
She added that the high school gymnasium didn’t have enough voting machines.
“I saw several people leave,” Perry said. “And that’s sad.”
Perry, a Democrat, said she was motivated to vote against former President Donald Trump, who endorsed candidates running in West Virginia.
Monongalia County
Local Levies Drive Voter Turnout In Monongalia County
In a college town like Morgantown, funding for education and other public services drives voters to the polls.
Galen Anderson is a student at Morgantown High School excited to vote in his first election at his own school. Anderson said he voted in favor of a more than $150 million levy to fund the Renaissance Academy, a new STEM and Career Technical Education center. He believes the new school will help ensure other students in Monongalia County will have more opportunities like the ones he’s afforded by attending Morgantown High.
Galen Anderson was excited to vote in his first election on May 14, 2024.
Photo Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
“Personally, I’m a fan,” he said. “You can argue with someone for 1,000 years or whether something’s good or bad. The only way to move that forward is to vote.”
Anderson expressed a particular desire to come out and vote for President Joe Biden’s reelection.
“As everyone has said, for every election since the beginning of the United States, this is the most important election ever,” he said. “You should vote. Everyone should vote. If you haven’t voted, you should go vote. And if you don’t vote, that’s OK, too. You’re a part of the system.”
Matthew Misfeldt said his support for the Renaissance Academy came down to “investment in STEM education, investment in children and in providing opportunities that will keep talent and particularly the youth talent here in West Virginia.“
Misfeldt said he was motivated to go to the polls to support a former colleague, whom he did not name, who was running for circuit judge. He expressed some concern for the lack of competition in many local elections.
“A lot of these positions are things that if you’re not really working in that industry, or if that’s not really part of your world, it’s not even something you necessarily think of running for,” Misfeldt said. “You usually see names of people who have been eyeing those jobs for a while, kind of waiting their turn.”
Megan Gandy believes any education funding should go to existing schools.
Megan Gandy, left, and Halle Stewart stand in front of Morgantown High School after voting May 14, 2024.
Photo Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
“Seeing that we already have underfunded schools, I want to make sure that all the funds can go to all those students in the schools equally,” she said.
Gandy was more than happy to support levies for parks, fire services and especially libraries. Voters in Monongalia County will vote on five distinct levies.
“We saw over the last legislative session how much people like to try and polarize libraries for some reason,” she said. “I think libraries are a wonderful public service and I think they should be funded more than they are.”
As far as particular races, Gandy said she was energized to vote for Tonya Rachelle Rogers who is running for Magistrate in Division 6.
“I just saw that she is really inclusive of all sorts of types of people, including the LGBTQ+ community,” Gandy said. “I think it’s important that we have magistrates that understand not just the laws, but also the ways that they disproportionately impact minorities. So I was glad to see her on the ballot.”
Adam Komisaruk said he believes civic participation is important to allow individual citizens to exert as much influence as possible. He was another voter wary of the new levy to support the proposed Renaissance Academy.
“If Morgantown is interested in investing in STEM education, which I think is a laudable goal, then I think it should eliminate the middleman and simply increase funding for public schools, rather than sink it into a costly venture where other interested parties are likely to take a cut,” Komisaruk said.
Eastern Panhandle
Eastern Panhandle Voters Focus On Local Elections, Specific Issues
Jay Dick, a lifelong resident of Berkeley Springs, braved intermittent rain to vote in West Virginia’s primary election at the Morgan County Courthouse on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s primary election marked a step toward finalizing nominees for this year’s presidential election. But Jay Dick, a retiree from Berkeley Springs, Morgan County, said national politics aren’t what brought him to the polls this week.
Dick said he voted in the primary election “mostly for the local voting process — for the sheriff and magistrates and the Board of Education.”
“Just to vote for who I think would do the best job for the county,” he said.
For some voters in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, local elections had more sway over the decision to participate in this year’s primary election than national politics.
According to the States United Democracy Center, fewer than half of general election voters have turned out for primary elections in the past two decades.
While voters like Dick still participate in the primary election over local issues, Berkeley Springs school teacher Paul Price said increasing political polarization on the national level has made the presidential election more off-putting for voters.
“We’ve got two older guys that are at each other’s throat,” Price said of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. “That’s not a conducive relationship to have between politicians, but that’s where we are.”
Price said this polarization “divides the country,” but the primary election provides an opportunity for voters to “eliminate candidates that you don’t want to be in the final running.”
“If you’re going to have a say in what goes on, then you’ve got to step up and say something,” Price said.
Other voters came to the polls over specific issues, like Melody Fish, a lifelong Democrat from Martinsburg. Fish said reproductive rights were her top concern this year.
“Women’s reproductive rights are huge for me, even though I’m old,” she said. “It doesn’t matter for me anymore. It matters for everybody else.”
Fish, like many Eastern Panhandle voters, said participating in elections was a habit she formed in early adulthood.
“I voted in every election since I was 18 years old. I feel it’s my civic duty to do that,” she said. “Even though this state has gotten increasingly red, and I kind of feel like my vote might be wasted, I’m still going to come vote.”
Likewise, Price described voting in elections as a civic “obligation” for residents.
“Whether I like a candidate or not, if I’m going to complain about something, I should have a say in why I’m complaining,” he said. “Everybody who has a chance should vote.”
Sustainable Growth Top Of Mind For Eastern Panhandle Voters
The Eastern Panhandle is growing at a faster rate than any other region in West Virginia. Residents say that influences how they are looking at local elections.
Paul Price, a school teacher from Berkeley Springs, Morgan County, said it is important that candidates running for local office have a vision for scaling up the region.
“You gotta be careful how you grow, and who’s leading you while you grow,” he said. “I think that’s the important issue right now. Growth is happening.”
Ken Hunter, a retiree from Charles Town, Jefferson County, expressed concern over the scale of local development, and said he is looking for candidates who can ensure growth is sustainable for the community and environment alike.
“I’d rather look across solar panels at the mountains behind than have the view blocked by new apartment buildings, such as we have going out of town here to the east,” Hunter said.
Morgan, Jefferson and Berkeley counties experienced a net gain of 4,061 residents from 2022 to 2023, with the vast majority of newcomers moving to Berkeley County.
Residents expect that trend — and its impact on local politics — will persist in the years ahead.
Many voters heading to polling places in today’s West Virginia Primary said they see casting a primary ballot, any ballot for that matter, as a civic obligation.
Every voter, among the dozen polled at Kanawha City’s Horace Mann Middle School precinct said casting theirballot Tuesday was something mandatory, not optional. Voters like Legal secretary Belinda Mundy.
“Every vote is important and you need to fulfill your civic duty and come out and let your opinion be heard,” Mundy said. “I can remember from, as a child, my mom and dad always going to vote on Election Day. And it was a pretty big deal.”
Every voter polled said they were raised in a family that has voted for generations. Retiree Jimmy Thaxton said he feels an obligation to vote.
“I usually vote in every election and make a choice in what’s going on,” Thanxton said. “I’m not sure whether I vote for the right people or not, but at least I get my two cents in.”
With less than a third of registered voters showing up for primaries, retiree Carol Ball said if you don’t vote, don’t complain.
“This country is in such a mess, such a mess,” Ball said. “If you don’t voice your opinions, you’re not letting the politicians know that we don’t like what’s going on.”
Every voter polled was asked if there was a specific issue that helped motivate them to vote. All said no, they were simply fulfilling a civic duty.
Voters across West Virginia are heading to the polls for the 2024 primary election.
Photo Credit: Eric Douglas/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Besides statewide seats like governor and congress, small towns across West Virginia have local mayor and city council seats to fill.
In Saint Albans, Kanawha County, voters had a choice of five candidates for mayor. Voters like Margaret York of Saint Albans said they are happy with the work of current Saint Albans Mayor Scott James.
“Mostly the mayor election,” York said. “I think Scott James was doing a good job and I’d like to keep him in office.”
John Sikora of Saint Albans agreed and said he feels his right to vote is his right to have a say in what’s happening in his city.
“The city St. Albans was, is, running pretty well right now,” Sikora said. “And I voted for Scott James again, because he’s doing a really good job.”
Dawn Scheick, an advanced practice psych nurse, recently moved to Saint Albans from Phillipi. She said her late husband and mother instilled into her the importance of voting.
“Well, I wanted to vote Democrat of course, but also since I’m relatively new here, I got my friend at church, Riverlawn Presbyterian to help me know who to vote for for mayor and for council at large,” Scheick said. “So I’m learning, and I’m 75, almost, and you keep on learning.”
Scheick said she votes left-leaning because she believes that is a way to show others there is hope.
“Everybody needs to vote in this election, to show the world that we are still a country of honor, and voting,” Scheick said. “That’s why I vote Democrat. I want to let others know that there is hope. And we will do the right thing. For me, I’m a nurse for the poor, for the psychiatrically impaired, for children, for old people, for women. So that’s why I do what I do.”
Voters like Faith Miller, a program manager for Workforce, West Virginia, also from Saint Albans, said she votes in every election, primary or general.
“I think it’s important because it affects our community,” Miller said. “And so I like to get people that I feel represent us well into office.”
Miller said her primary voting concern is abortion.
“I’m primarily concerned about the sanctity of life,” Miller said. “So, pro-life issues are very important to me. So that’s why voting in things like primaries are important.”
This election will determine the representatives for the mayor, council at-large, and city council positions across various wards, with the term of office set from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2028.
On this West Virginia Morning, Tuesday’s primary election may be the most important the state has seen in a while. Voters have endured a gubernatorial media campaign blitz with unprecedented mudslinging – coupled with a dominant charge to see a new but familiar face representing West Virginia in the U.S. Senate. Randy Yohe has our story.
On this West Virginia Morning, Tuesday’s primary election may be the most important the state has seen in a while. Voters have endured a gubernatorial media campaign blitz with unprecedented mudslinging – coupled with a dominant charge to see a new but familiar face representing West Virginia in the U.S. Senate. Randy Yohe has our story.
Also, in this show, starting in early June, West Virginians will be able to purchase raw milk, as long as it is properly labeled. As Emily Rice reports, that may come with a risk.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Scheduled for replacement after more than 50 years in service, a new state of the art aerial tram at Pipestem State Park is ready to re-open this fall.
Replacing the aerial trams at one of two West Virginia State parks moved a little closer to the finish line with an announcement on Monday.
Scheduled for replacement after more than 50 years in service, a new state of the art aerial tram at Pipestem State Park is ready to re-open this fall. The $12.4 million tram replacement will transport Pipestem guests down the same, iconic 3,400-foot path into the Bluestone Gorge.
At a Pipestem press conference, Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby said the tram’s new pulse gondola system will allow for more efficiency and greater capacity within each cabin.
“It is going to be able to haul more people,”’” Ruby said. “There’s going to be equipment cars so you can take your fishing gear, your kayaks, your bicycles, everything down.”
The new tram cabins are also fully handicapped accessible.
The original Pipestem aerial tram opened in April 1971, nearly a year after Pipestem State Park’s official opening on Memorial Day of 1970. The old tram served the park and many visitors for over a half century.
The old tram operated 12 cabins with a capacity of four persons per cabin. The previous system would not operate if winds rose above 24 mph. The new tram, with several safety applications built into the system, permits safe operation through winds reaching up to 54 mph.
Ruby said next on the replacement list is a new tram at Hawksnest State Park.
