GOP Primaries Show Razor Thin Margins That Could Still Flip 

Unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary election show a handful of races that are still neck-and-neck.  

The closest races are among Republican candidates for the House of Delegates.  

In District 22, around Huntington, incumbent Daniel Linville is down by a mere two votes to challenger Aaron Holley. They split 1,294 votes with 648 going to Holley and 646 going to Linville. 

In Harrison County, District 71 incumbent Laura Kimble is also down — by 4 votes – to challenger Tim McNeely. They split 1,368 votes with 686 going to McNeely and 682 going to Kimble. 

In District 10 around Parkersburg incumbent Bill Anderson is behind Justin Beanard by 5 votes, and in Harrison County’s District 74, challenger Scott Crouch is up over incumbent Guy Ward by 17 votes.  

Secretary of State Kris Warner said the winners could still change after canvassing begins Monday.  

“If the vote total during the canvas differs from the election night, unofficial results by more than 1%, or if there’s a change of outcome in any race,  then they are required to hand count every ballot in the entire county,” Warner said. 

During canvassing, absentee votes that were marked but not received by Election Day have to be counted. Provisional ballots – for example, if someone has married since they registered and has a different last name – have to be considered. 

Election officials, with observers from each party, choose three random precincts in which to count all ballots by hand to check against unofficial results.  

The public is also allowed to watch the canvassing process by calling the county clerk to find out when and where it will be.