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Midterm elections are often seen as a referendum on the party in charge of the White House, and less so the governor’s mansion. Inflation, affordability and the high price of gas and diesel have made many races nationwide more competitive than imagined at the beginning of the year.
In West Virginia, the Republican Party split during the primary when Gov. Patrick Morrisey and Senate President Randy Smith, R-Tucker, supported some Republican candidates over others with mixed success. Del. Vernon Criss, R-Wood, lost in the primary, but has since launched a write-in candidacy, for example.
The nonprofit newsroom West Virginia Watch published a story last week on six races to watch in the state. Half of the state Senate, all the House of Delegates, both representatives in Congress and one seat in the U.S. Senate are up for election.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting published its first-ever online voter’s guide. The information in the guide was compiled by student journalists at the West Virginia University Reed School of Media and Communications.
This free resource includes details on each West Virginia candidate for the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, state Senate and House of Delegates races. Our guide also includes information on the proposed Constitutional Amendment and direct links to voting resources from the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office.
We’ve also teamed up with our WVU student journalists for radio, television and digital coverage of election night returns. We will air PBS national election coverage, beginning at 8 p.m., on our main channel, with special breaks from our student journalists at 8:57 p.m., 9:57 p.m. and 10:57 p.m. on Nov. 3.
County clerks reported that a total of 162,349 West Virginia voters cast ballots during the early voting period from Oct. 21 to 31. That’s 24% higher turnout than in the last midterm general election held in November 2022. That election saw 131,404 early votes, according to Secretary of State Kris Warner.
The unofficial early voter turnout shows a 19% increase in Democrat voters, 28% increase in Republican voters and a 31% increase in unaffiliated voters in the 2022 midterm general election.
Below is a breakdown of turnout as of the last day of early voting:
That represents nearly 14% of West Virginia’s 1,210,297 registered voters.
In the 2022 midterm general election, turnout was 131,404 early in-person ballots cast, and 13,060 absentee ballots returned.
Early votes cast in November 2022 for the 2022 general election include:
The West Virginia Secretary of State hosts an elections hotline at 1-877-fraud WV (1-877-FRAUD-WV), or text WV to 45995 from your mobile device to report any election irregularities directly.
To find your polling place, visit the Secretary of State’s website at GoVoteWV. Polls are open on Election Day from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
You will also find a Voter Sample Ballot on the Secretary of State’s website to see who will be on your ballot.
The ACLU of West Virginia has also once again set up its Election Protection Hotline. For the past decade, the hotline has been available to West Virginians to answer questions before, during and after an election. The hotline is staffed by attorneys and law students trained in election laws. You can call the hotline at 304-355-5123.
For up-to-date information on election results, stay tuned to this live blog. There will be election returns from The Associated Press and stories from reporters speaking to voters.
Follow the WVPB Newsroom on Instagram @wvpublicnews.
Update at 10:50 p.m.
by WVPB’s Chris Schulz
The Republican Party split during the primary when Gov. Patrick Morrisey and Senate President Randy Smith, a Republican from Tucker County, supported some Republican candidates over others with mixed success.
The most notable example was in District 12 where incumbent Del. Vernon Criss, a Republican from Wood County, lost in the primary after Morrisey endorsed his opponent, Charles Hartzog.
Criss launched a write-in candidacy.
With The Associated Press reporting 99% of votes counted, Democrat Dennis Rempel has 1,781 votes, and is leading Hartzog, who has 1,630 by 151 votes.
Criss has received 261 votes.
Update at 9:40 p.m.
by WVPB’s Eric Douglas
Reps. Carol Miller and Riley Moore, Republicans from the 1st and 2nd districts respectively, have both been reelected to their seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Associated Press called both races at 9:22 p.m.
Miller has 56% of the vote with 75% of the votes counted, and Moore has 58% of the vote with 82% of the votes counted.
Moore’s opponent Ace Parsi released a statement to say that he called Moore and conceded the race.
Update at 9:10 p.m.
by WVPB’s Eric Douglas
At 8:52 p.m., The Associated Press called the race for U.S. Senate from West Virginia in favor of U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) over her Democratic challenger Rachel Lee Fetty-Anderson.
Capito released the following statement after successfully winning reelection to her third term in the U.S. Senate representing the state of West Virginia:
“I am humbled by the trust my fellow West Virginians have placed in me to continue fighting for our state in the U.S. Senate and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our people. From the beginning, this campaign has been focused on listening to West Virginians about the concerns most important to them and coming together to bring those voices to Washington. That mission will never change, and I am more energized than ever to continue delivering for our state. I am thankful for the energy, effort, time, and votes that many West Virginians put forward to make this victory possible. Together, we are dedicated to achieving the success that we know is possible for West Virginia, preserving the values that make our state special, and securing a brighter future for our families, workers, and children. Let’s continue the good work,” Capito said.
Update at 8:50 p.m.
by WVU student journalist Aengus Gillespie
Early results from the state Senate and House races are beginning to cross the 25% mark. Here are some of the races with early results:
West Virginia Senate
West Virginia House of Delegates
Update at 8:40 p.m.
by WVPB’s Chris Schulz
One issue motivating voters this year is the cost of living. According to a recent study from the Pew Research Center, 60% of Americans polled say they do not currently have enough income to lead the kind of life they want. Almost a third of respondents said they worry almost daily about the cost of healthcare and the amount of debt they have.
Morgantown resident Cortez Hairston said although he did not have confidence in either of the two major political parties, he felt he needed to take action at the polls.
“I’m trying to get this gas down. It’s ridiculous. It’s $80 or $90 every time I fill up my tank, two times a week,” he said. “And food is high. Salmon is $10 a pound, if not more. We could go on and on.”
A fuel price database maintained by the national motor club federation AAA shows regular gas in West Virginia has increased by more than a dollar over the past year from $2.97 to $4.15. Diesel nearly doubled in that same time, from $3.63 to $6.37.
Republican Congressman Riley Moore and Ace Parsi, the Democratic challenger in the second congressional district of West Virginia, traded jabs over affordability during their one debate last month. Moore argued the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s cuts to taxes lessened the burden on small businesses and job creators, while Parsi countered that the act made significant cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits.
Morgantown voter Chelsea, who asked to be identified only by her first name, said the issue of affordability boiled down to elected officials being accountable to their electorate.
“It starts local, of course: the misappropriation of funds from like the opioid settlement that went to Flock cameras instead of children in foster homes, and then it goes higher than that, right? Like the AI data centers, and them wanting to dump all this toxic waste and do things to damage the state’s water sources,” she said. “All that goes higher up to D.C. in the increase of everything, the unaffordability of healthcare, taxes, groceries, and it’s really that taxation without representation because that money that we as citizens are paying is going into someone’s pockets, and we’re not seeing the benefits of it, and we’re only getting the bad side and no accountability.”
Update at 7:20 p.m.
by WVU student journalist Grace Greene
Update at 6:40 p.m.
by WVU student journalist Lilly Reisenweber
This was the first general election in which West Virginia voters had to show a photo ID before casting a ballot.
“I did know that before I came in and I had my driver’s license ready, and I presented it, and it went really smoothly,” said Suzanne Marsh, a Morgantown voter.
Acceptable IDs include a U.S. passport, a West Virginia driver’s license, a state or U.S. agency employee ID, a student ID from a West Virginia institution or a military ID.
“I’ve always presented my ID, so I’m glad they did that. You know, I think only citizens should be allowed to vote,” said Wesley Smith, a Morgantown voter.
Any of the listed IDs must include some proof of citizenship.
Update at 6:35 p.m.
by WVU student journalists Riley Emerson and Ariana Davidson
Campaigning can take many different forms during an election season, and Democratic candidate Rachel Fetty Anderson is taking a creative approach to reaching voters.
Anderson teamed up with musician and Logan County native Chris Haddox to create a song specifically for her campaign.
The song highlights each West Virginia county Anderson has visited during her campaign. She also shared a music video featuring the song on social media.
“He really just knocked it out of the park. We really wanted to show our commitment to every corner and every county in West Virginia, and he did a great job,” Anderson said.
The original song, written and performed by Chris Haddox, is viewable on Rachel Fetty Anderson’s Instagram page at the link below:
Update at 5:45 p.m.
by WVPB’s Maria Young
Poll workers at the voting precinct at West Side Middle School in Charleston report a steady stream of voters from the moment they opened the doors at 6:30 a.m.
“There’s not been a long line but there’s not been a break at all, either,” said one worker.
Andrew Palenchar, a long-time resident of Charleston, brought his nine-year-old daughter, Evie, with him to vote in the hopes of helping her to better understand the importance of civic duty.
“I think bringing her out to just see that it’s a bunch of people that live in our neighborhood all just putting a mark down for what they like and what they think is important makes it a little bit more real to her but also a little less scary,” Palenchar said. ”A little easier to understand that it’s everything from, ‘Do you want your libraries to get money or your roads to get fixed?’ and it’s not necessarily all bombs and wars all the time when it comes to voting.”
Yvonne Booth said she came out to cast her vote for change.
“The world is in such crazy situations anymore. I figure the only way we’re gonna change it is to get different people in office,” Booth said.
Asked what crazy situations she was referring to, Booth said, “The gas prices, the murders by ICE, using our military in places where I don’t feel like it’s absolutely necessary.”
She also mentioned “ridiculous” food prices.
“Something’s got to be done. If my little vote’ll help it out, I’m gonna be here doing it,” Booth said.
Polls close statewide at 7:30 p.m. Secretary of State Kris Warner said any voter in line at that time will still be allowed to cast their ballot.
Update at 3:45 p.m.
by WVPB’s Chris Schulz
Along with choosing their Congressional and state representatives, West Virginians are being asked this Tuesday if they want to amend the state Constitution. The amendment states that in all elections held in West Virginia only citizens of the United States who are citizens of the state are qualified to vote.
A Morgantown voter, who asked to be identified only as Libby, said she agreed with the measure.
“It’s an American event, it’s our right as Americans,” Libby said. “That’d be like saying China could come over here and vote with us. It’s not their country. We wouldn’t go to different countries to vote. They shouldn’t come here to vote.”
The amendment is on the ballot after the West Virginia Legislature approved Senate Joint Resolution 9, titled Citizenship Requirement to Vote in West Virginia Elections Amendment, during the 2026 regular session. In West Virginia, citizens do not have the power to initiate ballot measures at the state level. The legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot.
State code already lists U.S. citizenship as a required qualification to register to vote.
Voters like Carl Jones said he voted against the measure because he didn’t see the need for a change to the state constitution.
“It’s already a law on the books, right? OK, so there’s no need to add more paperwork,” he said.
“I voted against it,” Teresa Lyons said outside of the Morgantown High School polling location Tuesday morning. “I don’t think it’s necessary, and I think it is more of the same of trying to discredit the election process without any real benefit.”
Earlier this year, West Virginia was one of several states across the country that clashed with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over sharing of voter registration data. The DOJ claimed well-maintained voter rolls are a requisite for election integrity, and that now-resolved lawsuits were the Justice department “fulfilling its duty to ensure transparency, voter roll maintenance, and secure elections across the country.”
Morgantown voter Timothy Bragg joined with most of the other voters West Virginia Public Broadcasting spoke with on the morning of Election Day to express confidence in the existing electoral process.
“It’s been proven that there is almost no election fraud going on, no illegal in quotes immigrants voting in elections,” Bragg said. “It’s just not happening, and it’s just a ridiculous thing to try to make a constitutional amendment.”
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West Virginia Republicans have maintained a supermajority in the state Legislature following Tuesday's election. But Democrats are slated to double their seats in both chambers.
Continue Reading Take Me to More NewsDespite more West Virginians being registered to vote for the 2026 general election, fewer of them went to the polls Tuesday compared to the last midterm election.
Continue Reading Take Me to More NewsA record number of women threw their collective hats in the ring this year, seeking a seat in the West Virginia House of Delegates.
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Continue Reading Take Me to More News
