This post will be updated throughout the day. Associated Press election results will be posted after polls close.
What We’re Watching
This year’s primary election sets the stage for the general election in November, as both major parties pick their candidates from among 2,717 state, county, and municipal candidates, according to West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner.
County clerks reported that a total of 67,356 West Virginia voters cast ballots during the early voting period from April 29, through May 9. That’s more than 8% higher than the early voter turnout in the state’s primary election in 2022 that saw 62,283 early voters.
Warner said that county clerks throughout the state reported a substantial increase in voter interest over the last two days of early voting.
Both parties have seats where multiple candidates are vying for the same position. On the Republican side, there are races with multiple candidates and opposing groups within the party. Gov. Patrick Morrisey has taken the unusual step of endorsing candidates for seats in the legislature. And political action committees, many from out of state, have been contributing heavily to certain races or sponsoring negative ads about certain candidates as well.
For up-to-date information on election results, visit the West Virginia Secretary of State office’s website, and stay tuned to this live blog from West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
For a full list of candidates running for election in West Virginia, visit the secretary of state office’s candidate search webpage.
Follow the WVPB Newsroom on Instagram @wvpublicnews.
Follow along with the WVPB Newsroom on May 12 for news and updates from around the state.
For up-to-date information on election results, visit the West Virginia Secretary of State office’s website, and stay tuned to this live blog from West Virginia Public Broadcasting. For a full list of candidates running for election in West Virginia, visit the secretary of state office’s candidate search webpage.
Follow the WVPB Newsroom on Instagram @wvpublicnews.
What’s on the ballot?
The AP will provide vote results and declare winners in contested primaries for the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, the state Senate and House and mayor of Charleston, as well as general elections for the state Supreme Court and the state Court of Appeals. There are also three state Senate special elections.
Who gets to vote?
West Virginia voters registered with a political party may vote only in their own party’s primary. In other words, Democrats can’t vote in the Republican primary or vice versa. Independent or unaffiliated voters may vote in the Democratic or Mountain Party primaries but not the Republican primary. Voter ID is required.
How many voters are there?
As of April 23, West Virginia had about 1.2 million registered voters, including about 520,000 Republicans, 327,000 Democrats and 302,000 voters unaffiliated with any party.
How many people actually vote?
In 2024, the GOP primaries for president, governor and U.S. Senate each had about 225,000 total voters, which was about 19% of registered voters at the time. Turnout for the Democratic primaries ranged from about 90,000 for governor to about 102,000 for U.S. Senate.
How much of the vote is cast early or by absentee ballot?
About 30% of the vote in the 2024 primaries was cast before Election Day.
When are early and absentee votes released?
Roughly 60% of West Virginia’s 55 counties tend to report all or nearly all of their early and absentee vote results in the first vote report of the night.