Tag: Election 2016 – WVPB

Justice Takes Democratic Gubernatorial Nomination

Ending the night with around 50 percent of the vote, Greenbrier Resort owner Jim Justice was the clear winner for the Democratic Party’s nomination for governor after Tuesday’s primaries.

Credit Ashton Marra / West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Jim Justice giving an interview after winning Tuesday’s primary.

The billionaire thanked his family and his fellow candidates, former U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin and Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler, but quickly shifted his focus to the general election and his new opponent, Republican Senate President Bill Cole during his victory speech.

“There is a big contrast between me and a governor that’s a politician,” Justice told the few hundred supporters who gathered in the Greenbrier ballroom.

“If you elect another politician to the head of the line, to the biggest office in our state, this is going to be terribly blunt, but you and I will die 50th.”

Cole—who has always separated himself from other politicians at the statehouse by casting himself as a businessman, not a lawmaker—anticipated the attack earlier in the evening.

“I’m not a career politician, I’m a one-term state senator who happened to move up to senate presidency for the past two years,” he said in an interview after his primary win.

“I think I’ve proven that I can lead and I can deliver from a government standpoint, but one term. I’m up or out. I’m either Governor Cole or I’m citizen Cole, so no one will ever accuse me of being a career politician.”

But it was more than just Cole who Justice attacked Tuesday night. He went after the Republican-controlled Legislature as a whole, criticizing them for not being able to pass a budget when they have a majority in both chambers.

Credit Ashton Marra / West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Jim Justice takes the stage to give his victory speech Tuesday at The Greenbrier.

Justice made it clear, his message heading into the general election will focus on Cole’s ties to a “dysfunctional Legislature.”

“Bill Cole and the Republicans and what they’ve done in their tenure, in recent times, a lot of people that aren’t happy and a lot of people that have been hurt and so those people will stand up with a real voice,” he said.

Justice committed to campaigning with down ticket candidates to help ensure Democrats retake control of both the House and Senate chambers.

What he won’t do though, campaign with the likely presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket, Hillary Clinton.

“I am not interested in what’s going on on the presidential scene today at all,” he said, “and there is no chance in the world that I will back anybody for president that is not supportive of our state, not supportive of our energy sector and not supportive of our coal miners.”

That is where Justice diverges from his major supporters.

Senator Joe Manchin, former Governor Gaston Caperton, as well as many other organizations and unions across the state who back Justice are also backing Clinton.

Both Manchin and Caperton have endorsed the former Secretary of State, and Manchin said he sees no contradiction in his support for both candidates, but Justice is clear, among his many campaign platforms, he’s sticking with coal.

“I am not going to go out and endorse anyone that is really not willing to go out and stand for us today,” Justice said.

With a big win for Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders in West Virginia Tuesday, separating himself from Clinton may be a way to pick up voters who are considering crossing the aisle and casting a ballot for Republican Donald Trump.

A Republican until he decided to run for governor, Justice’s outsider message and straight forward campaign platforms may pull the same support the state will likely give Trump in the fall.

Live Blog: 2016 West Virginia Primary

Updated Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 7:39 a.m.

Former state delegate Mark Hunt has edged out lawyer and veteran  Cory Simpson, 29-26 percent, to take on Rep. Alex Mooney in the fall.

Meanwhile, a man who received national attention for being beaten at a picnic right before the election has won his race. Richard Ojeda defeated incumbent Art Kirkendoll for the Logan County state senate seat.

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 11:39 p.m.

Senate President Bill Cole is looking ahead to November, after facing on opposition in the GOP primary for governor.
 

In a speech to supporters, Cole emphasized that he had only spent one term in the state Senate and is not a career politician — he’s a businessman.

 
He said that the November election is a choice. 

 
 
“A choice between the good old boys in Charleston who have held our state back for years and years or a chance for the people to have a say in their government. To modernize and reform it by cutting red tape eliminating outdated regulation and reforming our tax code so that we can truly compete with other states for those critically, critically needed jobs.” 
 
 

 
Cole has talked a lot about the importance of the coal industry and on Tuesday he also stressed the importance of diversification. Cole says changing policies will help make the state “Open for business.” 

 
Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 11:03 p.m.

Jim Justice delivered a victory speech at The Greenbrier after winning the Democratic gubernatorial primary Tuesday. A billionaire businessman owning mining operations in various states, Justice promised to only take a $1 salary as governor, as he now prepares his campaign to face off against unopposed Republican candidate and current state Senate President Bill Cole.

While giving his speech, Justice also took shots at the current Republican-lead legislature. “We spent all kinds of time on raw milk. Are you kidding me?!” he said. 

Justice also promised to bring back jobs to West Virginia, stating, “Get ready. I’ll take you on a rocket ship ride to jobs.”

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 10:53 p.m.

Beth Walker’s surprisingly easy Supreme Court win, Jim Justice’s big victory, and a political upset after a beating goes viral nationwide — see what we’ve learned from this fascinating primary season.

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 10:25 p.m.

While Democratic gubernatorial winner Jim Justice wrapped up his speech at The Greenbrier, his two opponents–the departing Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler and former U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin–offered statements via email. Kessler and Goodwin offered very different perspectives in their messages after their shared loss.

 
“It has been a great run,” said Kessler. “I have enjoyed meeting people around the state and I thank them for opening their hearts and homes to me. It’s been an honor serving the people of my district and all West Virginians through my work in the West Virginia Senate.”

Kessler added, “Our focus now needs to be on diversifying West Virginia’s economy. I look forward to being involved in the policy discussions on the future of West Virginia.”

 
As for Goodwin, his message was a bit more grim:

 
“When we started this four months ago, I could have never imagined the level of support and excitement this effort would generate,” Goodwin said. “This campaign was never about me; it was always about the future of West Virginia as a state where my children, your children and our grandchildren will be able to and want to stay.”
 
“People have lost faith—faith in themselves, faith in West Virginia, faith that we can do something more and be something more than we have been before,” Goodwin added later in his statement. “Well I haven’t lost that faith. I will continue to stand along side you and work to make this a better state; not for the next election; but the next generation.”

 

 
Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 10:05 p.m.

The Associated Press has called the Democratic gubernatorial primary in favor of Jim Justice. He is now about to give a victory speech following introductions from former WVU football coach Don Nehlen, former Marshall University coach Bob Pruett and former Governor Gaston Caperton.  

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 9:45 p.m.

Right now, we’re watching two tight races: the Democratic race for the U.S. House of Representative’s 2nd District and the Democratic primary in the state Senate’s 7th District.

  • As of right now, Cory Simpson is edging out Mark Hunt by just 7 votes.
  • In the state Senate’s 7th District, incumbent Art Kirkendoll is leading Richard Ojeda–who was brutally beaten on Sunday–by 40 votes.

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 9:23 p.m.

Billionaire businessman Jim Justice has pulled away with a commanding lead in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, garnering nearly half of votes counted thus far. Jeff Kessler and Booth Goodwin have split the remainder of the vote virtually down the middle, with 26 percent and 24 percent, respectively.   

Bernie Sanders continues to widen his margin over Hillary Clinton in the presidential primary, with Sanders pulling 49 percent of votes counted so far. The Associated Press has called the race in favor of Sanders.  

 

Most incumbent state Legislators appear to be beating their primary challengers. House Speaker Tim Armstead is way ahead of two challengers, one supported by unions. And Senate Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael is leading almost 2-1 against a union-backed Republican who also received the backing of the conservative West Virginia Family Policy Council, which opposed Carmichael for his stand on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

But one incumbent with a very close primary is state Senator Art Kirkendoll of Logan County. He’s ahead 52-48 percent against Richard Ojeda, who received national attention for being severely beaten at a picnic over the weekend. Ojeda says he believes is it political, Kirkendoll denies any involvement.

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 9:00 p.m.

With about 10 percent of precinct reporting in the presidential primaries:

  • Trump is way ahead with 71 percent
  • Sanders 49, Clinton 42

In the Democratic gubernatorial race, the Associated Press is reporting Jim Justice with 48 percent of votes counted thus far, and Jeff Kessler and Booth Goodwin each have 26 percent.

As of now, the Democratic primary for 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House is too close to call.

Beth Walker has a big lead over incumbent Brent Benjamin and the three other candidates in the race for the seat on the bench of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 8:45 p.m.

Here’s an interactive map of statewide presidential results:

http://wvpublic.org/node/52227

They show Bernie Sanders taking the lead, 48-42 percent.

Check out all the West Virginia House of Delegates results here:

http://wvpublic.org/live-results-west-virginia-house-delegates-primary

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 8:43 p.m.

Still SUPER early, but Clinton keeping it close with 3 percent in:

Hillary Clinton 12,906 votes 45.8%
Bernie Sanders 12,759 votes 45.3%

 
Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 8:30 p.m.

VERY early results show mostly what you’d expect – Trump up big, for example. Clinton is keeping it close to Sanders so far.

But if this keeps up, it will be a VERY good night for Supreme Court candidate Beth Walker, with 1 percent of precincts:

Beth Walker 44.3%

Darrell McGraw  21.7%

William Wooton  19.9%

Brent Benjamin (i)  11.2%

Wayne King  2.9%

 
Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 8:08 p.m.

As results come in on the Democratic Presidential primary races, you can find results on an interactive map from the Associated Press.

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 7:48 p.m.

With NBC projecting a Sanders win in West Virginia, check out this Ashton Marra interview with Sanders about his time here:

“It’s a state of tough people, people who are fighting back against difficult odds today,” Sanders said.

“I do believe that the people of West Virginia want a government that represents all of us and not just the wealthy campaign contributors or just the 1 percent.”

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 7:40 p.m.

NBC News is projecting Bernie Sanders as the winner of the Democratic presidential primary.

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Polls are closed in West Virginia. CNN called Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders an “early leader” but has not called the race for him yet.

The Associated Press has called the Republican presidential primary in favor of Donald Trump.

 
Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.

West Virginia voters are extremely worried about the economy, and a majority believe free trade kills jobs, according to exit polls from the Associated Press.

Here are the highlights:

 

  • Seven in ten of Democratic voters say they’re very worried about the economy, by far the highest level of economy worry in a Democratic primary this year.
  • About 4 in 10 voters in the state’s Democratic primary say they consider themselves to be an independent or Republican.
  • One third of Democratic primary voters said they planned to vote for Trump. Clinton beats Trump 44 – 33 among Democrats; Sanders wins 48-32.
  • On free trade, 53 percent of West Virginia Democrats say it costs the U.S. jobs. Only 35 say it helps.
  • Three in ten Democrats said someone in their household works in the coal industry. And nine in ten of them are very worried about the economy.

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 6:45 p.m.

Various big-name candidates are holding election night events to watch results come in after polls close at 7:30 p.m. Democratic gubernatorial front runner Jim Justice is holding an event at The Greenbrier and, as Ashton Marra reports, Justice is expecting a big crowd for his results watch party. 

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 5:57 p.m.

With two hours left until polls close, polling places around the state are still seeing voters come in. Short lines and waits are currently being reported at some precincts, including the Huntington area:

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 4:14 p.m.

People campaigning for Donald Trump were at several polling stations around Morgantown Tuesday. Some were within 300 feet of a station, which is a violation of election law, and were asked to move without incident. Patrick Neal came from Columbus, Ohio, and was outside the Morgantown High School polling station. 

He said he was there to make sure Trump gets the 1,237 delegates he needs to secure the GOP nomination and avoid a contested convention. Neal said he and the two other Trump supporters outside MHS heard from quite a few Bernie Sanders supporters, as well as several Trump fans.

Two other Trump campaigners who wished to remain anonymous said several people had given them the middle finger and yelled obscenities at outside the polling station at Mountainview Middle School.

Updated Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 3:35 p.m.

We are following some reports of unaffiliated voters not being given the ballot of their choice.

Briana Wilson, a spokesperson with Secretary of State Natalie Tennant’s office, confirmed these reports by phone as well as email.

“Secretary of State Office liaisons are across the state today in every county and are keeping their eyes out for this issue,” said Wilson in an email.

“Secretary Tennant reminds all unaffiliated voters that they must request a Democrat, Republican or Mountain Party ballot [where available]. They should receive the ballot of their choice,” she added.

Original Post:

Polls opened this morning at 6:30 a.m. for the West Virginia primary and some precincts are reporting intermittent lines—indicating that voter turnout is likely higher than in years past. Early voting for the 2016 primary broke records, with over 100,000 voters casting ballots before the end of Saturday.  

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. and live results will become available at elections.wvpublic.org/live-results

Editor’s Note: For the latest news and live results from the West Virginia primary, visit elections.wvpublic.org

  Beth Walker  NP
10,198 44.3%
 
  Darrell McGraw  NP
4,997 21.7%
 
  William Wooton  NP
4,582 19.9%
 
  Brent Benjamin (i)  NP
2,588 11.2%
 
  Wayne King  NP
659 2.9%

Colbert's 'Late Show' Talks Sanders, Trump W.Va. Visits Ahead of Primary

Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders made a surprise visit to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Monday night. The late-night show also featured clips and a sketch on Donald Trump’s visit to Charleston last week. 

Appearing the night before the West Virginia primary, Sanders teaches Colbert a lesson in not giving up as the comedian is distraught after not being able to get a 100 Grand candy bar from a vending machine. 

“It’s a lost cause,” said Colbert.

Sanders then appears unannounced.

“I don’t take money from billionaires, but I do check every vending machine change slot,” Sanders said, noting he was hoping to find $27 dollars in the machine–the average contribution he’s received from donors nationally. 

The two then begin discussing the West Virginia primary.

“I think we have a shot to win and I’ll tell you why,” said Sanders. “It’s because in West Virginia, like every place else in this country, too many people are working longer hours for lower wages and people want change, Stephen.”

Colbert then questions Sanders being able to pull off the nomination, even with a win in West Virginia. 

Colbert also had a segment on assured Republican nominee Donald Trump’s visit to the state last week, focusing mostly on Trump’s promise to bring coal mining jobs back.

The comedian and host also made mention of Trump’s comments last week at a rally in Charleston where he urged those in attendance not to vote. Colbert also mentioned Trump’s endorsement from the West Virginia Coal Association, who presented the candidate with a mining helmet–which lead to some comments about hair spray and the O-Zone. 

You can watch the entire clip of Colbert’s segment on Trump here:

Primary Day Only Time to Vote for W.Va. Supreme Court Candidates

May 10 is Primary Day in West Virginia and the only time this election season voters can pick their choice for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

West Virginia’s primary is the only time state voters can choose judicial officers at all levels, from magistrate all the way to Supreme Court. This year is also the first time judicial officers will be elected on a nonpartisan basis.

In the Supreme Court race, voters have a choice between former Attorney General Darrell McGraw, Morgantown attorney Beth Walker, Clay County attorney Wayne King, former state lawmaker Bill Wooton, and current justice Brent Benjamin. All five are vying for the one open seat on the state’s high court.

Polls will be open until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

After 2012 Stunner, Ex-Con Makes Another White House Run

As Donald Trump, Hillary and Bill Clinton and Bernie Sanders campaigned in West Virginia this month before thousands of voters, ex-convict Keith Judd slipped into the state unnoticed.

Judd is a Democratic presidential candidate who received 41 percent of the vote in the state’s 2012 primary against President Barack Obama. This time, he wanted to see West Virginia for himself.

With no rallies, Judd spent a quiet week visiting towns in West Virginia before departing Sunday — two days before the primary — for his hometown of Midland, Texas.

He was unable to do much in 2012 because he was in prison. He spent 15 years behind bars for threatening and trying to extort his wife in divorce proceedings and for a parole violation. He was released in 2014.

Top 10 Races to Watch in West Virginia’s Primary Election

West Virginia rarely makes its way onto a national spotlight in election season, but this year’s primary has been a bit of a different story. With campaign stops from three remaining presidential candidates all last week, the state felt a bit of the spotlight.

But the presidential primary isn’t nearly the most interesting or important race here in West Virginia. Also coming Tuesday is the first ever non-partisan general election for a seat on the state Supreme Court, a fierce primary for the Democratic Party’s governor’s race and many other notable races around the statehouse.

Here are ten races to keep an eye on during Tuesday’s election:

1. Our First Not-So-Nonpartisan Supreme Court Election

Talk about unintended consequences! When GOP leaders took over the legislature and passed a raft of election reforms, they never dreamed it could lead to the comeback of one of their greatest enemies.

But it might.

The GOP championed the non-partisan election of judges, which means the one and only judicial election now occurs on primary day.

Credit McGraw Campaign
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Five candidates are vying for one seat, held by current Justice Brent Benjamin. And because a simple plurality is enough to win, it is possible the next Supreme Court justice will receive only 21 percent of the primary vote.

There’s been little public polling on the race, except for a February poll by Orion Strategies. It showed former Democratic Attorney General Darrell McGraw with 25 percent support – more than the other candidates put together (however, a whopping 55 percent were undecided at the time.)

Since then, outside groups have dropped millions into the race, including $2.6 million from the Republican State Leadership Committee and about $500,000 from Just Courts For West Virginia PAC.

The GOP group is running ads attacking McGraw. Meanwhile, candidate Beth Walker has a massive television ad campaign and has garnered the support of the state GOP establishment.

We’ll be watching to see if that spending takes her over the top, or if McGraw rides his name recognition to a plurality win – or if some third candidate walks through the rubble created by these two candidates and snatches the prize.

 

2. Democratic Gubernatorial Race

While Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Cole runs unopposed in his party’s primary, three Democrats are vying for the state’s highest office.

Recent polling shows billionaire businessman Jim Justice leading with 37 percent of the primary vote over current former U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin’s 23 percent and state Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler’s 19 percent in the Democratic primary.

The same poll also puts Justice ahead of Cole in the general election should he win Tuesday. But that’s a big if, as Justice continues to take heat for unpaid business taxes.

3. Clinton vs. Sanders

Credit Seth Wenig / AP Photo
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AP Photo

While all signs point to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton capturing the Democratic presidential nomination over U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sanders has shown no indication of dropping out of the race.

Mathematically speaking, there are enough delegates left in the national picture for Sanders to squeak out the nomination and the superdelegates won’t be counted until the party’s convention in late July.

With the Clintons (Bill and Hillary) both garnering poor receptions in southern West Virginia and Sanders holding four events in a week in a half, the Vermont senator seems to have given it his all here in the state–and could very well pull off the win.

4. The Fight to Topple Rep. Mooney

In 2014, Alex Mooney overcame the carpetbagger label to win the 2nd Congressional seat.

But he only won by 3 percent in a year when other Republicans cleaned house in West Virginia, and in a district Shelley Moore Capito routinely won by double-digit margins. Democrats hope this year, they have a shot to take it back.

Five Democrats are vying to take Mooney on in the fall. The best-known three are former state Delegate Mark Hunt, lawyer and radio talk show host Harvey Peyton, and lawyer and veteran Cory Simpson.

Hunt has tried for Congress before and failed. Peyton has built up name recognition as a host in the Charleston area, but may lack name recognition in other parts of the 2nd District, especially the Eastern Panhandle.

Simpson is a neophyte, but has raised significant money and garnered the endorsement of the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

Speaking of Gazette-Mail endorsements, the newspaper skipped over Mooney in the GOP primary and supported his opponent – small business owner Mark Savitt, who has waged a low-budget campaign to topple Mooney.

5. House Speaker Armstead Takes on Pro-Union Republican

House Speaker Tim Armstead is facing two Republican challengers in his May 10 primary race, Clendenin’s Ron Shamblin and Lewis Taylor of Charleston. Shamblin, in particular, said it was Armstead’s stances on labor issues that pushed him to run for the seat.

“Just watching the attack on the working class this session,” Shamblin said, “that’s when I decided myself, you know, I need to stand up.”

Credit Ashton Marra / West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Shamblin is a union crane operator and said it’s bills like the repeal of the state’s prevailing wage and passage of a Right-to-Work measure that inspired him to work, but maintains his values align with the Republican Party and would never consider changing.

Armstead defended the bills saying in 2014 West Virginia voters sent a loud and clear message- the things the state has done for the past 80 years weren’t working and they wanted change.

Democrat Melissa Huffman and Mountain Party candidate Jeffrey will face the Republican winner in the general election in November.

6. Senate Majority Leader Faces ‘Family Values’ Attacks from Left and Right

Credit Martin Valent / West Virginia Public Broadcastinglative Photography
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West Virginia Public Broadcastinglative Photography

Mitch Carmichael is taking fire from both sides.

On the right, Carmichael is being pummeled by the Family Policy Council, which is targeting him because he failed to support their preferred version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Carmichael’s emotional speech is credited with helping to kill the bill in the Senate.

On the left, Carmichael is being attacked by a union-funded group called West Virginia Family Values. Unions are upset over Carmichael’s successful efforts to pass Right to Work and overturn the prevailing wage.

The group’s radio ads focus not on these issues, but Carmichael’s deposition in the sentencing of an acquaintance for child sexual abuse. Carmichael is not tied to the charges in any way, but a radio ad tries to connect him to it. Carmichael called the ad “despicable.”

7. After Being Beaten, Ojeda Stays Focused on the Senate’s 7th District

 

After being brutally attacked on Sunday night, military veteran and Senate candidate Richard Ojeda became thrust into the national spotlight.

Credit Richard Ojeda / via Facebook
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via Facebook
Military veteran and state Senate candidate Richard Ojeda was brutally beaten Sunday.

  National media outlets began to pick up the story after Ojeda and his family posted photos of him in the hospital following the attack. Questions began to circulate over the motivation for the attack and Ojeda and his family hinted at foul play related to the election, with his wife telling the Charleston Gazette-Mail, “Every day there’s something. If you stand up to run against people who have controlled this state for decades this is what you get.”

On Sunday. Sen. Art Kirkendoll–Ojeda’s opponent–said he had heard about the attack and that he does not condone violence.

On his Facebook page, Ojeda wrote: “I am now even more dedicated to the cause. This doesn’t scare me and I don’t quit! This was premeditated and there was a reason the guy did this.”

Suspect Jonathan Porter has been arrested and charged in the beating.

8. Newly Vacated State Senate Seats

After the 2014 election results came in, the West Virginia Senate was left in a tie, 17 Democrats had won seats and 17 Republicans. The balance of power shifted with a controversial party switch, but that 18-16 majority is on the line during the 2016 election. The race becomes even more important when you consider the longtime senators who have either chosen to retire or give up their seats to seek other offices.

The most notable, of course, are Senate President Bill Cole and Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler who have both chosen runs for governor over their legislative seats, but long-serving Democrats Sen. Herb Snyder and Sen. Bill Laid both chose not to seek re-election this term. That leaves three Democratic and one Republican seat up for grabs come November.

9. Two of Arch Moore’s Grandchildren Running in the House

Three term Republican Gov. Arch Moore’s legacy at the West Virginia statehouse could be carried on if two of his grandchildren get their way. Moore Capito, son of Republican U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, and Riley Moore are both running for seats in the House of Delegates.

Capito is one of 16 candidates running for a House seat in the state’s 35th district. Covering parts of the Kanawha Valley, it’s a multimember district that boasts four seats. Seven other candidates on the ballot are Republicans, including notable names like House Finance Chair Eric Nelson and 2014 candidate for the 2nd Congressional District Charlotte Lane.

Moore is attempting to beat out one other Republican, Daniel Swisher, in his race for an open seat in the state’s 67th District. If Moore pulls out a win, he will face another lineage in West Virginia politics, Democrat Rod Snyder, son of long-time state Sen. Herb Snyder.

10. The Race Against Apathy

Credit David Smith / AP Photo
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AP Photo

Voter turnout, or the lack thereof, has been the biggest election story in West Virginia in recent years.

Only 19.7 percent of eligible voters turned out in West Virginia’s 2014 primary election – the lowest turnout in the state’s modern history. And in the 2014 general election? The state had the lowest voter turnout in the nation at 37.3 percent.

Things may be turning around in 2016, however, if early voting totals are any indication of Tuesday’s voter turnout. The West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office reported Monday the state had hit record levels with more than 100,000 West Virginians taking to the polls early to cast ballots.

Such numbers are a stark contrast to the message assured Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump brought to Charleston last week, as he told supporters not to vote. “Stay at home,” he told the crowd, “and get twice as many people to vote in November.”

 

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