Viewpoint 2016 Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Viewpoint Special Breaks Down 2016 Election Results

On a special episode on Viewpoint, the 2016 General Election results are in, but what do they mean for West Virginians today and into the future?

Conservative columnist Laurie Lin, of WVPB’s The Front Porch, and West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy’s Ted Boettner join host Ashton Marra to discuss the race for governor and the challenges Democrat Jim Justice will face, particularly with the budget, when he takes office in January.

The panel also discusses the expanded Republican control of the West Virginia Senate and what new leadership could mean for policy during the 2017 session.

Then a discussion with Dr. Robert Rupp of West Virginia Wesleyan College. Rupp focuses in on the state’s slow transition from a blue to a red state, a transition that could not be completed by the West Virginia Republican Party in their race for governor.

The special episode is the final podcast of Viewpoint this election cycle. It can also be viewed on WVPB’s television network and heard on radio at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9.

It's a Race to the Finish Line in W.Va. as Election Day Approaches

With just days left in the 2016 election cycle, more than 140,000 West Virginians have already cast their ballots, but the candidates at all levels are still working to get your vote.

At the presidential level, polling not just in West Virginia, but throughout the Ohio Valley region, shows billionaire Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump enjoys strong support from the region’s white, working class — an often overlooked group of voters.

This angry election season has caused many writers to focus on the deep discontent among white workers. Ohio Valley ReSource’s Jeff Young spoke with three authors about why the white working class has such a dark outlook on the country’s future.

The same region is ground zero for the opioid epidemic, with some of the nation’s highest addiction and overdose rates. Ohio Valley ReSource’s Aaron Payne reports on how the results of two key races could shape how West Virginia addresses the crisis.

Jim Justice, left, and Bill Cole, right, shake hands after their first gubernatorial debate.

There are five candidates in the race to be the next leader of the state of West Virginia. Charlotte Pritt of the Mountain Party, Libertarian David Moran and Constitution Party candidate Phil Hudok represent the state’s third parties. Leading the race though, are Republican Bill Cole and Democrat Jim Justice. We profile the candidates and their campaigns.

This year’s race for Agriculture Commissioner is a rematch of 2012 when Republican Kent Leonhardt took on Democrat Walt Helmick. Clark Davis reports the two major party candidates still see the Commissioner of Agriculture as someone who can diversify the state’s economy, but have differing opinions about what that diversification looks like.

Dark Money is Making a Difference in W.Va. Elections

Voters in 27 states will cast their ballots for state Supreme Court justices when they head to the polls in November. In West Virginia, voters made their choice for the high court in May, something new for the state this election cycle, but a study from the Brennan Center for Justice says there is something else that was noteworthy about what happened in that primary.

Anne Li reports, researchers are looking to West Virginia to prove that outside money really can sway a race.

Right, current Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, left, Delegate Doug Reynolds.

One race where outside spending is making an impact is the race for Attorney General. Republican-incumbent Patrick Morrisey is up for re-election this year after considering and ultimately passing on a bid for governor.

Morrisey is taking on Democratic Delegate Doug Reynolds, a Huntington attorney who also owns media and construction companies. Both have been on the attack in a race that some polls show is too close to call less than two weeks from Election Day.

In another statewide race, Mary Ann Claytor is a 20-year veteran of the West Virginia Auditor’s Office and says that experience makes her the right choice for the top job.

Claytor worked with local and county governments to audit their books while working for the state, making sure everything was in line for them to receive necessary federal funds. If elected, Claytor would become the first African American to hold statewide office in West Virginia, but the race for auditor is getting far less attention than others.

Presidential Energy & Health Care Policies & Their Impact on W.Va.

Energy and health care. They’re the two issues in the presidential race that could have the greatest impact on West Virginians.

On this week’s Viewpoint, we look at where the Democrat Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump stand on the two issues with a report from The Allegheny Front’s Reid Frazier and an interview with Kara Lofton, West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Appalachia Health New Coordinator.

We also delve this week into the races for statewide office with a look at the campaigns for Treasurer and Secretary of State.

Democrat John Perdue is up for re-election this year. The long-time Treasurer has held the office for 20 years. He’s running against political newcomer Republican Ann Urling who brings 30 years of community banking to the table.

Democratic incumbent Natalie Tennant is locked in a three-way battle to maintain her post as Secretary of State. A look at the race between Tennant, Republican Mac Warner and Libertarian John Buckley.

And a lawsuit alleges the Cabell County Clerk is violating the rights of her constituents. Anne Li has that story.

West Virginia Gubernational Forum: A Viewpoint Special

West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) has hosted a special Viewpoint forum with candidates in the West Virginia Governor’s race. Constitution Party candidate Phil Hudok, Libertarian Party candidate David Moran, and Mountain Party candidate Charlotte Pritt participated.

The discussion focuses on their remedies for state budget woes, growing the economy, strengthening our education system, and an array of other challenges facing the next governor of West Virginia. The forum is hosted by Ashton Marra, Assistant News Director for West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On Radio – The special will air Monday, Oct 24 at 2:00 p.m., and again on Wednesday, Oct 26, at 8 p.m. on WVPB’s statewide radio network.

On TV – The forum special will air Sunday, Oct 23 from 7-8 p.m.. on WVPB’s statewide television network. It will be preceded at 6:30 p.m. by the AARP-sponsored gubernatorial election special with Democratic candidate Jim Justice and and Republican candidate Bill Cole. Both programs also air on the West Virginia Channel on Monday, Oct 24 starting at at 7:30 p.m.

Online – You can listen online at wvpublic.org during the radio airdates, or download the Viewpoint podcast to listen on demand. The TV version of the special will also be available on WVPB’s YouTube channel.

Candidates for Governor Debate Taxes and Trump

After an NPR investigation into Jim Justice’s business operations, the Democratic candidate for governor takes on Republican Bill Cole in the second West Virginia gubernatorial debate.

A leaked tape where Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump can be heard describing sexually assaulting women causes waves in West Virginia politics, but will either scandal swing the vote?

Ann Ali, managing editor of the State Journal, and MetroNews Statewide Correspondent Brad McElhinney join us to discuss the race.

It hasn’t been that long since the state Democratic Party rarely had to worry about the Republicans winning a race over their candidates, but in 2014, things really changed in West Virginia.

After 80 years of holding a Legislative majority, the Democrats lost their hold of both the state House and Senate and shifted the nation away from thinking of West Virginia as a solidly blue state. Anne Li took a deeper look at what happened leading up to the flip and whether voters’ feelings then will impact this year’s state legislative races.

J.B. McCuskey may be a familiar name to some folks in Charleston. A resident of the capital city, McCuskey was elected to represent the 35^th House of Delegates District in 2012, but this year, he’s attempting to appeal to a much wider swath of the electorate.

McCuskey is the Republican running for Auditor, a statewide office left vacant this year when long-time Auditor Glen Gainer retired. McCuskey sat down with me in September to discuss his ideas for the office and the race that isn’t getting quite as much attention on a statewide scale.