Republicans have tightened their hold on the West Virginia Legislature, winning enough seats to relegate Democrats to a smaller fraction of the chamber’s 134 seats. With just two out of West Virginia’s 34 state senators being Democrats in the upcoming session, the GOP will have one of the country’s largest legislative supermajorities. The election results also mean that at least nine of the 100 delegates will be Democrats, down from 11, with one key race still pending. The passing of a U.S. Senate seat from independent Joe Manchin to Republican Jim Justice means that the GOP will control every statewide elected office for the first time in nearly a century.
The election results in West Virginia also indicate a decline in the number of female lawmakers serving in the Legislature. Currently, there are sixteen women serving in the Legislature, with only four in the state Senate and twelve in the state House. Several Republican female lawmakers were able to secure their seats in Tuesday’s election, and the overall number of women in the Legislature is expected to decrease with the election outcomes. One of the closest races was between Democratic Del. Kayla Young and Republican Andrew Anderson in Kawaha County, where Young emerged as the winner with a margin of 3.5%.
In one of the most contentious races, Democrat Ric Griffith, of Wayne County, narrowly lost a state Senate race to retired police officer Scott Fuller, a political newcomer. The seat, representing Wayne and Cabell counties, was previously held by Democratic state Sen. Robert Plymale, who retired. Republican Thomas Willis, who defeated Senate President Craig Blair earlier in the year, easily secured a seat representing part of West Virginia’s eastern panhandle. Incumbents won 10 of the 17 state Senate seats that were at stake, with seven Republicans running uncontested.
Shortly after a lawsuit was filed calling for a special election due to a candidate’s name being omitted from the ballot, the Democrat in question lost to a Republican candidate for a state Senate seat in southern West Virginia. Republican Craig Hart defeated Jeff Disibbio by a significant margin, receiving about 10,000 more votes than his opponent. The lawsuit was filed after it was discovered that Disibbio’s name had been left off the ballot and another candidate who wasn’t running had been added in his place. Despite this setback, Democratic Del. Joey Garcia from Marion County narrowly defeated Republican Rebecca Polis in the race for the seat being vacated by Democratic state Sen. Mike Caputo.
The election results will have a significant impact on the composition of the West Virginia Legislature, with Republicans solidifying their control over both the state Senate and the state House. The GOP’s supermajority in the Legislature marks a stark shift in the state’s political landscape, as Democrats are left with just a fraction of the total seats. Candidate recruitment will be key for Democrats hoping to regain ground in future elections, as they strategize on how to attract more voters and shape policies that reflect their priorities. Overall, the election outcomes signal a new era of Republican dominance in West Virginia politics, setting the stage for potential changes and reforms in the state’s legislative agenda.
