Both Legislative Chambers Pick Up Democrat Seats
The Governor and Constitutional Officers were NOT on the ballot.
In the State Legislature, democrats more than doubled the number of seats they’ll hold in West Virginia’s House of Delegates, although republicans will still hold a supermajority.
The party membership migrated slightly to the middle from 91-9 (D-R) to 79-21 (D-R) in the House of Delegates. The two members of the House leadership team who will not return are the House Finance Chairman, Vernon Criss (R-Wood), and the House Insurance Chairman, Walter Hall (R-Kanawha).
The State Senate leadership will remain in place, closely aligned to Governor Patrick Morrisey. Democrats picked up a few seats, changing the chamber from 32-2 to 30-4. Only 2 incumbents lost. Notably, Congresswoman Carol Miller’s son ran for a State Senate seat and lost. He previously ran for Governor on the Republican ticket in 2024 and lost.
The wins were concentrated in urban areas of the state — Monongalia, Kanawha and Cabell counties, as well as Jefferson County in the Eastern Panhandle.
US Senator Shelley Moore Capito was 4th in the current US Senate leadership majority. With tonight’s republican loss of the US Senate leadership, that authority will change.
US Senator Jim Justice (R) will announce his intentions for 2028 in the next months. He is leading towards running for Governor against Patrick Morrisey (R). If he does not run, State Treasurer Larry Pack (R) will run against Morrisey.
