CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Kanawha County’s legislative delegation will look vastly different when the next legislative session convenes. During recent elections, Republicans began to chip away at long held Democrat strongholds, but Tuesday’s election in Kanawha County was a seismic shift in the state’s most populated county.
The 35th Delegate District saw Republican incumbents Eric Nelson and J.B. McCuskey lead the ticket. They’ll be joined by newcomers Republican Chris Stansbury and Democrat Andrew Byrd.
“I’m still just getting used to the fact the election is over. We’ve been campaigning for 14 months, but it’s total excitement,” said Stansbury following the victory. “I just felt like we’ve been going down the wrong path for quite a while and I needed to get in and try to help. I was tired of sitting on the sidelines.”
The 36th Delegate District will include Democrat Larry Rowe who’s a former member of both the House and Senate. He led the ticket. The second highest vote getter was Republican newcomer Brad White.
“I’ve never been in politics before,” said White. “I was told I wouldn’t be able to win. That just fueled my passion that much more.”
Incumbent Democrat Delegate Nancy Guthrie managed to hang onto her seat in the district narrowly eclipsing incumbent Democrat Danny Wells who is out.
The 37th Delegate District will have a newcomer in the House as cab driver and local musician Mike Pushkin the Democrat won the vacant seat over Republican Charles Minimah.
“I’m very happy about the way the race turned out, but it did not happen in a vacuum,” he said. “I realize what we don’t’ want is what we have in Washington DC and that’s a stalemate where nothing’s getting done. If we’re going to work for the people of West Virginia and improve the way of life in West Virginia we’re going to have to work together and it doesn’t matter what letter one of my co-workers has after their name. That’s what we’re supposed to be doing.”
There were two surprise wins for the Republicans in Kanawha County Senate races Tuesday night. Republican Ed Gaunch defeated incumbent Democrat Senator Erik Wells in the 8th Senate District. The open seat in the 17th Senate District goes to Republican Tom Takubo. Takubo is a lung doctor in Charleston and was humbled by the victory.
“I’ve got a lot to learn, I’ve not been in politics so I’m going to count on a lot of good people to help me out, but I’m a quick learner,” Takubo said.
He defeated Democrat Doug Skaff who was a popular member of the House of Delegates who chose to run for the Senate. A DUI in Morgantown two weeks ago is thought to have had an negative impact on Skaff’s chances. The victory was another which gave the GOP a large majority in the House and evened the balance of power in the state Senate.
“That’s long overdue, but at the same time the Republicans need to step up and do what they said they would do if we get those majorities,” said Takubo. “This is a four year term and at the end of it, I want to be able to look back and say, ‘Wow, this is where West Virginia was and look where we are now.’ Then all of this is worth it.”