CHARlESTON, W.Va. — This week’s election results in neighboring Virginia and Kentucky could have an impact on the 2016 vote in the Mountain State, according to a state business leader.
West Virginia Chamber of Commerce President Steve Roberts believes the state is becoming more red.
“When we look at how the vote came in in Virginia in the counties that border West Virginia and we look at the counties in Kentucky, it looks like West Virginia is moving more and more solidly in the bright red column,” Roberts said.
An attempt by Democratic leaders in Virginia to take over the state’s legislature failed and a Republican was elected governor in Kentucky for only the second time in the last 40 years.
West Virginia began turning red with the election of George W. Bush in 2000 but it’s been on an accelerated pace in recent years, Roberts said.
“President Obama, who carried a number of counties in West Virginia in his first election and zero counties in West Virginia in his second election, probably moved West Virginia farther and faster than anyone else could have,” Roberts said.
The Chamber of Commerce works with the Republicans and Democrats, Roberts said, and some of those Democrats feel deserted.
“More and more I hear people saying, ‘I’m just concerned the National Democratic Party has left me,'” Roberts said.
Roberts was a guest Thursday on MetroNews “Talkline.”