6:00: Morning News

Legislative races offer interesting match-ups

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — When the dust settled from the 2014 General Election in West Virginia Republicans had gained control of both the House of Delegates and state Senate for the first time in 83 years. That majority is being put to the test in Tuesday’s General Election.

Republicans gained 16 seats two years ago in the House, catapulting the GOP from 48 seats to a strong majority of 64. The GOP’s gains in the Senate left them with the slimmest of majorities, 18-16. That makes this election all the more interesting, according to former Kanawha County Republican Delegate Rusty Webb.

“It’s going to really decide if Republicans maintain their position or if it just was a two-year test and Democrats get back in,” Webb recently told MetroNews.

All 100 seats are up in the House of Delegates and only a handful of the races are uncontested. The West Virginia Democratic Party and the union- and trial lawyer-backed West Virginia Family Values PAC has gone more after the seats in the Senate.

“We’ve put a lot of energy into the Senate because we didn’t have as many seats we had to get back,” West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Belinda Biafore said. “But I’ve been pleasantly surprised on what I’ve heard on the House side as well.”

House Races

Republicans have been dominant in recent years in the Northern Panhandle and most observers believe the GOP will hang on to most of the seats. The Republicans hope to pick up a seat in Ohio County but may lose one in Brooke County.

The three-member 10th Delegate District went all Republican in 2014. Delegate Mike Azinger decided to run for the Senate while Dels. Frank Deem and John Kelly hope to hang on to their seats. It’s not unusual for a Democrat to hold one of the three seats in the district.

The Democrats may also be able to pick up a seat in the 13th Delegate District where Del. Scott Cadle decided not to seek reelection. There’s been a hotly contested race in the 16th Delegate District that covers Huntington. Longtime Democratic delegate Jim Morgan decided not to run again. Republicans hope to pick up a seat there. The ballot includes former GOP delegate Chuck Romine.

In the 2014 tidal wave, Republicans were able to win a seat in the usual Democratic stronghold 22nd District. Republican insiders will be watching this race again Tuesday. Another winning night by Del. Michael Moffatt might signal a big night for Republicans.

Meanwhile, Democrats are hoping to regain control of Delegate District 32 which is mainly based in Fayette County. Voters elected Republicans Tom Fast and Kayla Kessinger two years ago along with incumbent Democrat Dave Perry. Perry is running for the Senate Tuesday. Democrats say they like their chances of picking up one or more seats. Their nominees include former Sen. Shirley Love and former delegates John Pino and Margaret Staggers.

Longtime Republican delegate Ron Walters began running negative ads against his opponent Democrat Wes Holden a few weeks ago. Holden is well-connected, having been a state representative for years for retired U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller.

The Harrison County-based four-member Delegate District 48 has been a wildcard in recent years. The one-time Democratic stronghold was split down the middle following the 2014 election and one of the Democrats, Patsy Trecost, is not on the ballot Tuesday. Republican Ben Queen has run a strong campaign and hopes to join fellow Republicans Danny Hamrick and Terry Waxman at the statehouse. House Minority Leader Tim Miley is an odds on favorite for reelection.

Democrats could make a few gains in the 51st Delegate District that covers most of Monongalia County. Republicans have held four of the five seats the last two years. Democrats hope to gain back at least two seats. The county had the most early voters in the state.

Republicans are keeping their eyes on District 52 where they hope Terry Sypolt can knock off Democrat Steve Shaffer while Democrats like their chances in District 61 in Berkeley County where former Del. Jason Barrett hopes to take advantage of the decision by Republican Walter Duke not to see reelection.

The nephew of U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Riley Moore, looks to make a gain for the Republicans in District 67 which became open when Democrat Stephen Skinner decided to run for state Senate. Capito’s son, Moore Capito, is seeking election in Kanawha County’s 35th District.

Senate Races

Republicans seek to pick up two seats in the Northern Panhandle. In order to do that, Del. Ryan Weld would have to upset incumbent Jack Yost in the 1st District and Republican Mike Maroney would have to win the 2nd District seat that’s been held by Jeff Kessler for years. Kessler ran for governor earlier this year.

The 8th Senatorial District has been one of the most watched with the Family Values PAC spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in an effort to defeat Republican Senator Chris Walters. Democrat Glen Jeffries, a successful contractor, has spent a lot of his own money.

Senator Sue Cline was appointed to the 9th District seat when Republican Daniel Hall left the Senate. She has a tough opponent in former Wyoming County officeholder Mike Goode. Cline has reportedly campaigned hard and it helps her that 87 of the precincts in the district are in Raleigh County which has steadily become a Republican county in recent years.

Many consider the race for the 10th District a toss-up with Del. Dave Perry trying to cross over to the Senate to replace his friend and fellow Democrat Bill Laird. But Republican Kenny Mann, a funeral home director in Monroe County, is well-liked and could benefit from votes in eastern Greenbrier County which has 29 precincts in the district.

Other Senate races expected to be close include the 11th District where Republican Senator Greg Boso is seeking his first reelection and getting a strong challenge from Del. Denise Campbell of Randolph County. Senator Bob Williams, a Democrat, has a tough race on his hands with Republican Randy Smith. Smith left the House to run for the Senate. A lot of money from outside groups has been spent in the 16th District race where Del. Stephen Skinner is hoping to keep the seat Democratic in a race against Republican Patricia Rucker.

MetroNews Decision 2016 coverage begins at 7 o’clock Tuesday night on many radio stations across the state and at wvmetronews.com.





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