MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In the eyes of one political consultant, West Virginia politics are becoming less of a battle between Republicans and Democrats, and more of a contest between rural and urban voters.
“The West Virginia Democrat is officially dead, and the liberal Democrat has been born in the party,” Greg Thomas said. “This political realignment is almost done. We’re seeing it philosophically, and now we’re seeing it regionally.”
Thomas’ comments on MetroNews “Talkline” last week come days after Democrats took significantly victories in the midterm elections, including Bill Ihlenfeld defeating Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns, R-Ohio.
Thomas, a longtime Republican consultant and former campaign manager for Don Blankenship’s U.S. Senate campaign, said the early election figures point to urban areas being “blue geysers” for Democrats.
“Ferns got 2,500 votes better than he did in 2014. The problem with it was his opponent got 5,500 votes than (Rocky Fitzsimmons) did in 2014,” he said. “Ferns was probably a better candidate this time, and I think he ran against somebody that has less money, probably didn’t do as much as Fitzsimmons had done.”
Thomas also pointed out Cabell County, where Sen. Mike Woefel, D-Cabell, where he outperformed his 2014 efforts by more than 7,600 votes.
“I think the Democrats did a very good job of exciting their liberal base,” Thomas said. “I think it had to be national Democrats who were organizing for (U.S. Sen.) Joe Manchin, but they motivated the liberals. Wheeling’s changed a lot. Huntington, obviously, you have Marshall University, the lot of young liberal students.”
House Minority Leader Tim Miley, D-Marion, said people vote for those whom they can trust, disregarding party affiliation in the process.
“I don’t know if we should continue to look at divisive political party politics as much as we should who people think will be the best able to move their county and state forward,” he added.
Thomas said Democrats should focus on urban areas Charleston and Huntington and try to spread their influences from these points.
“It’s going to be harder in 2020 because you’re not going to have Manchin at the top of the ticket,” he said. “You’re going to have Trump that 70 percent love here, and you’re going to have (U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore) Capito who is a lot stronger candidate (state Attorney General Patrick) Morrisey was.”
According to Morning Consult, Trump’s approval rating in West Virginia is 61 percent, one of the highest approval ratings in the country.