With the election behind us, it’s a good time to take a look, in no particular order, at some of the emerging political figures who were on the ballot Tuesday.
On the way up:
–Doug Skaff. The Kanawha County Democratic Delegate led the ticket in his district in each of the last three elections. Skaff established himself as the de-facto leader of the Kanawha County delegation when he negotiated a break-up of the old 30th district during redistricting.
–Erikka Storch. A moderate Republican Delegate from Ohio County who is the CFO of a steel company, but also has the backing of labor. She has led the ticket in her district the last two elections.
–Eric Nelson. Another moderate Republican, Nelson won his second term in the House of Delegates in Kanawha County Tuesday. Nelson is a successful businessman whose father served briefly in the Legislature. One political observer says Nelson is “young, likes politics and has ambition.”
–Josh Stowers. The Democrat was the ticket leader in the 22nd delegate district (Lincoln, Logan, Boone, Putnam) as he won his third term. Stowers brings youth and enthusiasm from the part of the state that needs fresh faces in politics.
–Doug Reynolds. Democratic leaders believe this Huntington attorney has statewide potential. Reynolds led the ticket in his district Tuesday and was re-elected to his fourth term.
Brand new:
–Joshua Nelson. Nelson is a 25-year-old former Marine turned coal miner who ran as a Republican in Democrat-dominated Boone County. Even Nelson’s father told him he was crazy to run, but he beat incumbent Democrat Delegate Larry Barker 63 percent to 37 percent.
–Stephen Skinner. This Jefferson County attorney is young, smart and outspoken. Skinner, a Democrat, won a Delegate seat Tuesday and could be part of the emerging power shift to West Virginia’s eastern panhandle.
–Bill Cole. This Republican car dealer from Bluefield spent heavily, campaigned hard and defeated incumbent Democrat Mark Wills in the Senate’s 6th district (McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Wayne), which had been drawn to guarantee Democratic control. Cole, at 56, is not exactly a young gun, but he has means and now a state Senate seat.
–Suzette Raines. Yet another moderate Republican who claimed a Delegate seat in Kanawha County and, in the process, helped knock out two long-serving Democrats—Bobbie Hatfield and Bonnie Brown.
–Patrick Morrisey. The best way for a Republican to win statewide office in West Virginia is to run against a McGraw. Brent Benjamin did it in 2004 when he defeated Democrat Warren McGraw for the state Supreme Court and Tuesday Morrisey did it when he defeated Warren’s brother, Darrell, in the Attorney General’s race.
–Allen Loughry. The conventional wisdom was that Democrat Tish Chafin would take the second position in this year’s state Supreme Court race. The smart, likeable Loughry never bought into the CW and won with shoe leather and wholesome TV ads that somehow managed not to be corny.
These are just a few names that come to mind after consulting with political observers in the state. You may have others, so feel free to post them and your reasons for including them.