CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A well-known political report has moved the race for U.S. Senate in West Virginia from ‘Leans Republican’ to ‘Safe Republican.’
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball made the move Thursday. The report’s managing editor Kyle Kondik said on MetroNews Talkline Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito has continued to strengthen her lead in the polls over Democrat Secretary of State Natalie Tennant.
“As we get close to the election we try to narrow the map to try to focus on the races that are most competitive, or more appropriately, the ones where the outcome is most in doubt and we are starting to move races off the board and West Virginia is one of them,” Kondik said.
Capito has been a strong candidate according to Kondik moving the race into a “lock Republican position.”
Other races in West Virginia are tighter according to the Crystal Ball. Kondik said WV-3 between Congressman Nick Rahall and GOP state Senator Evan Jenkins remains a toss-up.
“Super close, super expensive and super nasty,” Kondik said.
The race for the second congressional district is still ‘Leans Republican’ between Republican Alex Mooney and Democrat Nick Casey. Kondik said the final money amount spent on that race remains a question mark.
“Sort of waiting to see if the Democrats want to make a play in West Virginia-2, I think they may be on the fence about it,” Kondik said.
The Crystal Ball keeps the race in WV-1 as ‘Safe Republican.’