Incumbent U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito has won her contested primary for re-election to the U.S. Senate, according to early calls by MetroNews and The Associated Press.
“I asked voters six years ago to let me work for them, and I’m thankful they’ve let me continue that work,” Capito said on MetroNews’ election coverage this evening.
Her opponent in the General Election will be Democrat Paula Jean Swearengin.
Swearengin defeated former West Virginia State Senator Richard Ojeda and attorney Richie Robb.
“This movement is a battle cry from Appalachia and for people across this country,” Swearengin stated.
“West Virginians are done waiting for politicians to do the right thing. The people of this state are ready to return our government to one of, by and four the people.”
Capito, a Republican, had two primary opponents. She gained public backing in recent days from President Donald Trump, a fellow Republican who remains popular in West Virginia.
Allen Whitt, president of the Family Policy Council of West Virginia, ran by saying Capito hasn’t been conservative enough.
The other Republican candidate, Larry Butcher, ran as a write-in against Capito in 2014.
Democrats in the race included Swearengin, who ran against incumbent Senator Joe Manchin, also a Democrat, two years ago; former state Senator Richard Ojeda, a retired U.S. Army major; and former South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb, who has run in years past for governor, the state’s 2nd Congressional District seat and a state Senate seat.
Capito is running for re-election after first winning the U.S. Senate seat in 2104 against five opponents of various parties. Before that, she served in Congress from 2001 to 2015.
More West Virginia congressional seats were also on the ballot.
1st District Congress – Incumbent David McKinley has two Democratic opponents vying to face him: Natalie Cline of Wheeling and Tom Payne of Martinsburg.
Cline was declared the victor after amassing a big lead against Payne.
McKinley started serving in the seat in 2011.
2nd District Congress — Incumbent Alex Mooney, who faced off against fellow Republican Mathew Hahn, a doctor from Berkeley Springs, took a commanding lead as early vote totals rolled in.
Democrat Cathy Kunkel, running along with the “West Virginia Can’t Wait” group of progressive candidates, was unopposed in the primary.
Mooney has held the seat since 2015.
3rd District Congress — Incumbent Carol Miller, a Republican who took office in 2019, defeated challenger Russell Siegel in the primary.
“It is crucial that we support our coal and gas industries and work to create new opportunities for success throughout the region,” Miller said after her Primary Election victory was certain.
“Together we can safely get America back to work, grow our economy, and create well-paying jobs throughout West Virginia.”
Miller had four Democrats vying to face her
The Democrats were Hilary Turner of Huntington, who was also running with “West Virginia Can’t Wait,” Paul Davis of Huntington, who is the general manager of Tri State Transit Authority, Eugene Lacy Watson of Bluefield, and Jeffrey Lewis of Cabell County.
With all precincts in, Watson had 16,353 votes to Turner’s 16,192 votes, so the margin was very narrow.