Republicans have expanded their majority in West Virginia’s House of Delegates.
Unofficial results from Election Night show the Republicans picking up 10 more seats in the House. That takes the GOP majority in the 100-member House to 88.
All 100 seats were on the ballot. This year, for the first time, West Virginia has 100 single-member House districts. Before, some districts were multi-member.
The House of Delegates most recently has had 78 Republicans and 22 Democrats.
Only a couple of Republican incumbents lost. One was Austin Haynes of Fayette County, who was involved in recent allegations and a potential lawsuit. Another was Andrew Anderson, who was named to fill an unexpired term just a few weeks ago.
Incumbent Democrats who were defeated included Philip Diserio of Follansbee, Lisa Zukoff of Moundsville, Ed Evans of Welch and Cody Thompson of Elkins.
Democrats didn’t put up candidates in 21 House districts.
“We get ready for the January regular session, and we all start figuring out what to do next,” said House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay.
One issue that could receive attention is an income tax proposal that has won previous support in the House.
“We’ve been behind it before,” Hanshaw said. “I don’t yet know where the new caucus will be in terms of what we would take up and pass come January. I also think it’s way too early to speculate what we might do on taxes.”