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2018 West Virginia elections

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2018 West Virginia elections

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West Virginia held elections on November 6, 2018. Elections for the United States House and Senate were held as well as two high-profile ballot measures. These elections were held concurrently with other elections nationwide. Primary elections were held on May 8, 2018.

Federal offices

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House of Representatives

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In District 1, Republican incumbent David McKinley won reelection with 64.6% of the vote, defeating Democratic challenger Kendra Fershee, a West Virginia University law professor.

In District 2, Republican incumbent Alex Mooney won reelection with 53.9% of the vote, defeating Talley Sergent, a former U.S. State Department official.

In District 3, Republican incumbent Evan Jenkins resigned in September 2018. Democratic state Senator Richard Ojeda challenged Republican Majority Whip of the West Virginia House of Delegates Carol Miller. Miller won with 56.4% of the vote.[1]

Senate

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Incumbent Democrat Joe Manchin was ranked by many outlets to be one of the most vulnerable incumbents up for election. His challenger was Attorney General of West Virginia Patrick Morrisey who won a contentious Republican primary. Manchin won the election with 49.6% of the vote against Morrisey's 46.3% vote share. This was much lower than Manchin's previous performance of a vote share 60.6% in 2012.[2]

State Legislature

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State Senate

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17 of the 34 State Senate seats were up for election in 2018. Democrats won a net gain of 2 seats, but Republicans maintained their majority with 20 seats to Democrat's 14. A total of 5 Republican incumbents lost their election, 3 in their primaries and 2 in the general election.[3]

House of Delegates

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All 100 seats in the West Virginia House of Delegates were up for election. The Republican majority sustained a net loss of 4 seats, decreasing the majority from 63 to 59. A total of 5 Democrats, 7 Republicans, and 1 Independent incumbents lost reelection in either their primaries or in the general election.[4]

Ballot Measures

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Amendment 1

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Amendment 1

No Constitutional right to abortion Amendment
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 295,536 51.73%
No 275,738 48.27%
Valid votes 571,274 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 0.00%
Total votes 571,274 100.00%

Results

"No Constitutional right to abortion Amendment"

To amend the West Virginia Constitution to clarify that nothing in the Constitution of West Virginia secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion.[5]

Amendment 1
Choice Votes %
Referendum passed Yes 295,536 51.73
No 275,738 48.27
Total votes 571,274 100.00

Amendment 2

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Amended the state constitution to authorize the legislature to reduce the budget of the state judiciary by up to 15 percent, among other things relating to the judiciary.[6]

Amendment 2
Choice Votes %
Referendum passed Yes 386,272 72.35
No 147,594 27.65
Total votes 533,866 100.00

Supreme Court of Appeals

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Two special elections were held after the resignation of Justices Menis Ketchum and Robin Davis in July and August respectively. The resignations came after revelations and legislative investigations into a misuse of state funds and corruption of the state judiciary. Tim Armstead was appointed to Ketchum's seat and Evan Jenkins was appointed to Davis's seat by Governor Jim Justice.[7]

Division 1

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Candidates

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  • Tim Armstead, incumbent justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates from 2015 to 2018.
  • Joanna I. Tabit, judge on the Thirteenth Circuit Court in West Virginia.
  • Chris Wilkes.
  • Mark Hunt, member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from District 36.
  • Ronald Hatfield Jr.
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Tim Armstead 131,296 26.1
Nonpartisan Joanna I. Tabit 111,915 22.2
Nonpartisan Chris Wilkes 66,037 13.1
Nonpartisan Mark Hunt 60,705 12.0
Nonpartisan Ronald Hatfield Jr. 39,155 7.8
Nonpartisan Others 94,832 18.8
Total votes 503,940 100.0%

Division 2

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Candidates

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General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Evan Jenkins 182,133 36.0
Nonpartisan Dennise Renee Smith 70,394 13.9
Nonpartisan Jeffrey Kessler 60,077 11.9
Nonpartisan Jim Douglas 47,609 9.4
Nonpartisan Robert Frank 29,751 5.9
Nonpartisan Others 115,752 22.9
Total votes 505,716 100.0%

References

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  1. ^ "United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, 2018". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  2. ^ "United States Senate election in West Virginia, 2018". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  3. ^ "West Virginia State Senate elections, 2018". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  4. ^ "West Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2018". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  5. ^ "West Virginia Amendment 1, No Right to Abortion in Constitution Measure (2018)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  6. ^ "West Virginia, Amendment 2, Legislative Authority over Budgeting for State Judiciary Amendment (2018)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  7. ^ "West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals special elections, 2018". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 10, 2021.