Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
West Virginia 2010 legislative election results
Senate
 |
|
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan• Minnesota • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming |
| Other 2010 Election information |
West Virginia State Senate Election Results
This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the West Virginia State Senate. For results in individual contests see our West Virginia State Senate elections, 2010 page. The following is a breakdown of the state senate before and after the election:
| West Virginia State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 1, 2010 | After the 2010 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 26 | 27 | |
| Republican Party | 8 | 7 | |
| Total | 34 | 34 | |
What You'll See on This Page
This page displays the following lists of candidates
- Incumbents who ran on November 2
- Incumbents who were defeated
- Challengers who defeated an incumbent
- Newly elected senators
- List of all winners
- Unopposed candidates
- Third party candidates
State Senate Overview:
- There were 12 incumbents who ran in the November 2 general election. None of those 12 incumbents lost, and thus all 12 incumbents were re-elected to the West Virginia State Senate.
- There will be 5 new senators sworn-in. Of those 5, 4 are Democrats and 1 is a Republican
- Of the 17 seats up for election, 14 were won by Democrats and 3 by Republicans.
- 5 candidates were unopposed, 4 Democrats and 1 Republican.
- Only 1 candidate ran as an independent or third party candidate in the general election.
Incumbency Analysis
Of the 1,167 state senate seats up for election in 2010, incumbents ran for 894 (76.6%) of them. Of these 894, 94 lost their re-election bids, 89 Democrats and 5 Republicans. In West Virginia, 5 incumbent senators did not run for re-election on the November 2 ballot, while 12 incumbents (70.6%) ran for re-election. Of these 12 incumbents, none were defeated.
Incumbents who ran on November 2
The following is a list of all of the incumbents who ran on the November 2 general election ballot:
Incumbents defeated
There were no incumbents defeated in the November 2 general election.
New State Senators and General Election Winners
388 new senators were elected across the country. This includes challengers who defeated incumbents as well as candidates who won open seats. Of these 388, 278 were Republicans and 110 were Democrats. In West Virginia, 5 new senators will be sworn-in. Of those 5, 4 are Democrats and 1 is a Republican. In the 5 open seat contests, Republicans won 1 and Democrats 4. In total, West Virginia elected 17 senators, 3 Republicans and 14 Democrats.
Newly elected senators
The following are the newly-elected members of the West Virginia State Senate:
Democratic
Republican
Open Seat Winners
The following is a list of candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:
Democratic
Republican
Candidates who won election
The following is a list of all candidates elected to the West Virginia State Senate:
Democratic
Republican
Competitiveness
Across the nation, 1,167 state senate seats were up for election in 2010. 1,143 of those seats were partisan seats (24 seats were up for election in Nebraska's nonpartisan unicameral legislature). In 320 (28.0%) of these state senate contests, there was a major party candidate with no major party opposition. In West Virginia, 5 candidates (29.4% of seats) faced no major party opposition. Of these 5, 4 were Democrats and 1 was a Republican.
Unopposed candidates in general election
The following candidates did not face major party competition:
Democratic
Republican
Ballot Access
Across the nation, 140 independent or third party candidates ran for state senate. In West Virginia, 1 (3.1%) of the 32 senate candidates ran as an independent or third party candidate.
Third party candidates
The following is a list of third party and independent candidates who ran in 2010:
House
|
|
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan• Minnesota • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming |
| Other 2010 Election information |
West Virginia State House Election Results
This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the West Virginia House of Delegates. For results in individual contests, see our West Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2010. The following is a breakdown of the state house before and after the election:
| West Virginia House of Delegates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 1, 2010 | After the 2010 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 71 | 65 | |
| Republican Party | 29 | 35 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | |
What You'll See on This Page
This page displays the following lists of candidates
- Incumbents who ran on November 2
- Incumbents who were defeated
- Challengers who defeated an incumbent
- Newly elected senators
- List of all winners
- Unopposed candidates
- Third party candidates
State House Overview:
- There were 88 incumbents who ran in the November 2 general election. Only 7 incumbents lost, and thus 81 incumbents were re-elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates.
- No Republican incumbents lost in the general election, while 7 incumbent Democratic incumbent lost.
- There will be 19 new representatives sworn-in. Of those 19, 8 are Democrats and 11 are Republicans
- Of the 100 seats up for election, 65 were won by Democrats and 35 by Republicans.
- 24 candidates were unopposed, 18 Democrats and 6 Republicans.
- Only 8 candidates ran as an independent or third party candidate in the general election.
Incumbency Analysis
Of the 4,958 state house seats up for election, incumbents ran in the general election for 4,091 (79.5%) of them. Of these 4,091 incumbents, 413 lost their re-election bids, 403 Democrats and 10 Republicans. In West Virginia, 88 (88.0%) incumbents ran for re-election. Of these 88, 7 incumbent representatives were defeated. All 7 incumbents were Democrats.
Incumbents who ran on November 2
The following is a list of all of the incumbents who ran on the November 2 general election ballot:
- William Romine
- Lynwood Ireland
- Everette Anderson
- Larry Border
- Thomas Azinger
- John Ellem
- Robert Ashley (West Virginia)
- Mitch Carmichael
- Troy Andes
- Kelli Sobonya
- Marty Gearheart
- Linda Sumner
- Denny Canterbury Jr.
- Tim Armstead
- Ronald Walters
- Patrick Lane
- Allen Evans
- Ruth Rowan
- Daryl Cowles
- Jonathan Miller
- Walter Duke
- John Overington
- Randy Swartzmiller
- Timothy Ennis
- Roy Givens
- Scott Varner
- Michael Ferro
- David Pethtel
- Daniel Poling
- Brady Paxton
- Dale Martin (West Virginia)
- Kevin Craig (West Virginia)
- James Morgan (West Virginia)
- Dale Stephens
- Douglas Reynolds
- Don Perdue
- Larry Barker (West Virginia)
- Greg Butcher
- Josh Stowers
- Ralph Rodighiero
- Steven Kominar
- Harry White
- Linda Goode Phillips
- Daniel Hall (West Virginia Senator)
- Clifton Moore
- John Frazier (West Virginia)
- Gerald Crosier
- William Wooton
- Virginia Mahan
- Sally Matz Susman
- Thomas Campbell (West Virginia)
- David Perry (West Virginia)
- Margaret Staggers
- Douglas Skaff Jr.
- Bonnie Brown
- Barbara Hatfield (West Virginia)
- Danny Wells
- Mark Hunt
- Nancy Guthrie
- Meshea Poore
- Brent Boggs
- Sam Argento
- Joseph Talbott
- Margaret Smith (West Virginia legislator)
- Mary Poling
- Ronald Fragale
- Richard Iaquinta
- Samuel Cann, Sr.
- Timothy Manchin
- Michael Caputo
- Charlene Marshall
- Barbara Fleischauer
- Larry Williams (West Virginia)
- Stanley Shaver
- Harold Michael
- Terry L. Walker
- John Doyle (West Virginia)
- Tiffany Lawrence
- Richard Thompson (West Virginia)
- William Hartman
- William Hamilton
- David Walker (West Virginia)
- Linda Longstreth
- Timothy Miley
- Rick Moye
- Sharon Spencer
- Michael Manypenny
- Carol Miller (West Virginia)
Incumbents defeated
The following is a list of incumbents defeated on November 2:
| Candidate | Party | District |
|---|---|---|
| Sally Matz Susman | ||
| Sam Argento | ||
| Terry L. Walker | ||
| Sharon Spencer |
Challengers who beat an incumbent
The following is a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent on November 2:
New Representatives and General Election Winners
1,345 new representatives were elected across the country. This includes challengers who defeated incumbents as well as candidates who won open seats. Of these 1,345, 988 were Republicans and 357 were Democrats. In West Virginia, 19 new representatives will be sworn-in. Of those 19, 8 are Democrats and 11 are Republicans. In the 7 open seat contests, Republicans won 5 and Democrats 2. In total, West Virginia elected 100 representatives, 35 Republicans and 65 Democrats.
Newly elected representatives
The following are the newly-elected members of the West Virginia House of Delegates:
Democratic
Republican
Open Seat Winners
The following is a list of candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:
Democratic
Republican
Candidates who won election
The following is a list of all candidates elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates:
Democratic
- Randy Swartzmiller
- Ronnie Jones (West Virginia)
- Timothy Ennis
- Roy Givens
- Scott Varner
- Michael Ferro
- David Pethtel
- Daniel Poling
- Brady Paxton
- Dale Martin (West Virginia)
- Kevin Craig (West Virginia)
- James Morgan (West Virginia)
- Dale Stephens
- Douglas Reynolds
- Don Perdue
- Larry Barker (West Virginia)
- Greg Butcher
- Josh Stowers
- Ralph Rodighiero
- Steven Kominar
- Harry White
- Linda Goode Phillips
- Clifton Moore
- John Frazier (West Virginia)
- Gerald Crosier
- William Wooton
- Virginia Mahan
- Thomas Campbell (West Virginia)
- David Perry (West Virginia)
- Margaret Staggers
- John Pino
- Douglas Skaff Jr.
- Bonnie Brown
- Barbara Hatfield (West Virginia)
- Danny Wells
- Mark Hunt
- Nancy Guthrie
- Meshea Poore
- Brent Boggs
- Joseph Talbott
- Denise Campbell
- Margaret Smith (West Virginia legislator)
- Mary Poling
- Ronald Fragale
- Richard Iaquinta
- Samuel Cann, Sr.
- Timothy Manchin
- Michael Caputo
- Charlene Marshall
- Barbara Fleischauer
- Tony Barill
- Larry Williams (West Virginia)
- Stanley Shaver
- Harold Michael
- John Doyle (West Virginia)
- Tiffany Lawrence
- Richard Thompson (West Virginia)
- William Hartman
- David Walker (West Virginia)
- Linda Longstreth
- Timothy Miley
- Rick Moye
- Michael Manypenny
Republican
- William Romine
- Lynwood Ireland
- Everette Anderson
- Larry Border
- Thomas Azinger
- John Ellem
- Robert Ashley (West Virginia)
- Mitch Carmichael
- Troy Andes
- Brian Savilla
- Kelli Sobonya
- Marty Gearheart
- Joe Ellington
- Linda Sumner
- Rick Snuffer (2018 West Virginia congressional candidate)
- John O'Neal
- Denny Canterbury Jr.
- Ronald Walters
- Patrick Lane
- Harold "Pete" Sigler
- Amanda Pasdon
- Allen Evans
- Gary Howell (West Virginia)
- Ruth Rowan
- Daryl Cowles
- Larry D. Kump
- Jonathan Miller
- Walter Duke
- John Overington
- Eric Householder
- Ryan Ferns
- Daniel Hall (West Virginia Senator)
- Douglas Skaff Jr.
- Eric Nelson (West Virginia)
- William Hamilton
- Erikka Storch
- Rupert Phillips Jr.
- Carol Miller (West Virginia)
Competitiveness
Across the nation, 4,958 state house seats were up for election in 2010. In 1,680 (33.9%) of these state house contests, there was a major party candidate with no major party opposition. In West Virginia, 24 candidates (24.0% of all seats) faced no major party opposition. Of these 24, 18 were Democrats and 6 were Republicans.
Unopposed candidates in general election
The following candidates did not face major party competition:
Democratic
- David Pethtel
- Harry White
- Steven Kominar
- Brent Boggs
- Clifton Moore
- Don Perdue
- Harold Michael
- Joseph Talbott
- Larry Williams (West Virginia)
- Margaret Smith (West Virginia legislator)
- Michael Ferro
- Randy Swartzmiller
- Roy Givens
- Scott Varner
- Timothy Ennis
- Richard Thompson (West Virginia)
- David Walker (West Virginia)
Republican
Ballot Access
In West Virginia, 8 (5.1%) of the 158 house candidates ran as independent or third party candidates.
Third party candidates
The following is a list of third party and independent candidates who ran in 2010:
National Partisan Trends
|
|
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan• Minnesota • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming |
| Other 2010 Election information |
National Partisan Trends
The following tables detail the partisan breakdown of national election results. These results provide context for Republican gains in West Virginia.
Incumbents who were defeated in the general election
Across the nation, only 15 Republican incumbents were defeated while 492 Democratic incumbents were defeated. In total, 507 (10.4%) of the 4,872 incumbents running in the general election were defeated. The following is a breakdown of incumbent defeats in the 2010 general election:
The following is the breakdown of incumbents who lost.
| Incumbents defeated in 2010 legislative elections | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Senate | House | Total |
| Democratic | 89 | 403 | 492 |
| Republican | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| TOTALS | 94 | 413 | 507 |
Total new legislators elected
In total, 1,733 (28.3%) new legislators were elected in 2010. Of these 1,733, 1,266 (73.1%) are Republicans and 467 (26.9%) are Democrats.
The following is the breakdown of new legislators.
| New Legislators after the 2010 legislative elections | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Senate | House | Total |
| Democratic | 110 | 357 | 467 |
| Republican | 278 | 988 | 1,266 |
| TOTALS | 388 | 1,345 | 1,733 |
Winners of Open Seats
Open seats contests made up 1,178 (19.2%) of the 6,125 seats on November 2. Of these 1,178 open seats, Republicans won 729 (61.9%) while Democrats won 449 (38.1%). Going into the election, the number of open seats formerly held by each party was quite similar. Estimates prior to the election suggest that approximately 52% of the open seats were previously held by Republicans and 48% were held by Democrats.
The following is the breakdown of open seat winners.
| Open Seat Winners in 2010 legislative elections | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Senate | House | Total |
| Democratic | 108 | 341 | 449 |
| Republican | 191 | 538 | 729 |
| TOTALS | 299 | 879 | 1,178 |
Impact on legislative majorities
- See also: Partisan balance of state legislatures
Heading into the November 2 elections, the Democratic Party held a commanding lead in state houses in the 88 legislative chambers that held elections in 2010. 52 of the 88 chambers, or nearly 60% of them, had a Democratic majority, while only 33 of them had a Republican majority. (Two chambers had an exactly equal number of Democrats and Republicans and one is officially nonpartisan.) The following is a partisan breakdown of state legislatures prior to the November 2 election:
| Partisan breakdown before the November 2010 Election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislative chamber | 
|
|
|
|
| State senates | 23 | 18 | 1 | 1 |
| State houses | 29 | 15 | 1 | - |
| Totals: | 52 | 33 | 2 | 1 |
As a result of the election, Republicans picked up 20 legislative chambers while Democrats lost 20. Republicans won 53 total chambers on November 2, while Democrats won only 32. The following is a partisan breakdown of state legislatures after the November 2 election:
| Partisan breakdown after the November 2010 Election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislative chamber |
|
|
|
|
| State senates | 16 | 25 | 1 | 1 |
| State houses | 16 | 28 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals: | 32 | 53 | 2 | 1 |
Another way to examine the data is to gauge how many chambers had gains for the Democratic Party versus the Republican Party. Using this variable, the wide-sweeping Republican victory is further amplified. Democrats bolstered their majorities in only 7 of 88 (7.96%) state chambers. These legislatures are as follows:
| State legislative chambers where Democrats gained seats on November 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| State | Chamber | Number of seats gained by Democrats |
| California | Assembly | + 2 |
| Delaware | House | + 2 |
| Hawaii | Senate | + 1 |
| Maryland | Senate | + 2 |
| Massachusetts | Senate | + 1 |
| Missouri | Senate | + 1 |
| West Virginia | Senate | + 1 |
In 7 chambers, the GOP kept their current number of seats. In one chamber, the California State Assembly, both major parties gained seats by filling 2 vacancies and defeating an incumbent independent. Overall, the Republican Party picked up legislative seats in 75 (85.2%) of the 88 legislative chambers that held elections on November 2.
Impact on State Politics
Along with the GOP capture of the U.S. House of Representatives, state Republicans gained trifectas (control of the governorship, house, and senate) in 12 states. The following is a breakdown of trifectas across the nation, before and after the 2010 election:
| Trifectas before and after the 2010 Election | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Before election | U.S. House seats | After election | U.S. House seats | Gain/loss states | Gain/loss congressional seats |
| 16 | 131 | 11 | 115 | -5 | -16 | |
| 8 | 66 | 20 | 198 | +12 | +132 | |
Before the election, 131 U.S House seats were in states with Democratic trifectas, while 66 districts were in states with Republican trifectas. After the election, Republicans trifectas control redistricting for 198 U.S. House seats while Democrats control only 115. Additionally, California, the strongest Democratic trifecta with 53 U.S. House representatives, passed propositions that take redistricting power away from state government.
