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West Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2020
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U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Governor • State executive offices • State Senate • House of Delegates • Supreme court • Local judges • How to run for office |
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All 100 seats in the West Virginia House of Delegates were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Democrats held 41 seats, Republicans held 58, and Independents held one seat. Republicans gained 18 seats, resulting in a 76-24 veto-proof Republican majority. The Republican majority increased to 77-23 after Jason Barrett switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in December 2020.[1]
The West Virginia House of Delegates was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.
West Virginia's 2020 gubernatorial and state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. At the time of the 2020 elections, the state legislature was responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans were subject to gubernatorial veto.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
West Virginia modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: All voters "concerned about their health and safety because of COVID-19" were eligible to vote absentee in the general election. An online absentee ballot request portal was created.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Party control
| West Virginia House of Delegates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 41 | 24 | |
| Republican Party | 58 | 76 | |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | |
Candidates
General election
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection
Democratic
Republican
Primary
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
Ten incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election. Those incumbents were:
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
Seven incumbents lost in the June 9 primaries, the highest number since 2014 when six incumbents were defeated in primaries.
Retiring incumbents
There were 20 open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[2] Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Randy Swartzmiller |  Democratic |
House District 1 |
| Joe Canestraro | Democratic |
House District 4 |
| Thomas Azinger |  Republican |
House District 10 |
| Jim Butler | Republican |
House District 14 |
| Ken Hicks | Democratic |
House District 19 |
| Robert Thompson | Democratic |
House District 19 |
| Ralph Rodighiero | Democratic |
House District 24 |
| John H. Shott | Republican |
House District 27 |
| Eric Nelson | Republican |
House District 35 |
| Andrew Byrd | Democratic |
House District 35 |
| Andrew Robinson | Democratic |
House District 36 |
| Jordan Hill | Republican |
House District 41 |
| Patrick Martin | Republican |
House District 46 |
| Terry Waxman | Republican |
House District 48 |
| Timothy Miley | Democratic |
House District 48 |
| Linda Longstreth | Democratic |
House District 50 |
| Michael Caputo | Democratic |
House District 50 |
| Isaac Sponaugle | Democratic |
House District 55 |
| S. Marshall Wilson |  Nonpartisan |
House District 60 |
| Tom Bibby | Republican |
House District 62 |
The 20 seats left open in 2020 were above average relative to previous cycles. Elections from 2010 to 2018 saw an average of roughly 15 open seats per cycle. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
| Open Seats in West Virginia House of Delegates elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 100 | 20 (20 percent) | 80 (80 percent) |
| 2018 | 100 | 17 (17 percent) | 83 (83 percent) |
| 2016 | 100 | 21 (21 percent) | 79 (79 percent) |
| 2014 | 100 | 8 (8 percent) | 92 (92 percent) |
| 2012 | 100 | 16 (16 percent) | 84 (84 percent) |
| 2010 | 100 | 11 (11 percent) | 89 (89 percent) |
Process to become a candidate
See statutes: Chapter 3, Article 5 of the West Virginia Code
Political party candidates
Before raising money for a campaign, a candidate must file a pre-candidacy registration form. The form must identify a campaign treasurer, who will be responsible for the campaign's financial transactions. A candidate must file a certificate of announcement declaring his or her candidacy with the West Virginia Secretary of State. The candidate must pay a filing fee, which is calculated as a percentage of the salary of the office sought. The candidate must also file a financial disclosure statement with the West Virginia Ethics Commission within 10 days of filing the certificate of announcement.[3][4][5]
Independent candidates
An independent candidate must gain authorization to collect petition signatures by obtaining an official credentials form from the county clerk in each county in which the candidate wishes to collect signatures. This form must be presented to each voter canvassed or solicited.[3][6]
The candidate must obtain a candidate nomination petition at the time of gaining authorization. The candidate must obtain signatures equaling at least 1 percent of the entire vote cast at the last preceding general election for the office being sought (or at least 25 signatures).[3][7][8]
The candidate must file the certificate of announcement and nominating petition with the appropriate office. An independent candidate must also pay a filing fee (the same as that paid by political party candidates).[3][9]
Write-in candidates
A write-in candidate must file a certificate of announcement with the West Virginia Secretary of State. Write-in candidates are not listed on the ballot, but a list of official write-in candidates is posted at each polling place during early voting and on Election Day.[3]
A write-in candidate is not required to pay a filing fee or collect signatures.[3]
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for West Virginia House of Delegates candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| West Virginia House of Delegates | Qualified party | N/A | $100.00 | 1/25/2020 | Source |
| West Virginia House of Delegates | Unaffiliated | 1% of all votes cast for the office in the last general election | N/A | 8/3/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
Section 13 of Article 6 of the West Virginia Constitution states, "No person holding any other lucrative office or employment under this state, the United States, or any foreign government; no member of Congress; and no person who is sheriff, constable, or clerk of any court of record, shall be eligible to a seat in the Legislature."
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[10] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $20,000/year | $75/day for members who commute daily. $175/day for members who do not commute daily. |
When sworn in
West Virginia legislators assume office on the first day of December following their election.[11]
West Virginia political history
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
West Virginia Party Control: 1992-2024
Nineteen years of Democratic trifectas • Seven years of Republican trifectas
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D[12] | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Presidential politics in West Virginia
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, West Virginia, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 26.4% | 188,794 | 0 | |
| Republican |  Donald Trump/Mike Pence |
68.5% | 489,371 | 5 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 3.2% | 23,004 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 1.1% | 8,075 | 0 | |
| Constitution | Darrell Lane Castle/Scott Bradley | 0.5% | 3,807 | 0 | |
| - | Other/Write-in | 0.2% | 1,372 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 714,423 | 5 | |||
| Election results via: Federal Election Commission | |||||
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. West Virginia utilizes a semi-closed primary system where parties may decide if unaffiliated voters can vote in their primaries.[13][14]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In West Virginia, all polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A voter who is in line at the time polls close must still be permitted to vote.[15]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in West Virginia, an individual must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of West Virginia, and at least 18 years of age by the date of the next general election.[16]
The registration deadline is 21 days prior to an election. An individual may register to vote by submitting a form by mail to his or her county clerk's office or the Secretary of State's Office. Registration can be completed online, in person at the county clerk's office, the Secretary of State's office, the Department of Motor Vehicles, any public assistance office, any agency that serves people with disabilities, any marriage license office, or any military recruiting agency.[16]
Automatic registration
- See also: Automatic voter registration
West Virginia automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles.[17]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
West Virginia has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
- See also: Same-day voter registration
West Virginia does not allow same-day voter registration.
Residency requirements
An individual must have resided in the state for at least 30 days of residency before they may vote.
Verification of citizenship
West Virginia does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[18] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The West Virginia Secretary of State's office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.
Voter ID requirements
West Virginia requires voters to present identification while voting. The identification provided must be issued either by the State of West Virginia, or one of its subsidiaries, or by the United States government.[19][20]
Signed into law in 2025, HB 3016 established that a document was valid if it:[20]
| “ |
|
” |
State law enumerates the following identifications that an individual may use to vote:[20]
| “ |
|
” |
Lastly, state law provided for the following exceptions and alternative methods of verifying a voter's identity:[20]
| “ |
|
” |
Voters can obtain a free voter ID card at their county clerk’s office.[22]
Early voting
West Virginia permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
Voters in West Virginia are eligible to vote absentee in an election "if the voter is 'confined,' or not in their home county, for the entire duration of in-person voting (both the early voting period and on Election Day)," for one of the following reasons:[23]
- “Injury or illness”
- “Disability or 'extreme advanced age'”
- “Incarceration or home detention (does not include individuals convicted of any felony, treason, or election bribery)”
- “Work hours and distance from county seat”
- “Inaccessible early voting site and polling place”
- “Personal or business travel”
- “Attendance at college or other place of education or training”
- “Temporary residence outside of the county”
- “Service as an elected or appointed state or federal official”
To vote absentee, a request must be received by the county clerk no later than the sixth day prior to the election.[24]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Herald Media, "Martinsburg lawmaker switches parties, joins GOP supermajority in W.Va. House," December 11, 2020
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Running for Office in West Virginia," accessed April 28, 2025
- ↑ West Virginia Code, "Chapter 3-8-5(e)," accessed April 28, 2025
- ↑ West Virginia Code, "Chapter 3-5-8," accessed April 28, 2025
- ↑ West Virginia Code, "Chapter 3-5-23," accessed April 28, 2025
- ↑ West Virginia Code, "Chapter 3-5-23," accessed April 28, 2025
- ↑ West Virginia Code, "Chapter 3-5-24," accessed April 28, 2025
- ↑ West Virginia Code, "Chapter 3-5-8," accessed April 28, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ West Virginia Constitution, "Article IV, Section 7," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Gov. Jim Justice switched his registration to Republican on August 4, 2017.
- ↑ West Virginia State Legislature, "WV Code § 3-4A-20," accessed June 30, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed June 30, 2025
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Elections Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)," accessed June 30, 2025
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Elections Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)," accessed June 30, 2025
- ↑ NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed June 30, 2025
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ West Virginia State Legislature, "West Virginia Code, §3-1-34. Voting procedures generally; identification; assistance to voters; voting records; penalties." accessed May 2, 2023
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 West Virginia Legislature, "House Bill 3016 (2025)," accessed June 27, 2025
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Be Registered and Ready" accessed June 29, 2025
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, “Eligibility for Absentee Voting In West Virginia,” accessed June 30, 2025
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, “Absentee Voting Information,” accessed June 30, 2025
