West Virginia State Senate District 16
West Virginia State Senate District 16 is represented by Jason Barrett (R) and Patricia Rucker (R).
As of the 2020 Census, West Virginia state senators represented an average of 52,795 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 54,700 residents.
About the office
Members of the West Virginia State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. West Virginia legislators assume office the first day of December following the election.
Qualifications
Section 12 of Article 6 of the West Virginia Constitution states, "No person shall be a senator or delegate who has not for one year next preceding his election, been a resident within the district or county from which he is elected; and if a senator or delegate remove from the district or county for which he was elected, his seat shall be thereby vacated."[1]
Section 4 of Article IV states senators must be at least 25 years old.[2]
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."[3]
The West Virginia Secretary of State states that all candidates must be individuals entitled to vote and must be citizens of West Virginia for at least five years prior to seeking election.[4]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[5] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $20,000/year | $75/day for members who commute daily. $175/day for members who do not commute daily. |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the West Virginia State Legislature, the governor must select a replacement to fill the vacant seat.[6][7]
The executive committee of the political party that held the seat before the vacancy can submit a list of three candidates to the governor. The list must be submitted to the governor within 15 days of the vacancy. The governor must make a selection within five days of receiving the list. If the committee does not submit a list within 15 days, the governor must appoint someone of the same political party as the person who left office. The person that is selected to fill the vacancy serves the remainder of the unfilled term.[7]
See sources: West Virginia Const. Art. 4, Sec. 7 and West Virginia Code Ann. §3-10-5
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
West Virginia enacted district maps for the Senate and House of Delegates on October 22, 2021.[8] On September 30, 2021, the House Redistricting Committees released a single-member district map proposal for the West Virginia House of Delegates.[9] The proposal passed the House on October 13, 2021, in a 79-20 vote and passed the Senate on October 18, 2021, in a 28-5 vote.[10] On October 5, 2021, the Senate Redistricting Committee released five map proposals for West Virginia's State Senate districts.[11] On October 11, 2021, the Senate Redistricting Committee voted to recommend Sen. Charles S. Trump IV's (R) 8th proposed senate map to the full Senate.[12] The Senate approved a map that combined aspects of previous proposals in a 31-2 vote on October 19, 2021. The map, named after Sens. Trump, Tom Takubo (R), Eric Tarr (R) Patricia Rucker (R), and Robert Karnes (R) was approved by the House in a 72-19 vote. Both the House and Senate maps were signed into law by Gov. Jim Justice (R) on October 20, 2021.[13] These maps took effect for West Virginia's 2022 legislative elections.
On the Senate map, Sen. Trump said, “This amendment I believe reconciles and harmonizes some of the issues that were points of contention. This is the product of conversations and compromises over a long period of time by a great number of people.”[14]
“There is a faction within the Republican Party that is worried about their reelection when they shouldn’t be. They should worry about how the state works and how to make it work," said Sen. Mike Romano (D).[15]
How does redistricting in West Virginia work? In West Virginia, congressional and state legislative district boundaries are set by the West Virginia State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[16]
The West Virginia Constitution requires that state Senate districts be "compact, contiguous, and bounded by county lines where doing so is not otherwise unlawful." There are no such requirements in place for congressional or state House districts.[16]
West Virginia State Senate District 16
until November 30, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
West Virginia State Senate District 16
starting December 1, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
See also: West Virginia State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for West Virginia State Senate District 16
Incumbent Patricia Rucker defeated John Doyle in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Patricia Rucker (R) | 60.0 | 31,003 |
 | John Doyle (D) | 40.0 | 20,645 | |
| Total votes: 51,648 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16
John Doyle advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on May 14, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Doyle | 100.0 | 4,431 |
| Total votes: 4,431 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16
Incumbent Patricia Rucker defeated Paul Espinosa in the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on May 14, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Patricia Rucker | 51.1 | 5,193 |
 | Paul Espinosa | 48.9 | 4,963 | |
| Total votes: 10,156 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2022
General election
General election for West Virginia State Senate District 16
Jason Barrett defeated incumbent Hannah Geffert in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jason Barrett (R) | 60.5 | 18,672 |
| Hannah Geffert (D) | 39.5 | 12,196 | ||
| Total votes: 30,868 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16
Jason Barrett defeated Renee Wibly in the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on May 10, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jason Barrett | 54.7 | 4,488 |
| Renee Wibly | 45.3 | 3,715 | ||
| Total votes: 8,203 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
General election
General election for West Virginia State Senate District 16
Incumbent Patricia Rucker defeated Pete Dougherty in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Patricia Rucker (R) | 51.8 | 25,582 |
| Pete Dougherty (D) | 48.2 | 23,768 | ||
| Total votes: 49,350 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16
Pete Dougherty advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Pete Dougherty | 100.0 | 9,763 | |
| Total votes: 9,763 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16
Incumbent Patricia Rucker advanced from the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Patricia Rucker | 100.0 | 7,798 |
| Total votes: 7,798 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for West Virginia State Senate District 16
Incumbent John Unger defeated Michael Folk in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | John Unger (D) | 52.1 | 18,802 |
 | Michael Folk (R) | 47.9 | 17,257 | |
| Total votes: 36,059 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16
Incumbent John Unger advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | John Unger |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16
Michael Folk advanced from the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Michael Folk |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the West Virginia State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 10, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was January 30, 2016. Incumbent Herb Snyder (D) did not seek re-election.
Patricia Rucker defeated Stephen Skinner in the West Virginia State Senate District 16 general election.[17][18]
| West Virginia State Senate District 16, General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Patricia Rucker |
52.79% | 22,499 | |
| Democratic | Stephen Skinner | 47.21% | 20,122 | |
| Total Votes | 42,621 | |||
| Source: West Virginia Secretary of State | ||||
Stephen Skinner defeated David Manthos in the West Virginia State Senate District 16 Democratic primary.[19][20]
| West Virginia State Senate District 16, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Stephen Skinner |
67.21% | 6,904 | |
| Democratic | David Manthos | 32.79% | 3,368 | |
| Total Votes | 10,272 | |||
Patricia Rucker defeated Joe Funkhouser in the West Virginia State Senate District 16 Republican primary.[19][20]
| West Virginia State Senate District 16, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Patricia Rucker |
55.95% | 5,359 | |
| Republican | Joe Funkhouser | 44.05% | 4,219 | |
| Total Votes | 9,578 | |||
This district was included in the Republican State Leadership Committee's list of "16 in '16: Races to Watch." Read more »
This district was included in the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee's list of "2016 Essential Races." Read more »
2014
Elections for the West Virginia State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 13, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 25, 2014. Incumbent John Unger was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Larry V. Faircloth was unopposed in the Republican primary. Unger defeated Faircloth in the general election.[21][22]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Unger Incumbent |
52.5% | 12,287 | |
| Republican | Larry V. Faircloth | 47.5% | 11,122 | |
| Total Votes | 23,409 | |||
2012
Elections for the office of West Virginia State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 8, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. Democratic incumbent Herb Snyder defeated Republican James Kenneth Ruland in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the primary elections.[23][24]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Herb Snyder Incumbent |
53.9% | 20,764 | |
| Republican | James Ruland | 46.1% | 17,763 | |
| Total Votes | 38,527 | |||
2010
Elections for the office of West Virginia State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 11, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. Democratic incumbent John Unger defeated Republican Craig Blair in the general election. Unger defeated Patrick Murphy in the Democratic primary election. Blair was unopposed in the Republican primary election.[25][26]
| West Virginia State Senate, District 16, General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | John Unger Incumbent |
50.4% | 18,800 | |
| Republican | Craig Blair | 49.6% | 18,482 | |
| Total Votes | 37,282 | |||
| West Virginia State Senate District 16 Democratic Primary, 2010 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| John Unger |
69.5% | 4,073 |
| Patrick Murphy | 30.5% | 1,784 |
| Total Votes | 5,857 | |
Campaign contributions
From 2000 to 2024, candidates for West Virginia State Senate District 16 raised a total of $2,400,447. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $68,584 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, West Virginia State Senate District 16 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $328,387 | 3 | $109,462 |
| 2022 | $290,862 | 3 | $96,954 |
| 2020 | $336,885 | 2 | $168,442 |
| 2018 | $57,281 | 1 | $57,281 |
| 2016 | $379,479 | 4 | $94,870 |
| 2014 | $88,430 | 2 | $44,215 |
| 2012 | $278,192 | 2 | $139,096 |
| 2010 | $173,406 | 4 | $43,352 |
| 2008 | $105,753 | 4 | $26,438 |
| 2006 | $180,214 | 2 | $90,107 |
| 2004 | $96,608 | 5 | $19,322 |
| 2002 | $23,050 | 1 | $23,050 |
| 2000 | $61,900 | 2 | $30,950 |
| Total | $2,400,447 | 35 | $68,584 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Constitution of West Virginia, "Article VI, Section 12," accessed May 23, 2025
- ↑ Constitution of West Virginia, "Article IV, Section 4," accessed May 23, 2025
- ↑ Constitution of West Virginia, "Article VI, Section 13," accessed May 23, 2025
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "2026 Running for Office Guide," accessed May 29, 2025 (page 16)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "West Virginia Constitution," accessed February 9, 2021 (Section, Article 4, Section 7)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 West Virginia Code, "Article 10 Filling Vacancies: §3-10-5 Vacancies in State Legislature," accessed February 8, 2023
- ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "Actions by the Governor," accessed October 25, 2021
- ↑ WSAZ, "First West Virginia redistricting maps released," September 30, 2021
- ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "Actions by the Governor," accessed October 25, 2021
- ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "Senate Select Committee on Redistricting," accessed October 7, 2021
- ↑ WV News, "(West Virginia) Senate Redistricting Committee selects proposed maps," October 11, 2021
- ↑ Metro News, "After days of trying, Senate overwhelmingly passes a map of its own districts," October 19, 2021
- ↑ The Center Square, "West Virginia Senate passes Senate redistricting bill," October 21, 2021
- ↑ 13 News, "West Virginia State Senate passes new district maps; House to return Wednesday," October 19, 2021
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 All About Redistricting, "West Virginia," accessed May 7, 2015
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate search," accessed November 4, 2016
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "2016 official general election results," accessed May 3, 2017
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Listing by Office," accessed January 30, 2016
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Statewide Results - Primary Election - May 10, 2016," accessed August 2, 2016
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed February 7, 2014
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed June 18, 2014
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, General Election - November 6, 2012, accessed November 23, 2013
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, Primary Election - May 8, 2012, accessed November 23, 2013
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, General Election - November 2, 2010, accessed November 23, 2013
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, Primary Election - May 11, 2010, accessed November 23, 2013
