2014 West Virginia elections

2014 West Virginia elections

← 2012 November 4, 2014 2016 →
Registered1,225,926
Turnout37.8%[1] (Decrease 17.2%)

West Virginia held elections on November 4, 2014. Elections to the United States House of Representatives, as well as the House of Delegates and 17 of 34 Senate seats were held. These elections were held concurrently with other elections nationwide. Primary elections were held on May 13, 2014.

Federal offices

House of Representatives

Incumbent David McKinley was easily re-elected to the 1st district, while in the 2nd district, Republican Alex Mooney narrowly won the election to replace outgoing incumbent Shelley Moore Capito, who retired to run for Senate. In the 3rd district, longtime incumbent Democrat Nick Rahall was defeated by Republican Evan Jenkins by a 10 point margin. 2014 marks the first time since 1920 that West Virginia elected an entirely Republican House delegation.[2]

Senate

Incumbent Democratic senator Jay Rockefeller retired, leaving an open seat. Republican congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito defeated Democratic secretary of state Natalie Tennant by a 27.6 point margin, a near flip from the results of the seat's last election, in which Rockefeller defeated the Republican nominee by 27.4 points.

State Legislature

State Senate

17 of the Senate's 34 seats were up for election in 2014, including 3 Republicans and 14 Democrats. Democrats Evan Jenkins, Samuel J. Cann, and Brooks McCabe retired. Jenkins retired to run for House of Representatives as a Republican.[3] Republicans won 11 of the 17 seats up for election, tying the chamber 17–17.[4] However, Democratic senator Daniel Hall changed his party affililiation to Republican, giving the GOP a majority going into the 82nd Legislature.[5]

Party Leader Before After Change
Republican Mike Hall 10 17 Increase 7
Democratic Jeff Kessler 24 17 Decrease 7
Total 34 34

House of Delegates

All 100 seats in the House of Delegates were up for election in 2014. 15 members retired or lost renomination, including 10 Democrats and 5 Republicans. Republicans won 64 of the 100 seats, flipping the chamber's control from the Democrats for the first time in 83 years.[2]

Party Leader Before After Change
Republican Tim Armstead 47 64 Increase 17
Democratic Tim Miley 53 36 Decrease 17
Total 100 100

References

  1. ^ "2014 General" (PDF). sos.wv.gov. November 2014.
  2. ^ a b Mistich, Dave (2014-11-05). "Five Ways the West Virginia GOP Made History in the 2014 Election". West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  3. ^ Elliott, Rebecca (2013-07-31). "Dem joins GOP to run against Rahall". POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  4. ^ Hunt, Jared (2014-11-05). "Republicans will control both chambers of state Legislature". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  5. ^ Wilson, Reid (November 5, 2014). "Party switch gives Republicans control of West Virginia Senate". Washington Post.