The 2016 West Virginia Senate elections were held on November 8, 2016, as part of the biennial United States elections. Seventeen of West Virginia's 34 state senators were up for regular selection, along with an unexpired term for another seat. West Virginia Senate districts each have two elected representatives. State senators serve staggered four-year terms in West Virginia, with one senator from each district up in even-numbered years corresponding to presidential election years (such as 2016), and the other up in even-numbered years corresponding to presidential midterm years.
Primary elections in the state were held on May 10. After the previous 2014 state elections, Republicans held a slim majority in the Senate, holding 18 seats to the Democrats' 16. The Republican Party had long been the minority party in the Mountain State, but the decline of the strength of coal worker unions, the Democratic Party's increasing focus on environmentalism, the unpopularity of President Barack Obama , and the increasing social conservatism of the Republican Party have helped the GOP solidify power in the state rapidly since 2000.
The high popularity of candidate Donald Trump within the state and his 42-point margin of victory, helped the Republicans gain four seats. This can be attributed to the increasing association of the West Virginia Democratic Party with the national Democratic Party , and a strong year for the Republican Party nationally, in which they gained control of the presidency , and kept control of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate . Donald Trump won West Virginia with 68.5% of the vote, his largest share of the vote in any state. Trump's performance helped Republican Senate candidates down-ballot, as he won every senate district in the state.[1]
Following the state's 2016 Senate elections, Republicans maintained and increased their control of the Senate with 22 seats to the Democrats' 12.
Retirements [ ]
Four incumbents did not run for re-election in 2016. Those incumbents are:
Republicans [ ]
District 6: Bill Cole : Retired to run in the 2016 Gubernatorial Election .
Democrats [ ]
District 2: Jeff Kessler : Retired to run in the 2016 Gubernatorial Election .
District 10: William Laird : Retired
District 16: Herb Snyder : Retired
Incumbents defeated [ ]
In primary elections [ ]
Two incumbents were defeated in the May 10 primaries. Senator Bob Ashley was appointed to the 3rd Senate District and was the incumbent for the remainder of the unexpired term. However, Ashley chose to challenge fellow incumbent Senator Donna Boley for a full term.
Republican [ ]
District 3: Bob Ashley lost nomination to fellow incumbent Donna Boley .
Democrat [ ]
District 7: Art Kirkendoll lost renomination to Richard Ojeda .
In the general election [ ]
Republican [ ]
District 8: Chris Walters lost to Glenn Jeffries .
Democrats [ ]
District 1: Jack Yost lost to Ryan Weld .
District 14: Bob Williams lost to Randy Smith .
Results summary [ ]
Votes, of total, by party
Republican (51.83%)
Democratic (47.21%)
Libertarian (0.77%)
All results are certified by the Secretary of State of West Virginia .
Results[2]
Party
Votes
Seats
Votes
%
Total before
Up
Won
Total after
±
Republican Party
379,414
51.83
18
8
12
4
Democratic Party
345,598
47.21
16
10
6
4
Libertarian Party
5,619
0.77
0
0
0
Mountain Party
1,404
0.19
0
0
0
Popular vote
Republican
51.83%
Democratic
47.21%
Libertarian
0.77%
Mountain
0.19%
Senate seats
Republican
64.71%
Democratic
35.29%
Close races [ ]
District
Winner
Margin
District 12
Democratic
0.3%
District 4
Republican
2.1%
District 1
Republican (flip)
2.1%
District 11
Republican
2.1%
District 9
Republican
3.6%
District 16
Republican (flip)
5.6%
District 8
Democratic (flip)
6.2%
District 3
(Special)
Republican
9.3%
District 10
Republican (flip)
9.5%
Summary of results by State Senate District [ ]
Detailed results by State Senate District [ ]
All results are certified by the Secretary of State of West Virginia .[3]
District 1 [ ]
District 2 [ ]
2016 West Virginia Senate election, 2nd Senate District [5]
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Mike Maroney
6,585
54.30%
Republican
Ginger Nalley
5,541
45.70%
Total votes
12,126
100.00%
General election
Republican
Mike Maroney
22,902
54.30%
Democratic
Lisa Zukoff
15,754
37.35%
Libertarian
H. John Rogers
3,521
8.35%
Total votes
42,177
100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic
District 3 [ ]
In 2016, both seats were up for election due to an unusual series of events. Republican Bob Ashley , who had been appointed to the Senate following the departure of David Nohe in 2015, chose to run in a primary against his fellow senator Donna Boley , leaving his own seat open and triggering a special election.[6]
Regular [ ]
2016 West Virginia Senate election, 3rd Senate District [7]
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Donna Boley (incumbent)
11,508
62.97%
Republican
Bob Ashley
3,398
18.59%
Republican
John Riggs
3,368
18.43%
Total votes
18,274
100.00%
General election
Republican
Donna Boley (incumbent)
27,172
64.70%
Democratic
Bradley Vanzile
14,826
35.30%
Total votes
41,998
100.00%
Republican hold
Special [ ]
2016 West Virginia Senate special election, 3rd Senate District [8]
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Mike Azinger
9,065
60.72%
Republican
Sam Winans
5,865
39.28%
Total votes
14,930
100.00%
General election
Republican
Mike Azinger
23,034
54.64%
Democratic
Gregory K. Smith
19,125
45.36%
Total votes
42,159
100.00%
Republican hold
District 4 [ ]
2016 West Virginia Senate election, 4th Senate District [9]
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Mitch Carmichael (incumbent)
8,442
59.49%
Republican
Dustin Lewis
5,749
40.51%
Total votes
14,191
100.00%
Democratic
Brian Prim
6,999
58.77%
Democratic
Bruce Ashworth
4,910
41.23%
Total votes
11,909
100.00%
General election
Republican
Mitch Carmichael (incumbent)
22,032
51.05%
Democratic
Brian Prim
21,123
48.95%
Total votes
43,155
100.00%
Republican hold
District 5 [ ]
District 6 [ ]
2016 West Virginia Senate election, 6th Senate District [11]
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Rocky Seay
8,618
64.64%
Democratic
Brandon Barker
4,715
35.36%
Total votes
13,333
100.00%
General election
Republican
Chandler Swope
20,776
57.11%
Democratic
Rocky Seay
15,606
42.89%
Total votes
36,382
100.00%
Republican hold
District 7 [ ]
2016 West Virginia Senate election, 7th Senate District [12]
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Richard Ojeda
11,154
55.17%
Democratic
Art Kirkendoll (incumbent)
9,065
44.83%
Total votes
20,219
100.00%
Republican
Jordan Bridges
2,807
57.04%
Republican
Gary Johngrass
2,114
42.96%
Total votes
4,921
100.00%
General election
Democratic
Richard Ojeda
19,978
58.82%
Republican
Jordan Bridges
13,987
41.18%
Total votes
33,965
100.00%
Democratic hold
District 8 [ ]
District 9 [ ]
District 10 [ ]
2016 West Virginia Senate election, 10th Senate District [15]
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Kenny Mann
4,343
47.05%
Republican
Tom Ewing
3,444
37.31%
Republican
Dan Hill
1,443
15.64%
Total votes
9,230
100.00%
General election
Republican
Kenny Mann
21,148
54.73%
Democratic
Dave Perry
17,494
45.27%
Total votes
38,642
100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic
District 11 [ ]
District 12 [ ]
2016 West Virginia Senate election, 12th Senate District [17]
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Franklin Cornette
5,442
54.23%
Republican
Derrick W. Love
4,593
45.77%
Total votes
10,035
100.00%
General election
Democratic
Doug Facemire (incumbent)
21,295
50.13%
Republican
Franklin Cornette
21,188
49.87%
Total votes
42,483
100.00%
Democratic hold
District 13 [ ]
2016 West Virginia Senate election, 13th Senate District [18]
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Roman Prezioso (incumbent)
10,433
59.58%
Democratic
Jack Oliver
7,078
40.42%
Total votes
17,511
100.00%
Republican
Barry Bledsoe
4,615
58.17%
Republican
James Clawson
3,318
41.83%
Total votes
7,933
100.00%
General election
Democratic
Roman Prezioso (incumbent)
24,404
59.60%
Republican
Barry Bledsoe
16,544
40.40%
Total votes
40,948
100.00%
Democratic hold
District 14 [ ]
District 15 [ ]
2016 West Virginia Senate election, 15th Senate District [20]
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Craig Blair (incumbent)
9,702
67.82%
Republican
Larry Kump
4,604
32.18%
Total votes
14,306
100.00%
General election
Republican
Craig Blair (incumbent)
32,475
70.44%
Democratic
Brad Noll
13,629
29.56%
Total votes
46,104
100.00%
Republican hold
District 16 [ ]
2016 West Virginia Senate election, 16th Senate District [21]
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Patricia Rucker
5,359
55.95%
Republican
Joe Funkhouser
4,219
44.05%
Total votes
9,578
100.00%
Democratic
Stephen Skinner
6,904
67.21%
Democratic
David Manthos
3,368
32.79%
Total votes
10,272
100.00%
General election
Republican
Patricia Rucker
22,499
52.79%
Democratic
Stephen Skinner
20,122
47.21%
Total votes
42,621
100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic
District 17 [ ]
References [ ]
^ "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts" . Daily Kos .{{cite news }}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link )
^ "Election Night Reporting" .
^ "Election Night Reporting" .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ Jeff Jenkins (February 1, 2016). "Ashley to take on Boley in Republican Senate primary" . WV MetroNews. Retrieved December 25, 2019 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
^ "Statewide Results General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results" . Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved February 27, 2021 .