2020 West Virginia Senate election

The 2020 West Virginia Senate elections were held on November 3, 2020, as part of the biennial United States elections. Seventeen of the 34 West Virginia state senators stood for election. West Virginia Senate districts each have two elected representatives.

2020 West Virginia Senate election

← 2018 November 3, 2020 (2020-11-03) 2022 →

17 of the 34 seats in the West Virginia Senate
18 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Mitch Carmichael
(lost renomination)
Roman Prezioso
(retired)
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since January 11, 2017 January 11, 2017
Leader's seat 4th district 13th district
Seats before 20 14
Seats after 23 11
Seat change Increase 3 Decrease 3
Popular vote 456,726 267,073
Percentage 61.2% 36.1%
Swing Increase 7.8% Decrease 8.0%
Seats up 11 6
Races won 14 3

Results of the elections:
     Republican gain
     Democratic hold      Republican hold

Senate President before election

Mitch Carmichael
Republican

Elected Senate President

Craig Blair
Republican

Retirements

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Four incumbents did not run for re-election in 2020. Those incumbents are:

Republicans

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  1. District 10: Kenny Mann: Retiring

Democrats

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  1. District 7: Paul Hardesty: Retiring
  2. District 13: Roman Prezioso: Retiring
  3. District 17: Corey Palumbo: Retiring

Incumbents defeated

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In primary elections

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Three incumbents were defeated in the June 9 primaries, the same number as were defeated in the 2018 primaries. Senator Mitch Carmichael (R) was one of the three incumbents defeated. As president of the state Senate, Carmichael also served as the lieutenant governor of West Virginia.

Republicans

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  1. District 4: Mitch Carmichael lost renomination to Amy Nichole Grady.
  2. District 9: Sue Cline lost renomination to David Stover.
  3. District 11: John Pitsenbarger lost renomination to Robert Karnes.

In the general election

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Democrat

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  1. District 12: Doug Facemire lost to Patrick Martin.

Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[1] Likely R October 21, 2020

Results summary

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Votes, of total, by party

  Republican (61.81%)
  Democratic (36.14%)
  Mountain (1.34%)
  Libertarian (0.71%)

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 456,726 61.81
20 11 14
23 / 34
  3
Democratic Party 267,073 36.14
14 6 3
11 / 34
  3
Mountain Party 10,324 1.34
0 0 0
0 / 34
 
Libertarian Party 5,307 0.71
0 0 0
0 / 34
 
Popular vote
Republican
61.81%
Democratic
36.14%
Mountain
1.34%
Libertarian
0.71%
Senate seats
Republican
67.64%
Democratic
32.35%

Senate president election

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On January 13, 2021, the West Virginia Senate convened to elect a president for the 85th Legislature. Republican leader and incumbent president Mitch Carmichael lost renomination, leaving the presidency open to a new senator. Senator Craig Blair was nominated by fellow 15th district member Charles Trump, and was seconded by Eric Tarr. On a motion of Senator Stephen Baldwin, nominations for the presidency were closed, and Senator Blair was elected by acclamation to the office of Senate President.

Senate President election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Craig Blair Acclamation 100.0
Total votes 31 100.0
Republican hold

Close races

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District Winner Margin
District 11 Republican 2.6%
District 16 Republican 4.4%
District 1 Republican 6.2%
District 5 Democratic 6.8%
District 17 Republican (flip) 7.4%
District 8 Democratic 11.6%
District 7 Republican (flip) 12.4%
District 13 Democratic 13.6%
District 12 Republican (flip) 14.0%

Summary of results by State Senate District

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District Incumbent Elected Senator Result
Member Party Since Member Party
District 1 Ryan Weld Republican 2016 Ryan Weld Republican Republican Hold
District 2 Mike Maroney Republican 2016 Mike Maroney Republican Republican Hold
District 3 Donna Boley Republican 1985 Donna Boley Republican Republican Hold
District 4 Mitch Carmichael Republican 2012 Amy Grady Republican Republican Hold
District 5 Robert Plymale Democratic 1992 Robert Plymale Democratic Democratic Hold
District 6 Chandler Swope Republican 2016 Chandler Swope Republican Republican Hold
District 7 Paul Hardesty Democratic 2018 Rupie Phillips Republican Republican Gain
District 8 Glenn Jeffries Democratic 2016 Glenn Jeffries Democratic Democratic Hold
District 9 Sue Cline Republican 2016 David Stover Republican Republican Hold
District 10 Kenny Mann Republican 2016 Jack Woodrum Republican Republican Hold
District 11 John Pitsenbarger Republican 2019 Robert Karnes Republican Republican Hold
District 12 Doug Facemire Democratic 2008 Patrick Martin Republican Republican Gain
District 13 Roman Prezioso Democratic 1996 Mike Caputo Democratic Democratic Hold
District 14 Randy Smith Republican 2016 Randy Smith Republican Republican Hold
District 15 Craig Blair Republican 2012 Craig Blair Republican Republican Hold
District 16 Patricia Rucker Republican 2016 Patricia Rucker Republican Republican Hold
District 17 Corey Palumbo Democratic 2009 Eric Nelson Republican Republican Gain

Detailed results by State Senate District

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District 1District 2District 3District 4District 5District 6District 7District 8District 9District 10District 11District 12District 13District 14District 15District 16District 17

District 1

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Republican primary

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Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ryan Weld (incumbent) 7,088 64.5%
Republican Jack Newbrough 3,904 35.5%
Total votes 10,992 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Randy Swartzmiller 10,995 100.0%
Total votes 10,995 100.0%

General election

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West Virginia's 1st Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ryan Weld (incumbent) 23,593 53.1%
Democratic Randy Swartzmiller 20,836 46.9%
Total votes 44,429 100.0%
Republican hold

District 2

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Republican primary

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Republican primary[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Maroney (incumbent) 7,835 61.5%
Republican Elijah Dean 4,904 38.5%
Total votes 12,739 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Josh Gary 5,663 51.3%
Democratic Carla Jones 5,379 48.7%
Total votes 11,042 100.0%

General election

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West Virginia's 2nd Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Maroney (incumbent) 24,761 56.2%
Democratic Josh Gary 19,269 43.8%
Total votes 44,030 100.0%
Republican hold

District 3

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Republican primary

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Republican primary[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Donna Boley (incumbent) 10,628 100.0%
Total votes 10,628 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert Wilson Jr. 6,840 100.0%
Total votes 6,840 100.0%

General election

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West Virginia's 3rd Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Donna Boley (incumbent) 29,630 66.3%
Democratic Robert Wilson Jr. 11,706 26.2%
Libertarian Travis Shultz 3,363 7.5%
Total votes 44,699 100.0%
Republican hold

District 4

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Republican primary

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Republican primary[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Amy Nichole Grady 6,402 39.1%
Republican Mitch Carmichael (incumbent) 5,726 34.9%
Republican Jim Butler 4,265 26.0%
Total votes 16,393 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bruce Ashworth 9,096 100.0%
Total votes 9,096 100.0%

General election

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West Virginia's 4th Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Amy Nichole Grady 33,206 70.7%
Democratic Bruce Ashworth 11,885 25.3%
Libertarian Loyd Butcher 1,895 4.0%
Total votes 46,986 100.0%
Republican hold

District 5

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West Virginia's 5th Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert H. Plymale (incumbent) 22,349 53.4%
Republican Charles Shaffer 19,478 46.6%
Total votes 41,827 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 6

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West Virginia's 6th Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chandler Swope (incumbent) 33,553 100.0%
Total votes 33,553 100.0%
Republican hold

District 7

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West Virginia's 7th Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rupie Phillips 20,484 56.2%
Democratic Ralph Rodighiero 15,965 43.8%
Total votes 36,449 100.0%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 8

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West Virginia's 8th Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Glenn Jeffries (incumbent) 23,243 55.8%
Republican Kathie Hess Crouse 18,427 44.2%
Total votes 41,670 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 9

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West Virginia's 9th Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Stover 35,141 100.0%
Total votes 35,141 100.0%
Republican hold

District 10

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West Virginia's 10th Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jack Woodrum 25,191 58.6%
Democratic William Laird IV 17,812 41.4%
Total votes 43,003 100.0%
Republican hold

District 11

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West Virginia's 11th Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Karnes 23,229 51.3%
Democratic Denise Campbell 22,018 48.7%
Total votes 45,247 100.0%
Republican hold

District 12

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West Virginia's 12th Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Patrick Martin 26,066 57.0%
Democratic Doug Facemire (incumbent) 19,699 43.0%
Total votes 45,765 100.0%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 13

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West Virginia's 13th Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Caputo 25,870 56.8%
Republican Rebecca Polis 20,178 43.2%
Total votes 46,048 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 14

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West Virginia's 14th Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Randy Smith (incumbent) 35,191 72.6%
Democratic David Childers 13,254 27.3%
Total votes 48,455 100.0%
Republican hold

District 15

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West Virginia's 15th Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Craig Blair (incumbent) 41,560 80.1%
Mountain Donald Kinnie 10,324 19.9%
Total votes 51,884 100.0%
Republican hold

District 16

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West Virginia's 16th Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Patricia Rucker (incumbent) 24,928 52.2%
Democratic Pete Dougherty 22,803 47.8%
Total votes 47,731 100.0%
Republican hold

District 17

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West Virginia's 17th Senate district General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Eric Nelson 23,584 53.7%
Democratic Andrew Robinson 20,364 46.3%
Total votes 43,948 100.0%
Republican gain from Democratic

References

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  1. ^ "October Overview: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  2. ^ "Election Night Reporting".
  3. ^ "STATE SENATOR, 1ST". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  4. ^ "STATE SENATOR, 2ND". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  5. ^ "STATE SENATOR, 3RD". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  6. ^ "West Virginia State Senate District 4". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
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