MORGANTOWN — Four members of Monongalia County’s Democratic “Fab 5” – as they call themselves – appeared to retain their 51st District House of Delegates seats, according to figures from the Mon County Clerk’s office, while one former GOP delegate won back a seat he lost in 2018.
In two other local House races, Majority Leader Amy Summers keeps her 49th District seat, defeating her Democrat predecessor, former Delegate Mike Manypenny; and longtime Delegate Dave Pethtel once again defeated GOP challenger Phillip Wiley to hold his 5th District seat.
All totals are unofficial pending canvassing.
51st District
Here are the vote tallies for the 51st District: Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer, D, 19,834 votes (11.83%); Delegate Evan Hansen, D, 18,636 votes (11.29%); former Delegate Joe Statler, R, 18,175 votes (11.01%); Delegate Danielle Walker, D, 17,749 votes (10.75%); Delegate John Williams, D, 17,580 votes (10.65%).
Not making the cut: former Delegate Cindy Frich, R, 17,555 votes, 10.64%; Delegate Rodney Pyles, D, 17,522 votes, 10.62%; Justin White, R, 14,079 votes (8.53%); Todd Stainbrook, R, 12,113 votes (7.34%); Zach Lemaire, R, 12,051 votes (7.3%).
Tuesday’s numbers showed Williams, Frich and Pyles separated by just a few hundredths of a percent.
Fleischauer regretted that one of the Fab 5 appeared to have been bumped, based on the night’s unofficial numbers. “I’m happy how I did. We campaigned as a team and it’d be disappointing if any of my team lost.” But she’s worked with Statler before and knows she can do it again.
Statler said, “I just want to thank of the voters of Monongalia County.” A delegate represents all the people of the district. “I will work for them all.”
Walker said, “Thank you to the voters and the supporters. … I am so humbly honored to serve you in the people’s house for two more years.”
She plans to start a listening session at the beginning of December to get the voices of all the people on the policies she will promote, she said. She wants to “uplift each and every Mountaineer” across the state. She’s still smiling and standing despite some efforts to smear her, “with nothing but one love in our heart.”
House 5th District
With all 23 precincts reporting, Pethtel had 3,675 votes (54%) to Wiley’s 3,177 votes (46%).
Pethtel, of Burton, defeated Wiley, of New Martinsville, in two prior general elections, though Wiley edged closer this time: In 2016, Pethtel won with 62.96% to Wiley’s 37.04%; and in 2018, 58.73% to 41.27%.
House 49thh District
With all 19 precincts reporting, Delegate Amy Summers had 5,057 votes (62%) to former Delegate Mike Manypenny’s 3,101 votes (38%).
Summers was first elected in 2014, defeating incumbent Manypenny 54.18% to 45.82%. House Speaker Roger Hanshaw named her majority leader in 2018; the 2019 legislative session was her first in that role.
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