KINGWOOD — Unofficial results from Preston and Tucker Counties show D.R. “Buck” Jennings won a second full term to the State House of Delegates from the 53rd District.
The 53rd District includes all of Tucker County and part of Preston. Election night totals showed Jennings, a Republican, defeated Cory Chase, a Tucker County Democrat.
According to MetroNews, the final unofficial totals for all 21 precincts were 6,147 votes (69%) for Jennings and 2,787 votes (31%) for Chase.
Jennings was first appointed to the seat in 2017, after Delegate Tony Lewis died. He won a full term in 2018, defeating Chase.
He said Tuesday night that he’ll continue working to get better roads, especially in Preston County, improving education and to improve the environment for young contractors trying to enter the workforce.
“My biggest concern is getting our kids back in school. That’s got to be a priority,” Jennings said Tuesday night. “Somehow we’ve got to get a safe way to get them back in school.”
Chase said losing was “gut wrenching” but absolutely he would consider running again.
“I’ve definitely been drawn to public service,” Chase said Tuesday. “It is a way to give back to the state that I love and the community. In between now and then I’ll continue to work and raise my kids and be involved in the local community, work with some of the boards that I work with and do my best to ensure that Tucker County’s a good county to live and work in.”
TWEET@DominionPostWV
