MORGANTOWN – Monongalia County’s four incumbent delegates all sailed through their primary races – three of them without opposition, one handily defeating a challenger – to face opponents in the November general election.
Two of the six races – for six new single-member districts replacing the five-member 51st – had no incumbents running. Both saw three Republicans vying in the primary, including one former delegate who’d hoped to return to the Capitol.
Numbers are based on all 43 precincts reporting.
77th District
The 77th covers the entire western half of the county. Neither incumbent 51st District Republican Joe Statler nor Democrat challenger Ben Swanson had a primary opponent.
Statler tallied 1,034 votes; Swanson received 686 votes.
78th District
The 78th covers the eastern portion of Mon, between Cheat Lake and Browns Chapel.
Jeffrey Budkey is the sole Democrat. Three Republicans were vying: Geno Chiarelli, Toni DiChiacchio and Scott Nale – with Chiarelli apparently winning the nomination.
Budkey received 718 votes.
Chiarelli received 444 votes; DiChiacchio, 383 votes; Nale, 379 votes.
79th District
The 79th covers part of Morgantown and the South Hills.
Republican Zach LeMaire was unchallenged. Democrat incumbent Evan Hansen faced challenger in Matthew Kolb.
LeMaire received 352 votes.
Hansen received 1,105 votes to Kolb’s 93 votes.
Hansen said, “I’m so grateful that the voters put their faith in me for another term. I’ll keep working on behalf of the people in my district and on policies that help all West Virginians. This vote of confidence means a lot.”
80th District
The 80th includes Suncrest, Star City and Granville.
Republican Justin White and Democrat incumbent John Williams were unopposed in the primary.
White received 540 votes; Williams received 899.
81st District
The 81st covers the area that includes the WVU Research Park and the airport.
Republican Steven Harris and incumbent Democrat Danielle Walker were unopposed in the primary.
Harris received 280 votes, Walker 489.
82nd District
The 82nd covers the Cheat Lake area from the Monongahela River to the Preston County line. Katie Fallon is the sole Democrat.
Three Republicans were vying: former Delegate Cindy Frich, Drew Talbott and Debbie Warner, with Warner the apparent winner of the nomination.
Fallon received 708 votes.
Warner tallied 555 votes; Frich, 355 votes; Talbott, 123 votes.
All results are unofficial pending canvassing.
Tweet David Beard @dbeardtdp Email dbeard@dominionpost.com
