MORGANTOWN – Monongalia County voters returned four incumbents – one Republican and three Democrats – to the House of Delegates Tuesday night. In two open Mon House races, Republicans topped their Democratic opponents.
That will make Mon County’s party representation in the House dead even – three and three.
Here’s a rundown of the six Mon races, and a look at the numbers for House races in Preston, Marion and Taylor counties. All figures are unofficial pending canvassing.
Mon races
77th District
Incumbent Republican Joe Statler defeated Democratic challenger Ben Swanson. Statler received 3,546 votes (68%), and Swanson got 1,655 votes (32%). Statler tallied 3,481 votes in Mon County and 65 in Wetzel, which contains a small part of the district. Swanson received 1,638 in Mon and 17 in Wetzel.
78th District
This was an open seat. Republican Geno Chiarelli topped Democrat Jeffrey Budkey. Chiarelli tallied 3,049 votes (57%) to Budkey’s 2,332 (43%).
79th District
Incumbent Democrat Evan Hansen defeated Republican challenger Zach LeMaire. Hansen tallied 2,783 votes (75%), and LeMaire received 945 votes (25%).
80th District
Incumbent Democrat John Williams defeated Republican challenger Justin White. Williams received 2,421 votes (62%) to White’s 1,453 (37%).
81st District
Democrat incumbent Danielle Walker defeated Republican challenger Steven Harris. Walker received 1,628 votes votes (63%), to Harris’ 963 votes (37%).
82nd District
This was an open seat. In the closest of the six races, Republican Debbie Warner topped Democrat Katie Fallon. Warner received 2,809 votes (51%) to Fallon’s 2,671 (49%).
Preston races
Republicans took both of these races by big margins.
83rd District
This was an open seat. Incumbent Republican Terri Sypolt is retiring. Republican George Street defeated Democrat JR Wolfe. Street tallied 2,939 votes (71%), and Wolfe received 1,215 votes (29%).
84th District
Incumbent Republican Buck Jennings defeated challenger Lisa Hyre. Jennings received 3,521 votes (72%) and Hyre tallied 1,369 votes (28%).
Marion races
Marion’s two incumbents – one Democrat, one Republican – held their seats while the open seat went to a Republican.
74th District
This is the open seat. Republican Mike DeVault previously defeated incumbent Guy Ward in the primary. DeVault then topped Democrat John Palmer Tuesday night. DeVault received 3,739 votes (67%) to Palmer’s 1,879 (33%).
75th District
Incumbent Republican Phil Mallow defeated Democratic challenger Stephanie Tomana. Mallow tallied 2,917 votes (55%) to Tomana’s 2,428 (45%).
76th District
Incumbent Democrat Joey Garcia bested Republican challenger Jon Dodds. Garcia received 2,475 votes (55%) to Dodds’ 2,061 (45%).
Taylor-Marion race
73rd District
Majority Leader Amy Summers defeated Democratic challenger Mike Manypenny, who held the current 48th District seat before her. Summers tallied 3,320 votes (69%) and Manypenny received 1,471 votes (31%).
TWEET David Beard @dbeardtdp EMAIL dbeard@dominionpost.com
