Elections, West Virginia Legislature

A look at the winners in contested area legislative primary races

MORGANTOWN – Only a handful of area state legislative races were competitive in Tuesday’s primary election. Here’s a look at those and a rundown of the other races that will be on November’s ballot.

Contested races

House of Delegates

73rd District

Three Republicans ran to succeed incumbent Delegate Amy Summers – former majority leader and current Health chair – who is retiring. Bryan Smith, of Grafton, topped Fred Guidi, also of Grafton, and Rick Wolfe, of Bridgeport. No Democrat is running.

The numbers, with 18 precincts reporting: Smith, 1,357 votes (46%); Guidi, 1,092 (37%); Wolfe, 484 (17%)

75th District

Incumbent Republican Phil Mallow defeated GOP challenger David Kennedy. Both hail from Fairmont. He will face Democrat Stephanie Spears Tomana, of Idamay.

The numbers, with all 27 precincts reporting: Mallow, 1,119 (57%); Kennedy, 856 (43%).

76th District

Two Republicans and two Democrats vied for this open seat. Incumbent Democrat Joey Garcia is running for state Senate (see below).

On the Republican side Jon Dodds, of Fairmont, defeated Toby Heaney, of Fairview. Democrat Rick Garcia topped Tom Mainella; both are from Fairmont.

The numbers, with all 24 precincts reporting.

Republicans: Dodds, 833 (53%); Heaney, 741 (47%).

Democrats: Garcia, 1,084 (67%); Mainella, 531 (33%).

82nd District

Incumbent Republican Debbie Warner is not seeking reelection. With all seven precincts reporting, Democrat Bill Reger-Nash defeated Mai-Lyn Sadler with 753 votes (60.29%) to Sadler’s 496 (39.7%). He will face Republican David McCormick, who was unchallenged.

84th District

Incumbent Republican Buck Jennings, of Thornton, defeated GOP challenger Justin Hough, of Kingwood. No Democrat is running.

The numbers, with all 15 precincts reporting: Jennings, 1,689 (54%); Hough, 1,431 (46%).

Senate

2nd District

Incumbent Republican and Senate Health chair Mike Maroney, of Glen Dale, fell to GOP challenger Chris Rose, of Maidsville. No Democrat is running.

The numbers, with 105 of 114 precincts reporting: Rose, 7,071 (62%); Maroney, 4,385 (38%).

All numbers are unofficial, pending canvassing.

Other races

House of Delegates

74th District

Incumbent Republican Michael DeVault and Democrat Frankie Delapas, both of Fairmont, have no opposition and will face off in November.

77th District

Incumbent Republican Joe Statler has no challenger in the primary or November.

78th District

Incumbent Republican Geno Chiarelli and Democrat Diane Market Gaston are unchallenged and will face off in November.

79th District

Incumbent Democrat Evan Hansen has no challenger in the primary or November.

80th District

Incumbent Democrat John Williams and Republican Summer Hartley have no opposition and will face off in November.

81st District

Incumbent Democrat Anitra Hamilton was appointed to this seat and sworn in last May. She is seeking election to her first full term and has no challenger in the primary or November.

83rd District

Incumbent Republican George Street has no challenger in the primary or November.

Senate

13th District

Marion County Democratic Delegate Joey Garcia is hoping to succeed incumbent Democrat Mike Caputo, who is not seeking reelection. He has no challenger in the primary or November.

14th District

Incumbent Republican and Senate Energy chair Randy Smith, of Terra Alta, has no GOP challenger. He will face Mountain Party candidate Betsy Orndoff-Sayers, of Wardensville, in November. No Democrat is running.

Email: dbeard@dominionpost.com