# 2016 West Virginia Senate election

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The 2016 West Virginia Senate elections were held on November 8, 2016, as part of the biennial United States elections. Seventeen of West Virginia's 34 state senators were up for regular selection, along with an unexpired term for another seat. West Virginia Senate districts each have two elected representatives. State senators serve staggered four-year terms in West Virginia, with one senator from each district up in even-numbered years corresponding to presidential election years (such as 2016), and the other up in even-numbered years corresponding to presidential midterm years.
Primary elections in the state were held on May 10. After the previous 2014 state elections, Republicans held a slim majority in the Senate, holding 18 seats to the Democrats' 16. The Republican Party had long been the minority party in West Virginia, but the decline of the strength of coal worker unions, the Democratic Party's increasing focus on environmentalism, the unpopularity of President Barack Obama, and the increasing social conservatism of the Republican Party have helped the GOP solidify power in the state rapidly since 2000.
The high popularity of candidate Donald Trump within the state and his 42-point margin of victory, helped the Republicans gain four seats. This can be attributed to the increasing association of the West Virginia Democratic Party with the national Democratic Party, and a strong year for the Republican Party nationally, in which they gained control of the presidency, and kept control of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. Donald Trump won West Virginia with 68.5% of the vote, his largest share of the vote in any state. Trump's performance helped Republican Senate candidates down-ballot, as he won every senate district in the state.
Following the state's 2016 Senate elections, Republicans maintained and increased their control of the Senate with 22 seats to the Democrats' 12.

## Retirements

Four incumbents did not run for re-election in 2016. Those incumbents are:

### Republicans

* District 6: Bill Cole: Retired to run in the 2016 Gubernatorial Election.

### Democrats

* District 2: Jeff Kessler: Retired to run in the 2016 Gubernatorial Election.
* District 10: William Laird: Retired
* District 16: Herb Snyder: Retired

## Incumbents defeated
### In primary elections

Two incumbents were defeated in the May 10 primaries. Senator Bob Ashley was appointed to the 3rd Senate District and was the incumbent for the remainder of the unexpired term. However, Ashley chose to challenge fellow incumbent senator Donna Boley for a full term.

#### Republican

* District 3: Bob Ashley lost nomination to fellow incumbent Donna Boley.

#### Democrat

* District 7: Art Kirkendoll lost renomination to Richard Ojeda.

### In the general election
#### Republican

* District 8: Chris Walters lost to Glenn Jeffries.

#### Democrats

* District 1: Jack Yost lost to Ryan Weld.
* District 14: Bob Williams lost to Randy Smith.

## Results summary

* Republican (51.83%)
* Democratic (47.21%)
* Libertarian (0.77%)
* Mountain (0.19%)
All results are certified by the Secretary of State of West Virginia.
Results :
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Votes | % | Total before | Up | Won | Total after | ± |
| Republican Party | | 379,414 | 51.83 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 22 / 34 | 4 |
| Democratic Party | | 345,598 | 47.21 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 12 / 34 | 4 |
| Libertarian Party | | 5,619 | 0.77 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 / 34 | |
| Mountain Party | | 1,404 | 0.19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 / 34 | |
Popular vote
Republican
51.83%
Democratic
47.21%
Libertarian
0.77%
Mountain
0.19% :
Senate seats
Republican
64.71%
Democratic
35.29% :

## Close races

| District | Winner | Margin |
| District 12 | Democratic | 0.3% |
| District 4 | Republican | 2.1% |
| District 1 | Republican (flip) | 2.1% |
| District 11 | Republican | 2.1% |
| District 9 | Republican | 3.6% |
| District 16 | Republican (flip) | 5.6% |
| District 8 | Democratic (flip) | 6.2% |
| District 3 (Special) | Republican | 9.3% |
| District 10 | Republican (flip) | 9.5% |

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Governing | Lean R | October 12, 2016 |

## Summary of results by State Senate District

| District | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Elected Senator | Elected Senator | Result |
| District | Member | Party | First elected | Member | Party | Result |
| District 1 | Jack Yost | Democratic | 2008 | Ryan Weld | Republican | Republican Gain |
| District 2 | Jeff Kessler | Democratic | 1997 (appointed) | Mike Maroney | Republican | Republican Gain |
| District 3 | Donna Boley | Republican | 1985 (appointed) | Donna Boley | Republican | Republican Hold |
| District 3 (sp.) | Bob Ashley | Republican | 2015 (appointed) | Mike Azinger | Republican | Republican Hold |
| District 4 | Mitch Carmichael | Republican | 2012 | Mitch Carmichael | Republican | Republican Hold |
| District 5 | Robert Plymale | Democratic | 1992 | Robert Plymale | Democratic | Democratic Hold |
| District 6 | Bill Cole | Republican | 2012 | Chandler Swope | Republican | Republican Hold |
| District 7 | Art Kirkendoll | Democratic | 2011 (appointed) | Richard Ojeda | Democratic | Democratic Hold |
| District 8 | Chris Walters | Republican | 2012 | Glenn Jeffries | Democratic | Democratic Gain |
| District 9 | Sue Cline | Republican | 2016 (appointed) | Sue Cline | Republican | Republican Hold |
| District 10 | William Laird | Democratic | 2008 | Kenny Mann | Republican | Republican Gain |
| District 11 | Greg Boso | Republican | 2015 (appointed) | Greg Boso | Republican | Republican Hold |
| District 12 | Doug Facemire | Democratic | 2008 | Doug Facemire | Democratic | Democratic Hold |
| District 13 | Roman Prezioso | Democratic | 1996 | Roman Prezioso | Democratic | Democratic Hold |
| District 14 | Bob Williams | Democratic | 2008 | Randy Smith | Republican | Republican Gain |
| District 15 | Craig Blair | Republican | 2012 | Craig Blair | Republican | Republican Hold |
| District 16 | Herb Snyder | Democratic | 2008 | Patricia Rucker | Republican | Republican Gain |
| District 17 | Corey Palumbo | Democratic | 2008 | Corey Palumbo | Democratic | Democratic Hold |

## Detailed results by State Senate District

All results are certified by the Secretary of State of West Virginia.

### District 1

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 1st Senate District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ryan Weld | 21,191 | 51.07% |
| | Democratic | Jack Yost (incumbent) | 20,303 | 48.93% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,494 | 100.00% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 2

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 2nd Senate District :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Maroney | 6,585 | 54.30% |
| | Republican | Ginger Nalley | 5,541 | 45.70% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,126 | 100.00% |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Mike Maroney | 22,902 | 54.30% |
| | Democratic | Lisa Zukoff | 15,754 | 37.35% |
| | Libertarian | H. John Rogers | 3,521 | 8.35% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,177 | 100.00% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 3

In 2016, both seats were up for election due to an unusual series of events. Republican Bob Ashley, who had been appointed to the Senate following the departure of David Nohe in 2015, chose to run in a primary against his fellow senator Donna Boley, leaving his own seat open and triggering a special election.

#### Regular

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 3rd Senate District :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Donna Boley (incumbent) | 11,508 | 62.97% |
| | Republican | Bob Ashley | 3,398 | 18.59% |
| | Republican | John Riggs | 3,368 | 18.43% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,274 | 100.00% |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Donna Boley (incumbent) | 27,172 | 64.70% |
| | Democratic | Bradley Vanzile | 14,826 | 35.30% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,998 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

#### Special

2016 West Virginia Senate special election, 3rd Senate District :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Azinger | 9,065 | 60.72% |
| | Republican | Sam Winans | 5,865 | 39.28% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,930 | 100.00% |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Mike Azinger | 23,034 | 54.64% |
| | Democratic | Gregory K. Smith | 19,125 | 45.36% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,159 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 4

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 4th Senate District :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mitch Carmichael (incumbent) | 8,442 | 59.49% |
| | Republican | Dustin Lewis | 5,749 | 40.51% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,191 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic | Brian Prim | 6,999 | 58.77% |
| | Democratic | Bruce Ashworth | 4,910 | 41.23% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,909 | 100.00% |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Mitch Carmichael (incumbent) | 22,032 | 51.05% |
| | Democratic | Brian Prim | 21,123 | 48.95% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,155 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 5

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 5th Senate District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robert Plymale (incumbent) | 22,863 | 60.24% |
| | Republican | Tyson Smith | 15,092 | 39.76% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,955 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 6

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 6th Senate District :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rocky Seay | 8,618 | 64.64% |
| | Democratic | Brandon Barker | 4,715 | 35.36% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,333 | 100.00% |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Chandler Swope | 20,776 | 57.11% |
| | Democratic | Rocky Seay | 15,606 | 42.89% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,382 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 7

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 7th Senate District :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard Ojeda | 11,154 | 55.17% |
| | Democratic | Art Kirkendoll (incumbent) | 9,065 | 44.83% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,219 | 100.00% |
| | Republican | Jordan Bridges | 2,807 | 57.04% |
| | Republican | Gary Johngrass | 2,114 | 42.96% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,921 | 100.00% |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Richard Ojeda | 19,978 | 58.82% |
| | Republican | Jordan Bridges | 13,987 | 41.18% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,965 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 8

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 8th Senate District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Glenn Jeffries | 20,768 | 53.08% |
| | Republican | Chris Walters (incumbent) | 18,357 | 46.92% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,125 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 9

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 9th Senate District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Sue Cline (incumbent) | 18,861 | 51.81% |
| | Democratic | Mike Goode | 17,545 | 48.19% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,406 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 10

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 10th Senate District :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kenny Mann | 4,343 | 47.05% |
| | Republican | Tom Ewing | 3,444 | 37.31% |
| | Republican | Dan Hill | 1,443 | 15.64% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,230 | 100.00% |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Kenny Mann | 21,148 | 54.73% |
| | Democratic | Dave Perry | 17,494 | 45.27% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,642 | 100.00% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 11

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 11th Senate District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Greg Boso (incumbent) | 20,610 | 49.39% |
| | Democratic | Denise Campbell | 19,718 | 47.25% |
| | Mountain | Bruce Breuninger | 1,404 | 3.36% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,732 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 12

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 12th Senate District :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Franklin Cornette | 5,442 | 54.23% |
| | Republican | Derrick W. Love | 4,593 | 45.77% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,035 | 100.00% |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Doug Facemire (incumbent) | 21,295 | 50.13% |
| | Republican | Franklin Cornette | 21,188 | 49.87% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,483 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 13

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 13th Senate District :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Roman Prezioso (incumbent) | 10,433 | 59.58% |
| | Democratic | Jack Oliver | 7,078 | 40.42% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,511 | 100.00% |
| | Republican | Barry Bledsoe | 4,615 | 58.17% |
| | Republican | James Clawson | 3,318 | 41.83% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,933 | 100.00% |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Roman Prezioso (incumbent) | 24,404 | 59.60% |
| | Republican | Barry Bledsoe | 16,544 | 40.40% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 40,948 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 14

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 14th Senate District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Randy Smith | 23,201 | 53.26% |
| | Democratic | Bob Williams (incumbent) | 18,264 | 41.93% |
| | Libertarian | Matthew Persinger | 2,098 | 4.82% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,563 | 100.00% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 15

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 15th Senate District :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Craig Blair (incumbent) | 9,702 | 67.82% |
| | Republican | Larry Kump | 4,604 | 32.18% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,306 | 100.00% |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Craig Blair (incumbent) | 32,475 | 70.44% |
| | Democratic | Brad Noll | 13,629 | 29.56% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 46,104 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 16

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 16th Senate District :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Patricia Rucker | 5,359 | 55.95% |
| | Republican | Joe Funkhouser | 4,219 | 44.05% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,578 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic | Stephen Skinner | 6,904 | 67.21% |
| | Democratic | David Manthos | 3,368 | 32.79% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,272 | 100.00% |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Patricia Rucker | 22,499 | 52.79% |
| | Democratic | Stephen Skinner | 20,122 | 47.21% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,621 | 100.00% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 17

2016 West Virginia Senate election, 17th Senate District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Corey Palumbo (incumbent) | 22,781 | 55.39% |
| | Republican | Chris Stansbury | 18,345 | 44.61% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,126 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |