West Virginia’s senior U.S. senator appeared to clear a major hurdle toward a third six-year term in the Senate following Tuesday night’s primary election, while Democrats appeared to tap a former Morgantown City Council member to challenge her in the general election.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., unofficially nailed down the Republican nomination after a primary election cycle in which her campaign constructed a massive fundraising advantage, fueled significantly by the political action committee for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, known as AIPAC, and defense and energy industry support.
Touting an endorsement from President Donald Trump, Capito fended off a primary challenge from West Virginia Sen. Tom Willis, R-Berkeley, and four other candidates on the GOP ballot: Alex Gaaserud of Parkersburg, automated robotics sales veteran Bryan McKinney of Inwood, Berkeley County, author and information technology and retail veteran Janet McNulty of Martinsburg, and civil engineer David Purkey of Fairmont.
With 55 of 55 counties reporting Wednesday, Capito, of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, hauled in 80,032 votes (66.5%), followed by Willis (22,736, 18.9%), McKinney (5,556, 4.6%), Purkey (5,014, 4.2%), Gaaserud (4,438, 3.7%), and McNulty (2,581, 2.1%).
Capito alluded to Trump’s “America First†agenda, linked to nationalism as well as noninterventionism undermined by Trump’s own attacks on Iran, in a broad statement Tuesday night on the primary results.
“Tonight, West Virginia Republicans sent a clear message that we are ready to continue delivering wins with America First policies through my strong leadership in the U.S. Senate,†Capito said.
Capito offered thanks to “the West Virginians who made our victory tonight possible through your vote, your time, your efforts, and to President Trump for his confidence in me and endorsement.â€
This is an undated contributed photo of Rachel Fetty Anderson.
Attorney and former Morgantown City Council member Rachel Fetty Anderson unofficially topped the Democratic primary field.
That field featured four other candidates, including campaign committee fundraising leader Zach Shrewsbury of Princeton, Mercer County, executive director of mutual aid and civic engagement nonprofit Bluejay Rising, and attorney and former West Virginia Senate President Jeff Kessler. Â
Shrewsbury had run on the progressive end of the Democratic spectrum, having introduced Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on the latter’s “Fighting Oligarchy†speaking tour stops in West Virginia in August and vied unsuccessfully for the Senate Democratic nomination in 2024.
Rounding out the field were attorney and retired state employee Thornton Cooper of South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, a former West Virginia Public Service Commission Transportation Division deputy director, and community organizer Rio Phillips of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
With 55 of 55 counties reporting Wednesday, Anderson picked up 30,792 votes (33.2%), besting Kessler (25,085 votes, 27%), Shrewsbury (14,995, 16.2%), Cooper (11,765, 12.7%) and Phillips (10,184, 11%).
In a phone interview with the Gazette-Mail Tuesday night, Anderson contended West Virginians are “looking for folks who are focused on a more progressive agenda, folks who demonstrate that they are going to be loyal to West Virginians and West Virginia voters and folks who are not conflicted out by massive donations.â€
Anderson called West Virginia “a very misogynistic state†and a “state that really has a poor opinion of women,†in part citing restrictions on abortion and birth control access.
“I think a lot of women are voting for candidates that they think will take that up as an issue,†Anderson.
Miller, George take 1st District primaries
Miller
In the U.S. House of Representatives race to represent West Virginia’s 1st Congressional District, Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., appeared to easily secure the GOP nod in her bid for a fifth two-year term.
With 28 out of 28 applicable counties reporting, Miller registered 40,321 votes (72%) in the 1st Congressional District GOP primary to outpace opponent Larry Jackson of Hanover, Wyoming County, a heavy machinery business owner (15,646 votes, 28%).
Miller’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
On Democratic ticket, entrepreneur and community organizer bested retired public policy analyst Vince George of South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä unofficially bested Britta “Brit†Aguirre of Logan.
George logged 23,382 votes (53%) to Aguirre’s 20,766 votes (47%) with 28 of 28 counties reporting Tuesday night.
This is an undated contributed photo of Vince George.
George indicated to the Gazette-Mail Tuesday night he will advocate for Medicare for All, a proposed single-payer national health care system, doubling the federal minimum wage and “ending forever wars,†suggesting the United States has been “participating in†genocide in Gaza amid what human rights groups and international law experts say has been Israel-perpetrated genocide of Palestinians in Gaza throughout a 2½-year war with Hamas.
On the 2nd Congressional District Democratic ballot, former civics engagement director Ace Parsi of Morgantown topped middle school science teacher Stephanie Spears Tomana of Idamay, Marion County, and retired naval officer Steven Wendelin of Lost City, Hardy County.
With 27 of 27 applicable counties reporting Wednesday, Parsi netted 17,696 votes (39.7%), elevating him over Tomana (16,908, 37.9%) and Wendelin (9,980, 22.4%).
“The voters of West Virginia are fed up with politics that have been molded by division and fight after fight of culture wars and people fighting each other," Parsi said in a statement Wednesday. "They want resources to help people and communities and not division. This primary kindled passion for a whole new sort of politics, one of affordability, one of healthcare, clean water, public education, dignity.â€
Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., ran unopposed on the Republican ballot in his hunt for a second term.
Mike Tony covers energy and the environment. He can be reached at mtony@hdmediallc.com or 304-348-1236. Follow @Mike__Tony on X.Â
