2026 West Virginia Senate election

←  2024 November 3, 2026 2028 →
19 of 34 seats in the West Virginia Senate (17 regular, 2 special) 18 seats needed for a majority
Leader Randy Smith Mike Woelfel (retiring) Party Republican Democratic Leader since January 8, 2025 January 11, 2023 Leader's seat 14th–Preston 5th–Cabell Last election 16 seats, 79.30% 1 seat, 19.61% Current seats 32 2 Seats needed 16 Seats up 18 1
Status of the incumbents:      Republican incumbent     Republican incumbent retiring      Democratic incumbent retiring Circular insets (Districts 3 and 17): special elections
Incumbent Senate President Randy Smith Republican

The 2026 West Virginia Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026, alongside the other 2026 United States elections. ^[1] Voters will elect half the members of the West Virginia Senate to serve a four-year term. ^[2] Two other Senate seats will hold special elections. Primary elections will be held on May 12, 2026.

Contents

• Crossover seat
• Appointments
• Predictions
• Statewide
• Competitive districts
• List of districts
• District 1
• Republican primary
• Democratic primary
• District 2
• Republican primary 2
• Democratic primary 2
• District 3 (regular)
• Republican primary 3
• Democratic primary 3
• District 3 (special)
• Republican primary 4
• District 4
• Republican primary 5
• Democratic primary 4
• District 5
• Democratic primary 5
• Republican primary 6
• District 6
• Republican primary 7
• Democratic primary 6
• District 7
• Republican primary 8
• Independent candidates
• District 8
• Republican primary 9
• Democratic primary 8
• Mountain primary
• District 9
• Republican primary 10
• Democratic primary 9
• District 10
• Republican primary 11
• Democratic primary 10
• District 11
• Republican primary 12
• Democratic primary 11
• District 12
• Republican primary 13
• Democratic primary 12
• District 13
• Republican primary 14
• District 14
• Republican primary 15
• Democratic primary 14
• District 15
• Republican primary 16
• Democratic primary 15
• District 16
• Republican primary 17
• District 17 (regular)
• Republican primary 18
• Democratic primary 16
• District 17 (special)
• Republican primary 19
• Democratic primary 17
• Notes
• References
• External websites

As of November 1, 2025, there were 34 active candidacies for the 2026 state senate election. ^[3] Candidate filing for office ended on January 31, 2026, with Republicans filing in all 17 regular elections and both specials, as well as with Democrats filing in 15 regular elections and one special.

This election will take place alongside races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state house, and numerous other state and local elections.

Crossover seat

Only one state senate district, District 5, voted for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2024 and a Democratic state senate nominee at the 2022 general election:

Appointments

According to §3-10-5 of West Virginia Code, vacancies in the state senate are filled through appointment by the Governor of one of three candidates chosen by the executive committee of the outgoing member's party. ^[4] Below is a list of appointments made during the 86th Legislature.

Predictions

List of districts

District 1

District 1 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD Shawn Fluharty (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Laura Chapman Republican

The first Senate district is located within the state's Northern Panhandle. Contained within the district are the entirety of the counties of Brooke, Hancock, and Ohio, along with portions of Marshall County. The largest municipality in the district is Wheeling, other communities within the district include Bethlehem, Chester, Follansbee, Hooverson, Wellsburg, and Weirton. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is Laura Chapman, a Republican, first elected in 2022, winning the general election with 60.5 percent of the vote, flipping a Democratic-held seat. She is running for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 68.7 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 2

District 2 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD Chris Claypole (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Charles H. Clements Republican

The second Senate district is located within the mid-Ohio Valley region. Contained within the district are the entirety of the counties of Doddridge, Tyler, and Wetzel, along with portions of the counties of Marion, Marshall, and Monongalia. The largest municipality in the district is Moundsville, other communities within the district include Cheat Lake, New Martinsville, and Paden City. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is Charles H. Clements, a Republican, first appointed in 2017. He was re-elected to this seat in 2018 and 2022, winning the general election with 58.5 and 62.4 percent of the vote respectively. He has declined to run for re-election, instead endorsing attorney Bob Dobkin for the Republican nomination. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 69.7 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 3 (regular)

District 3 regular election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD Caci Petrehn (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Mike Azinger Republican

The third Senate district is based in the city of Parkersburg and contains the entirety of the counties of Pleasants, Ritchie, Wirt, and Wood. Other communities within the district include Blennerhassett, Vienna, and Williamstown. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is Mike Azinger, a Republican, first elected in 2016. He was re-elected to this seat in 2018 and 2022, winning the general election with 57.4 and 65.7 percent of the vote respectively. He faced a strong primary challenge in 2022, winning his primary with just 51.5 percent of the vote. He is running for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 73.2 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 3 (special)

District 3 special Republican primary election

←  2024 2028 →
Election not currently contested by any other political party or independent politician.
Nominee Trenton Barnhart Jason S. Harshbarger Party Republican Republican
Incumbent Senator Trenton Barnhart Republican

The incumbent for this seat is Trenton Barnhart, a Republican, first appointed in 2026, never being elected to this seat in his own right. He is running for re-election. No Democrats filed to run for the seat, likely making the Republican primary tantamount to election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 73.2 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 4

District 4 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD Zachary Abbott (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Eric Tarr Republican

The fourth Senate district contains the entirety of Mason County, along with portions of the counties of Cabell, Jackson, and Putnam. The largest municipality in the district is Teays Valley, other communities within the district include Culloden, Hurricane, Milton, Point Pleasant, Ravenswood, Ripley, and Winfield. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is Eric Tarr, a Republican, first elected in 2018. He was elected to this seat in the 2018 general election with 51.8 percent of the vote and was re-elected in 2022 without opposition. He is running for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 74.0 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 5

District 5 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD Chris Miller (presumptive) Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent Senator Mike Woelfel Democratic

The fifth Senate district is based in the city of Huntington and contains portions of the counties of Cabell and Wayne. Other communities within the district include Kenova and Barboursville. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is minority leader Mike Woelfel, a Democrat, first elected at the 2014 general election with 49.8 percent of the vote. He was re-elected to this seat in 2018 and 2022, winning the general election with 59.7 and 54.0 percent of the vote respectively. He has declined to run for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 61.3 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 6

District 6 election

←  2022 2030 →

Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Mark R. Maynard Republican

The sixth Senate district is located along the state's southwestern border. Contained within the district are the entirety of the counties of McDowell, Mingo, and Mercer, along with portions of Wayne County. The largest municipality in the district is Bluefield, other communities within the district include Bluewell, Princeton, Welch, and Williamson. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is Mark R. Maynard, a Republican, first elected at the 2014 general election with 50.8 percent of the vote. He was re-elected to this seat in 2018 and 2022, winning the general election with 61.5 and 73.4 percent of the vote respectively. He is running for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 80.4 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 7

District 7 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee Zack Maynard (presumptive) TBD Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Zack Maynard Republican

The seventh Senate district is located in Southern West Virginia. Contained within the district are the entirety of the counties of Boone, Lincoln, and Logan, along with portions of Kanawha County. The largest municipality in the district is Madison. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is Zack Maynard, a Republican, first appointed in 2025 to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Michael B. Stuart in October 2025, who was appointed General Counsel to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ^[16] Stuart was re-elected in 2022 with 58.2 percent of the vote, flipping a Democratic-held seat. Maynard is running for re-election. He is running for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 77.3 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 8

District 8 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD Kim Hundley (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator T. Kevan Bartlett Republican

The eighth Senate district is based in northern Charleston, the state's capital and largest city. Contained within the district are the entirety of the counties of Clay and Roane, along with portions of the counties of Jackson, Kanawha, and Putnam. Other communities within the district include Cross Lanes, Dunbar, Nitro, and Spencer. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is T. Kevan Bartlett, a Republican, first appointed in 2025 to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Mark Hunt to become state auditor. Hunt was first elected in 2022 with 56.8 percent of the vote, flipping a Democratic-held seat. Bartlett is running for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 62.7 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 9

District 9 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD Christy Cardwell (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Rollan Roberts Republican

The ninth Senate district is based in the city of Beckley and contains the entirety of the counties of Raleigh and Wyoming, along with portions of Fayette County. Other communities within the district include Crab Orchard and Oak Hill. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is Rollan Roberts, a Republican, first elected in 2018. He was re-elected in 2022 with 78.1 percent of the vote. He faced a strong primary opponent in 2022, winning re-nomination with 51.7 percent of the vote. Roberts is running for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 77.0 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 10

District 10 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD Kent Gilkerson (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Vince Deeds Republican

The tenth Senate district is located in Southern West Virginia. Contained within the district are the entirety of the counties of Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas, and Summers, along with portions of Fayette County. The largest municipality in the district is Lewisburg, other communities within the district include Craigsville, Fayetteville, Summersville, and White Sulphur Springs. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is Vince Deeds, a Republican, first elected in 2022 with 58.7 percent of the vote, flipping a Democratic-held seat. Deeds is running for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 74.1 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 11

District 11 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD Kevin Leon Carpenter (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Bill Hamilton Republican

The eleventh Senate district is located on the eastern border of the state. Contained within the district are the entirety of the counties of Barbour, Braxton, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur, and Webster. The largest municipality in the district is Elkins, other communities within the district include Buckhannon and Philippi. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is Bill Hamilton, a Republican, first elected in 2018. He was re-elected in 2022 unopposed. Hamilton is running for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 76.1 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 12

District 12 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD Lynette Murray (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Ben Queen Republican

The twelfth Senate district is located in the center of the state. Contained within the district are the entirety of the counties of Calhoun, Gilmer, Harrison, and Lewis, along with portions of Tyler County. The largest municipality in the district is Clarksburg, other communities within the district include Bridgeport and Shinnston. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is Ben Queen, a Republican, first elected in 2022 with 68.7 percent of the vote, flipping a Democratic-held seat. Queen is running for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 72.6 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 13

District 13 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee Mike Oliverio (presumptive) John Williams (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Mike Oliverio Republican

The thirteenth Senate district is based in the city of Morgantown and contains portions of the counties of Marion and Monongalia. Other communities within the district include Brookhaven, Fairmont, Pleasant Valley, and Westover. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is Mike Oliverio, a Republican, first elected in 1994 as a Democrat. After twelve years out of office, he was re-elected in 2022 as a Republican with 50.3 percent of the vote, flipping a Democratic-held seat. Oliverio is running for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 51.5 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 14

District 14 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD Jason Armentrout (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Jay Taylor Republican

The fourteenth Senate district is located at the base of the state's eastern panhandle. Contained within the district are the entirety of the counties of Grant, Hardy, Mineral, Preston, and Tucker, along with portions of Taylor County. The largest municipality in the district is Keyser, other communities within the district include Grafton, Kingwood, Moorefield, and Petersburg. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is President pro tempore Jay Taylor, a Republican, first elected in 2022 with 76.2 percent of the vote. Taylor is running for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 78.9 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 15

District 15 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD Elizabeth Ferris (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Ken Reed Republican

The fifteenth Senate district is located within the the state's eastern panhandle. Contained within the district are the entirety of the counties of Hampshire and Morgan, along with portions of Berkeley County. The district contains the eastern half of Martinsburg, the largest community entirely residing within the district is Romney. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is Darren Thorne, a Republican, first appointed to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Charles S. Trump, who was elected to the state Court of Appeals. Trump was re-elected to the Senate in 2022 with 80.4 percent of the vote. Thorne is running for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 72.1 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 16

District 16 Republican primary election

←  2022 2030 →
Election not currently contested by any other political party or independent politician.
Nominee Jason Barrett Chantele Mack Party Republican Republican
Incumbent Senator Jason Barrett Republican

The sixteenth Senate district is located on the far edge of the the state's eastern panhandle. Contained within the district are the entirety of Jefferson County, along with portions of Berkeley County. The district contains the western half of Martinsburg, other communities within the district include Charles Town, Inwood, Charles Town, and Shannondale. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is Jason Barrett, a Republican, first elected in 2022 with 60.5 percent of the vote, flipping a Democratic-held seat. Barrett is running for re-election. No Democrats filed to run for the seat, likely making the Republican primary tantamount to election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 60.8 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 17 (regular)

District 17 regular election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD Wes Holden (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Tom Takubo Republican

The seventeenth Senate district is based in southern Charleston, the state's capital and largest city, entirely within Kanawha County. Other communities within the district include Pinch, Sissonville, South Charleston, and St. Albans. ^[10]

The incumbent for this seat is Tom Takubo, a Republican, first elected in 2014. He was re-elected in 2022 with 58.5 percent of the vote. Takubo is running for re-election. Republican nominee Donald Trump won this district with 59.5 percent of the vote at the 2024 presidential election. ^[11]

District 17 (special)

District 17 special election

←  2022 2030 →

Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Anne Charnock Republican

Notes

References

External websites

Official campaign websites for 1st district candidates

• Laura Chapman for Senate (R)
• Joe Eddy for Senate (R)

Official campaign websites for 2nd district candidates

• Toby Heaney for Senate (R)
• Chris Claypole for Senate (D)

Official campaign websites for 4th district candidates

• Travis Willard for Senate (R)

Official campaign websites for 8th district candidates

• Steven Eshenaur for Senate (R)

Official campaign websites for 9th district candidates

• Michael Antolini for Senate (R)

Official campaign websites for 10th district candidates

• Vince Deeds for Senate (R)
• Robert Shirley Love for Senate (R)

Official campaign websites for 16th district candidates

• Jason Barrett for Senate (R)