U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.)
CHARLESTON – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito is headed back to Washington for another six years.
The veteran Republican defeated Democratic challenger Rachel Fetty Anderson by about 20 percentage points in Tuesday’s general election.
Incumbent U.S. House of Representatives members Riley Moore and Carol Miller, both Republicans, also retained their seats over Democratic challengers Ace Parsi and Vince George, respectively.
Things didn’t change regarding the Mountain State’s representation in D.C., but Democrats at least doubled their numbers in both the state Senate and House of Delegates.
Most incumbents, most of whom are Republicans, won their state Senate and House of Delegates seats. And in races that didn’t feature an incumbent, the Republican candidate won many of those elections as well.
But there were a few changes, including Democratic victories that double the party’s number from two to four of the 34 state Senator members.
Democrat John Williams, who currently serves in the House, defeated incumbent Republican Mike Oliverio in the 13th state Senate district that includes part of Marion and Monongalia County by a 55-41 vote.
In other high-profile state Senate races, incumbent Republican Laura Wakim Chapman defeated Democrat challenger Shawn Fluharty in the 1st District race by a 55-45 vote.
Democrat Duron Jackson defeated Chris Miller, a Huntington businessman and former Republican gubernatorial candidate, for the 5th state Senate District seat currently held by retiring Democrat Mike Woelfel.
Incumbent Republican Tom Takubo looked to hold on to his 17th state Senate District seat over Democratic challenger Wes Holden, but GOP incumbent Anne B. Charnock was defeated by Democrat and former South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb in the other 17th state Senate race.
Republican and outgoing Kanawha County Commissioner Lance Wheeler narrowly won an 8th state Senate District race over Democrat Kim Hundley.
In House of Delegates races, Democrats more than doubled its ranks from nine to 20 out of 100 delegates.
Democrat Karen Shuler Stakem – the sister of Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin – defeated Republican Beth Hinebaugh 56-44 for the 5th District House seat previously held by Fluharty.
In Kanawha County, incumbent Republican J.B. Akers held on to his 55th House District seat by narrowly defeating Democrat Anthony Desaro. And Democrat Marisa Jackson defeated incumbent Republican Walter Hall for the 58th House District seat.
In Monongalia County, Democrat Michael Wendell defeated incumbent Republican Geno Chiarelli for the 78th District House seat, and Democrat Eddie Wagoner defeated incumbent Republican David McCormick for the 82nd District House seat.
And former Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, a Democrat, defeated incumbent Republican Patrick Lewis for the 24th District House seat.
Incumbent Republicans Kathy Hess Crouse and Sarah Drennan both retained their House seats in Putnam County, while GOP incumbents Wayne M. Clark and William Ridenour both fell to Democrat challengers in Jefferson County’s 99th and 100th District races.
Democrat Lucia Valentine defeated incumbent Republican S. Chris Anders for the 97th House District race that includes parts of Berkeley and Jefferson counties. And Democrat Linda Longstreth defeated incumbent Republican Phil Mallow in the 75th House District race in Marion County.
