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Several of the elections appearing on the ballots in West Virginia on May 14 are set to be unopposed, with candidates either winning their races outright or automatically moving on to the November general election.
In the West Virginia House of Delegates, incumbent Pet McGeehan of Chester is the only candidate filed for his District 1 seat. Olivia Dowler of Weirton is the lone filing for the Democratic nomination for District 2 in the House, and is set to face the winner of the primary Republican contest between incumbent Mark Zatezalo and challenger Michele Slates, both of Weirton.
In District 3, incumbent Jimmy Willis of Bethany is the only Republican running for the seat, but will face a challenge in November from Democrat David Cantrell of Wheeling.
For Family Court Judge in the First Circuit, Joyce Dumbaugh Chernenko is the only candidate listed for the Division 1 seat, while Heather A. Wood is the only candidate for Division 2.
Two candidates are on the ballot to fill two seats up for grabs on the Hancock County Board of Education.
Chris Gillette of Weirton, who currently sits on the board and serves as its chair, is seeking re-election to represent the Butler District.
Randy Swartzmiller of Chester, is seeking election to the other seat. He would represent the Grant District. Current member Larry Shaw, who also represents the Grant District, has opted not to seek re-election to the board.
Under state code, the school board may not have more than two members from the same district. Board members Ed Fields and Jim Horstman represent the Clay District, while member Gerard Spencer represents Butler District.
Terms for the school board begin July 1.
Current Hancock County Sheriff J. Scott Gittings, a Republican from Chester, faces no opposition in the primary election, but will be challenged in November by Democrat Dezso Polgar of Weirton.
In races for Hancock County Magistrate, two unopposed candidates are filed: Omeka Petteway, who was appointed as a magistrate in 2023, is the lone candidate for Division 1, while Jon Phillips is now the only candidate on the ballot for the Division 2 magistrate seat.
Also in Hancock County, incumbent county Prosecuting Attorney Steven E. Dragisich, a Republican from Weirton; County Assessor Joseph M. Alongi, a Democrat from Weirton; and Chuck Glenn from Chester who is seeking the seat as conservation district supervisor, all are running unopposed.
In Brooke County, the race for county commission will see no contest for the primary, with incumbent A.J. Thomas, a Republican from Follansbee, and challenger Darin Pizer, a Democrat from Wellsburg, both moving on to the general election.
The same situation is set for county prosecuting attorney, where Democrat Robert Catlett from Wellsburg and Republican Allison Cowden from Weirton both are unopposed in the primary, as well as in the county sheriff's race with Republican incumbent Richard Beatty of Follansbee and Democrat challenger Richard Ferguson of Wellsburg set to receive their respective nominations.
Other unopposed Brooke County races include Thomas Oughton seeking to be re-elected as county assessor, Daniell Diserio from Division 2 magistrate and Shannon Price for Division 1 magistrate, and Eric Freeland of Wellsburg for conservation district supervisor.