CHARLESTON — With the Republican and Democratic primaries now in the rearview mirror, the state’s major political parties are shifting their focus to the November general election.

Matt Herridge, chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party, released a statement Wednesday thanking GOP and unaffiliated voters for participating in the primary Tuesday – the last Republican primary that unaffiliated and independent voters will get to vote in. The West Virginia Republican Executive committee voted in January for an amended resolution to close future Republican primaries to unaffiliated voters beginning in 2026.

“…West Virginians made their voices heard and granted Republican candidates up and down the ballot our Party’s coveted nomination to advance to the general election,” Herridge said. “While the Democratic Party continues their sprint to the radical left, distancing themselves even more from the people of West Virginia, the West Virginia Republican Party is fully committed to continue electing members of our strong Republican team.”

Del. Mike Pushkin, the chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party, released a statement Wednesday praising their statewide candidates for U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, Governor, Board of Public Works, and legislative candidates that will be on the ballot in November.

“The West Virginia Democratic Party is energized and ready to support our candidates as we move toward the general election,” said Pushkin, D-Kanawha. “We believe in the strength and resilience of our communities, and we are committed to fighting for the values that matter most to West Virginians.”

According to unofficial election results from all 55 counties compiled by the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, there were 358,173 ballots cast in Tuesday’s primary elections, or 30% of the state’s more than 1.18 million registered voters. That’s a 20% decrease from the 449,077 ballots cast in the 2020 primaries during the previous presidential election cycle.

Republicans nominated Gov. Jim Justice for U.S. Senate, Rep. Carol Miller for the 1st Congressional District, State Treasurer Riley Moore for the 2nd Congressional District, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey for governor, State Auditor J.B. McCuskey for attorney general, State Sen. Mark Hunt for state auditor, Economic Development Authority Executive Director Kris Warner for secretary of state, acting Department of Revenue Secretary Larry Pack for state treasurer, and renominated Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt.

In the House of Delegates, primary voters casting Republican ballots nominated 61 incumbents, 24 new candidates in open races, and four new candidates over elected and appointed incumbents: Del. Diana Winzenreid, R-Ohio, lost to Bill Flanigan; Del. David Adkins, R-Lincoln, lost to former Lincoln County Democrat-turned-Republican lawmaker Jeff Eldridge; Del. Heather Tully, R-Nicholas, lost to Stanley Adkins; and Del. Don Forsht, R-Berkeley, lost to Joseph De Soto.

In the state Senate, half of the 34 members were on the primary ballot, with 10 incumbents securing their nominations, two new candidates being nominated for open seats, and four incumbents losing their primaries: state Sen. Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, lost to Chris Rose; state Sen. Chandler Swope, R-Mercer, lost to Craig Hart; state Sen. Robert Karnes, R-Randolph, lost to Robbie Morris; and Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, lost to Tom Willis.

Democratic statewide candidates include Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott for U.S. Senate, Jim Umberger for the 1st Congressional District, Steven Wendelin for the 2nd Congressional District, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams for governor, Thornton Cooper for secretary of state, Mary Ann Claytor for state auditor, Deborah Stiles for agriculture commissioner, and state Democratic Party Vice Chair Teresa Toriseva for attorney general.

In statehouse races, Democratic candidates will provide challenges to GOP candidates in nine state Senate contests. In the House of Delegates, eight out of 11 incumbents will be on the November ballot (two Democratic House members are running for state Senate seats and one member is retiring), with 50 new Democratic House candidates on the general election ballot.