CHARLESTON – Less than 15 days from the deadline for residents to register to vote or update information in West Virginia and with the May Republican Party primary closed to independents and unaffiliated voters, the GOP is seeing a surge in new registrations.

According to data provided by the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, there were 512,980 registered Republican voters as of the end of March, an increase of 3,842 voters over the 509,138 registered Republicans as of the end of February.

During the same period, Democratic Party registration decreased by 861 voters, from 328,742 voters by the end of February to 327,881 at the end of March. Voters unaffiliated with any political party and those listed as “other” decreased by 1,022 voters, from 342,501 to 341,479.

Del. Josh Holstein, the chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party, issued a statement last week celebrating the increase in new registered voters.

“These numbers confirm what we’ve been seeing on the ground for years – West Virginia is solidly Republican, and that trend is only accelerating,” said Holstein, R-Boone. “Voters across every region of the state are continuing to reject the failed policies of the Democratic Party and are instead embracing Republican leadership and conservative values.”

More than two years ago, members of the West Virginia Republican Executive Committee voted for an amended resolution to close the Republican primary to unaffiliated voters beginning in 2026 after an attempt to close the 2024 GOP primary failed.

State code 3-2-31 and 3-4A-20 allows political parties to determine whether unaffiliated voters – those registered as “no party” – can participate in primaries. Unaffiliated voters have been able to participate in Republican primary contests since 1986 and Democratic primaries since 2017.

Tuesday, April 21, is the last day for residents to register to vote or update their voter registration information to participate in the May primaries. Early voting for the May 12 primary runs April 29 through May 9, excluding Sundays, at county courthouses or designated voting locations.

Voters unaffiliated with a political party will not be able to participate in the Republican primary this year and would need to change their voter registration to Republican to do so. Unaffiliated voters can still vote in the Democratic Party primary by requesting a Democratic ballot at their early voting location or polling precinct.

In a recent statement praising the results of various special and primary elections in other states last month, Del. Mike Pushkin, the chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party, said momentum remains on the side of Democratic candidates. Party officials were able to recruit candidates in nearly all federal and state races on the ballot in May.

“The energy and momentum we’re seeing across the country should have Republicans very concerned heading into 2026,” said Pushkin, D-Kanawha. “When Democrats organize, compete everywhere and focus on the issues that matter most to everyday Americans, we win.”

Total voter registration in West Virginia increased by 2,022 voters, from 1.194 million at the end of February to 1.197 million as of the end of March.

This midterm election will make the third election in a row with Republicans having the majority of voter registrations. In March 2020, Republican voter registration was at 417,999 with the Democratic Party having 479,435. Between March 2020 and March 2026, GOP voter registration increased by 22.7%, while Democratic Party voter registration decreased by 31.6%.