I know we’re only seven months into the terms for most of our elected officials, and a lot of us probably would still like a breather after the 2024 election, but the campaigns for 2026 already are beginning – for better or worse.

Personally, I’d like to not have to think too much about political campaigns for another four or five months, but we received a press release this week from Toby Heaney, a Republican from Fairview, West Virginia, announcing his plans to seek a seat in the West Virginia Senate representing the Second District.

The seat currently is held by Charles Clements, a Republican from Wetzel County.

The Weirton Daily Times doesn’t typically cover the Second District, which includes about half of Marshall County, portions of Monongalia and Marion counties, and all of Wetzel, Tyler and Doddridge counties, so I probably wouldn’t have been focusing too closely on that race anyway, but it’s definitely a reminder that, as much as I would like it too, politics doesn’t rest.

Filing for the 2026 election will begin in January.

There will be some legislative races on the ballot, with members of the House of Delegates going up every two years. For our area, Laura Wakim Chapman will be wrapping up her first term representing the First District in the West Virginia Sentate. She’s made strides in her short time in Charleston, so far, as well as taking on some leadership roles, so I would anticipate her name appearing on the ballot next year.

If I’m keeping track of things correctly, each of our counties should have one commissioner seat on the ballot as well. In Brooke County, I’m thinking it would be the one currently held by Stacey Wise, and in Hancock County it’s Eron Chek’s seat.

Some of our cities probably will have council seats up, as a few of them go by two-year terms, and others hold staggered elections for their municipal offices.

Our local school boards also should have at least a couple seats up for grabs next year.

Then, of course, there will be some of our Congressional representatives.

Again, it’s not something I necessarily want to think about, but as we’re starting to see some candidate announcements already, it’s probably going to be brought up more and more in the coming months.

Of course, in this line of work I’ll have to manage/deal with/handle/work with (however one wants to word it) whomever is elected to these seats. Once a person is an elected official, I’ll more than likely be covering their actions while in office.

As a citizen, who lives in our area, pays taxes, votes, and is affected by some of the decisions made by these individuals, my biggest hope for next year’s election is to have a choice. Even more than that, I hope it’s a choice based on the person and not the political party.

I see the numbers when it comes to voter registration. I know which way the state leans when it comes to a comparison of Republicans and Democrats. I’ve also seen a growing number of independent voters.

I know there are people who cling to those parties so strongly that it becomes a part of their identity, but it’s also my hope that more people actually look at a candidate’s character and not just the political platform they’ve constructed.

Furthermore, please let there be people willing to step up to the plate and represent their communities. All too often, we have positions on the ballot only for there to be only one candidate.

The people of our area deserve to have options when it comes to those who are supposed to act as their voice. And the candidates, when they’re elected, need to remember who they actually serve.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)