The 2022 West Virginia House of Delegates election was held on November 8, 2022, electing all 100 members of the chamber. This coincided with the election of 17 of West Virginia's 34 state senators, and the election of West Virginia's two U.S. representatives. Primary elections were held on May 10, 2022.[1] Due to redistricting, this was the first House of Delegates election in which all members were elected from single member districts, with West Virginia following a trend of states phasing out multi-member districts in recent decades.[2]
Background
In the 2020 House of Delegates election, the Republican Party gained almost twenty seats from the Democrats, achieving supermajority status.[3] This has followed West Virginia's sharp turn towards the Republican Party in the past twenty years, and the Republicans' growing prominence in state politics. After 2020, two Democrats have changed parties, making nearly 80 percent of the chamber Republican.[4]
On August 8, 2022, Brandon Steele, a Republican from Raleigh County, announced his intent to run for Speaker against incumbent Roger Hanshaw.[20] House Democratic leader Doug Skaff stated on the Mountain State Views podcast that he and his caucus would support Hanshaw over Steele in a speakership contest.[21]
On December 4, 2022, Hanshaw was chosen to lead the Republican caucus for another two years, winning with 53 votes to Steele's 30. In the Democratic caucus, Skaff was re-elected as minority leader.[22]
On January 11, 2023, the 86th Legislature convened, and the election for Speaker was held. Republican David Kelly nominated Hanshaw, who was seconded by John Hardy, and Democrat Ric Griffith nominated Skaff, who was seconded by Shawn Fluharty.
Districts where the margin of victory was under 10%:
District 56, 1%
District 27, 1.6%
District 82, 2.6%
District 50, 3.6%
District 52, 4%
District 24, 5.2%
District 70, 7.6%
District 32, 9%
District 75, 9%
District 76, 9.2%
District 5, 9.2%
District 100, 9.6%
District 3, 9.8%
Appointments
During West Virginia's 85th Legislature (2021-2022), several delegates resigned from their seats in the House of Delegates. According to §3-10-5 of West Virginia Code, vacancies in the House of Delegates are filled through appointment by the Governor of one of three candidates chosen by the executive committee of the outgoing member's party.[23] Below is a list of appointments made during the 85th Legislature.
Incumbent Jarred Cannon was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Joe Jeffries' resignation in June 2022, one month after Cannon won the Republican primary for District 21.
Incumbent Chad Lovejoy was elected in 2016. Incumbent Ric Griffith was elected in 2020. Griffith defeated Lovejoy in the Democratic primary caused by redistricting.
In the close District 36 Republican primary, Tom Acosta, who held a one vote lead in election night returns, was defeated by the same margin by Anita Hall after canvassing.
Incumbent Austin Haynes was first elected in 2020, and defeated by Democrat David Elliott Pritt in 2022. Pritt later changed his party affiliation to Republican, increasing the GOP's House majority to 89.
Incumbents Jim Barach and Chris Pritt were first elected in 2020. After winning the Democratic primary, Barach chose not to seek re-election, and he was replaced by Wayne Crozier.[28]
Incumbents Kayla Young was first elected in 2020. In 2022, incumbent Larry Pack, running against Young in the general election, resigned from the House of Delegates. His successor, Andrew Anderson, replaced him as the Republican nominee for District 56.
Incumbent Ruth Rowan was first elected in 2004. Rowan's son-in-law, Robert Wolford, filed to run as an independent following her loss to Darren Thorne in the Republican primary.[29]
^"2022 Elections Calendar"(PDF). West Virginia Secretary of State. May 10, 2021. Archived(PDF) from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
