CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An incumbent lawmaker from each major party fell in Tuesday's primary, while more than a third of the other legislative candidates coasted to November unopposed.
Party voters chose nominees for the entire loo-seat House of Delegates on Tuesday. Ten of those seats are being vacated by incumbents, including five vying to join the Senate. Half the 34-member Senate is also up this year.
Former Vienna mayor David Nohe overcame Sen. Frank Deem, R-Wood, in the 3rd Senate District's GOP primary, with 52 percent of the vote.
The legislative career of Deem, 82, stretches back to 1954 when he first won a House of Delegates seat. Serving on and off during the subsequent decades, he has been in the Senate since 1994.
In a rematch of the 2006 Democratic primary, Sen. Randy White, D-Webster, fell to former Nicholas County prosecutor Greg Tucker in the nth District, 55 percent to 45 percent with 93 percent of precincts reporting.
In another rematch, Majority Leader Truman Chafin, D-Mingo, rebuffed Greg "Hootie" Smith in the 6th Senate District with just under 52 percent of the vote and 99 percent of precincts reporting.
Ron Justice had withdrawn from the Democratic race for an open 13th Senate District seat last month with health problems. But the former Morgantown mayor received 51 percent of the vote over Delegate Bob Beach's 48 percent.
Because Justice withdrew, Beach will face Cindy Frich, a former lawmaker unopposed in the GOP primary, for the seat being vacated by Sen. Mike Oliverio. The Monongalia County Democrat upset Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va., in their 1st Congressional District matchup.
Delegate Orphy Klempa, D-Ohio, beat Hancock County Commissioner Dan Greathouse 54 percent to 46 percent, for their party's nod to succeed retiring Senate Government Organization Chairman Ed Bowman, D-Hancock. In that district's GOP primary, Charles Schlegel overcame freshman Delegate Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, and Larry Tighe with 45 percent.
John Barnes received the GOP nomination for the seat now held by retiring GOP Sen. Jesse Guills. Barnes won the nomination over Philip Stevens and Rick Romeo with nearly 38 percent. Barnes goes up against Democrat Ron Miller, who had no primary opponent.
Sen. Ron Stollings, D-Boone, had nearly 59 percent of the vote in the coalfield's 7th Senate District, with 71 percent of precincts in, while challenger and Delegate Jeff Eldridge, D-Lincoln, had 41 percent.
Amid concerns about a high number of absentee ballots, Lincoln County officials opted to withhold releasing returns until ballots from all 35 precincts had been counted. That left results in the lurch for the 11 Democrats seeking nominations for the four seats in the igth House of Delegates District.
Sen. Evan Jenkins, D-Cabell, fended off a challenge by retired circuit Judge Jim Cummings, attracting 66 percent of the vote in the sth Senate District.
Among other House contests, Delegate John Doyle, D-Jefferson, held off Lori Rea with 64.6 percent. Delegate Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur, bested two challengers in the GOP primary, with nearly 63 percent.
More than a third of the 275 legislative candidates were assured a Tuesday win because they faced no primary opponents.
5/12/2010 5:05 PM