West Virginia 2026 elections

Political landscape in West Virginia

Overview

West Virginia is a landlocked and mountainous state that spans the South and the Mid-Atlantic, bordered by Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. It is the tenth-smallest state by area and the 12th-least populous. Charleston is the capital and largest city, while Huntington, Wheeling, Morgantown and Martinsburg are other population centers. Its terrain is formed by the Allegheny and Cumberland ranges and crossed by the valleys of the Ohio, Kanawha and Potomac rivers, and the whole state falls within the Appalachian Regional Commission's service area. When Virginia seceded in 1861, several western counties broke away, and West Virginia achieved statehood on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state; Nevada and West Virginia were the only two states admitted during the Civil War. Railroad expansion later opened its coalfields, and by the early 20th century it ranked among the nation's leading coal producers. The state is also known for tourism and outdoor recreation, including skiing, whitewater rafting and hiking, and the state ranks first nationally in home ownership.

Officeholders

As of October 2026, Governor Patrick Morrisey and US Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice are all Republicans.

2026 elections

West Virginia's November 3, 2026 ballot includes a US Senate race, elections in both US House districts, and a measure on a citizenship requirement for voters.