Monongalia County 2024 Primary Voter Guide

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — Depending on their party affiliation, voters in Monongalia County will have several decisions to make in the 2024 Primary Election on Tuesday, May 14.

Democratic Ballot:

On the national ticket, President Joe Biden is running for the nomination against four largely-unknown candidates.

Three candidates are vying for the nomination to replace U.S. Senator Joe Manchin: Glenn Elliott of Wheeling, Don Blankenship from Mingo County and Zachary Shrewsbury of Princeton. Elliott is the current mayor of Wheeling and has been endorsed by Manchin . Shrewsbury is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a self-described “community and climate activist.” Blankenship, as many will remember, is the former CEO of Massey Energy who was convicted of conspiracy to violate federal mine safety laws surrounding the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion that killed 29 miners in 2010. In 2018, Blankenship ran for the U.S. Senate as a Republican, and in 2020, he ran for president as a third-party candidate.

On the state ticket, the main contested race is for attorney general, between Richie Robb , a lawyer and former South Charleston mayor, and Teresa Toriseva , who heads a law firm in Wheeling.

Only one House of Delegates race that involves a district in Monongalia County is contested. Bill Reger-Nash and Mai-Lyn Sadler are running in the 82nd district.

There are no contested races on the county level.

Republican Ballot:

Nationally, former President Donald Trump is up against four other candidates on the West Virginia ballot, with Nikki Haley being the only one known nationally, though she ended her campaign in March .

For U.S. Senate, Gov. Jim Justice is facing off against U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney (2nd District) and five other lesser-known opponents.

In the race for the nomination for Mooney’s current seat in Congress, State Treasurer Riley Moore is facing two other candidates from the Eastern Panhandle, Nate Cain and Chris “Mookie” Walker , along with Joe Earley , of Bridgeport, and Alex Gaaserud , from Parkersburg.

On the state ticket, the hotly-contested race for governor features Attorney General Patrick Morrisey , Secretary of State Mac Warner , former state delegate Moore Capito , Huntington businessman Chris Miller , Kevin Christian , an engineer from Calhoun County, and Mitch Roberts , an equipment rental store manager from Putnam County.

Secretary of State is a four-horse race among former state GOP chairman Kris Warner , Doug Skaff , who served in the state House of Delegates as a Democrat , longtime Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood and former Morgan County Commissioner Ken Reed .

In the auditor’s race, it’s House of Delegates member Eric Householder , Jefferson County Commissioner Tricia Jackson , former House of Delegates member Caleb Hanna and State Senator Mark Hunt .

Incumbent Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt is challenged by Joshua Higginbotham and Roy Ramey .

In the race for state Attorney General, current State Treasurer J.B. McCuskey and State Senator Mike Stuart are facing off.

In the 2nd State Senate district, which covers a western portion of the county, incumbent Mike Maroney is facing challenger Chris Rose , a Monongalia County coal miner.

There are no contested races on the county level.

Non-Partisan Ballot (all voters participate, and May results are final):

On the state ticket, voters will be deciding between two Charleston residents, Mychal Schulz and Ryan White , and Elgine McArdle , of Wheeling, for Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge.

Only one of the three circuit court seats in the county are contested this election. In division one, incumbent Paul Gwaltney is challenged by Michael Simms and Natalie Sal , who are both local attorneys.

Elsewhere in the courthouse, three of the six magistrate races are contested. In division three, former sheriff’s deputy Pete Tennant and West Virginia University student Charles Hartzog are competing for the seat. In division four, it’s incumbent Sandy Holepit and Arlie Campbell running. In division six, three newcomers, Curt Thomas, Mark Myers and Tonya Rogers are vying for the spot.

On the county ticket, there are two open seats on the board of education, with three people, incumbent board president Ron Lytle and newcomers Christina Morgan and Shawn Smith vying for them.

Voters will also decide the fate of four levies and a bond . The mass transportation levy would help to fund the Mountain Line bus service, another would provide funding for the Morgantown Public Library System, the third would help fund fire departments and other emergency response teams across the county, while the fourth levy would support parks, trails and recreation facilities in the county. Click here to see how much each would cost.

More than $142 million for the proposed Renaissance Academy is at stake in the Board of Education bond vote.

Westover voters will be choosing between four candidates for three seats on city council, as well as deciding on a charter amendment that would increase the term of the city’s mayor from two years to four.

Voter Resources:

You can find sample ballots on the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website or by looking up your specific ballot with this tool .

You can find your polling place here .

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