Share on WeChat
https://www.powervoter.us:443/office
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.

West Virginia, State Senate, District 1

West Virginia State Senate District 1
Current incumbentsRyan Weld Republican Party
William Ihlenfeld Democratic Party
Population95,975
Voting age80.8% age 18 and over

West Virginia's first state senate district is represented by Republican Senator Ryan Weld and Democratic Senator William Ihlenfeld.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 95,975 civilians reside within West Virginia's first state senate district. West Virginia state senators represent an average of 54,500 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 53,187 residents.

About the office

Members of the West Virginia State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. West Virginia legislators assume office the first day of December following the election.

Qualifications

Section 13 of Article 6 of the West Virginia Constitution states, "No person holding any other lucrative office or employment under this state, the United States, or any foreign government; no member of Congress; and no person who is sheriff, constable, or clerk of any court of record, shall be eligible to a seat in the Legislature."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$20,000/year$131/day in session.Set by the compensation commission.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the senate, the Governor is responsible for filling any vacancy.

There are two procedures for filling vacancies dependent upon how much time is left in the vacant senator's term. A gubernatorial appointment is required if less than two months and two years are left in the term. A temporary gubernatorial appointment is required for any vacancy that has more than two months and two years remaining. The person who is selected by the Governor to fill the seat on an interim basis, serves until the next scheduled general election. A special election must be held to determine a permanent replacement. The executive committee of the political party that holds the vacant senate seat is responsible for making recommendations to the Governor on any appointment.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of West Virginia State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for May 12, 2020. The filing deadline is January 25, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for West Virginia State Senate District 1

William Ihlenfeld (D) defeated incumbent Ryan Ferns (R) in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 1 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

William Ihlenfeld (D)
52.9
18,450

Ryan Ferns (R)
47.1
16,438

Total votes: 34,888
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1

William Ihlenfeld advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

William Ihlenfeld (D)

Republican primary election
Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1

Incumbent Ryan Ferns advanced from the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 1 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate

Ryan Ferns (R)

2016

Elections for the West Virginia State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 10, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was January 30, 2016.

Ryan Weld defeated incumbent Jack Yost in the West Virginia State Senate District 1 general election.

West Virginia State Senate District 1, General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Ryan Weld 51.07% 21,191
Democratic Jack Yost Incumbent 48.93% 20,303
Total Votes 41,494
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State

Incumbent Jack Yost ran unopposed in the West Virginia State Senate District 1 Democratic primary.

West Virginia State Senate District 1, Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Jack Yost Incumbent (unopposed)

Ryan Weld ran unopposed in the West Virginia State Senate District 1 Republican primary.

West Virginia State Senate District 1, Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Ryan Weld (unopposed)


2014

Elections for the office of West Virginia State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 13, 2014. The general election was on November 4, 2014. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 25, 2014. Incumbent Rocky Fitzsimmons was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Ryan Ferns was unopposed in the Republican primary. Ferns defeated Fitzsimmons in the general election.

West Virginia State Senate District 1, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRyan Ferns 51.8% 13,762
Democratic Rocky Fitzsimmons Incumbent 48.2% 12,821
Total Votes 26,583

2012

Elections for the office of West Virginia State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 8, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. Democratic incumbent Jack Yost defeated Republican Pat McGeehan in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the primary elections.

West Virginia State Senate, District 1, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJack Yost Incumbent 56.3% 11,760
Republican Pat McGeehan 43.7% 9,146
Total Votes 20,906

2010

Elections for the office of West Virginia State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 11, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. Democrat Orphy Klempa defeated Republican Charles Schlegel in the general election. Klempa defeated Dan Greathouse in the Democratic primary election. Schlegel defeated Patrick McGeehan and Larry Tighe in the Republican primary election.

Klempa resigned December 10, 2012. Rocky Fitzsimmons was appointed to fill the vacancy.

West Virginia State Senate, District 1, General Election, 2010

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngOrphy Klempa 58.6% 17,179
Republican Charles Schlegel 41.4% 12,137
Total Votes 29,316

West Virginia State Senate District 1 Democratic Primary, 2010

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngOrphy Klempa 53.4% 6,838
Dan Greathouse 46.6% 5,960
Total Votes 12,798

West Virginia State Senate District 1 Republican Primary, 2010

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngCharles Schlegel 44.5% 2,571
Patrick McGeehan 43.5% 2,515
Larry Tighe 12.1% 698
Total Votes 5,784

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for West Virginia State Senate District 1 raised a total of $2,067,082. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $93,958 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, West Virginia State Senate District 1

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $190,210 2 $95,105
2014 $820,577 2 $410,289
2012 $128,195 2 $64,098
2010 $206,925 3 $68,975
2008 $236,160 3 $78,720
2006 $126,718 3 $42,239
2004 $166,810 4 $41,703
2002 $74,843 1 $74,843
2000 $116,644 2 $58,322
Total $2,067,082 22 $93,958