West Virginia's sixteenth state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator John Unger and Republican Senator Patricia Rucker.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 149,067 civilians reside within West Virginia's sixteenth 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

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

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. Incumbent Herb Snyder (D) did not seek re-election.

Patricia Rucker defeated Stephen Skinner in the West Virginia State Senate District 16 general election.

West Virginia State Senate District 16, General Election, 2016

Stephen Skinner defeated David Manthos in the West Virginia State Senate District 16 Democratic primary.

West Virginia State Senate District 16, Democratic Primary, 2016

Patricia Rucker defeated Joe Funkhouser in the West Virginia State Senate District 16 Republican primary.

West Virginia State Senate District 16, Republican Primary, 2016

This district was included in the Republican State Leadership Committee's list of "16 in '16: Races to Watch." Read more »
This district was included in the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee's list of "2016 Essential Races." Read more »

2014

Elections for the West Virginia State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 13, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 25, 2014. Incumbent John Unger was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Larry V. Faircloth was unopposed in the Republican primary. Unger defeated Faircloth in the general election.

West Virginia State Senate District 16, General Election, 2014

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 Herb Snyder defeated Republican James Kenneth Ruland in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the primary elections.

West Virginia State Senate, District 16, General Election, 2012

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. Democratic incumbent John Unger defeated Republican Craig Blair in the general election. Unger defeated Patrick Murphy in the Democratic primary election. Blair was unopposed in the Republican primary election.

West Virginia State Senate, District 16, General Election, 2010

West Virginia State Senate District 16 Democratic Primary, 2010

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for West Virginia State Senate District 16 raised a total of $1,387,032. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $53,347 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, West Virginia State Senate District 16