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West Virginia, State Senate, District 7

West Virginia State Senate District 7
Current incumbentsPaul Hardesty Democratic Party
Ron Stollings Democratic Party
Population99,397
Voting age78.2% age 18 and over

West Virginia's seventh state senate district is represented by Democratic Senators Ron Stollings and Paul Hardesty.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 99,397 civilians reside within West Virginia's seventh 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 7

Incumbent Ron Stollings (D) defeated Jason Stephens (R) in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 7 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Ron Stollings (D)
56.7
15,181

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Jason Stephens (R)
43.3
11,594

Total votes: 26,775
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 7

Incumbent Ron Stollings advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 7 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate

Ron Stollings (D)

Republican primary election
Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 7

Jason Stephens defeated Gary Johngrass in the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 7 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Jason Stephens (R)
51.8
1,851

Gary Johngrass (R)
48.2
1,722

Total votes: 3,573

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.

Richard Ojeda defeated Jordan Bridges in the West Virginia State Senate District 7 general election.

West Virginia State Senate District 7, General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Richard Ojeda 58.82% 19,978
Republican Jordan Bridges 41.18% 13,987
Total Votes 33,965
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State

Richard Ojeda defeated incumbent Art Kirkendoll in the West Virginia State Senate District 7 Democratic primary.

West Virginia State Senate District 7, Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Richard Ojeda 55.17% 11,154
Democratic Art Kirkendoll Incumbent 44.83% 9,065
Total Votes 20,219

Jordan Bridges defeated Gary Johngrass in the West Virginia State Senate District 7 Republican primary.

West Virginia State Senate District 7, Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Jordan Bridges 57.04% 2,807
Republican Gary Johngrass 42.96% 2,114
Total Votes 4,921


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 Ron Stollings was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Gary Johngrass was unopposed in the Republican primary. Stollings defeated Johngrass in the general election.

West Virginia State Senate District 7, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngRon Stollings Incumbent 65.7% 14,177
Republican Gary Johngrass 34.3% 7,394
Total Votes 21,571

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. Art Kirkendoll was unchallenged in the general election. Kirkendoll defeated Sammy D. Dalton in the Democratic primary election.


West Virginia State Senate, District 7 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngArt Kirkendoll Incumbent 64.2% 11,529
Sammy Dalton 35.8% 6,428
Total Votes 17,957

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 Ron Stollings was unchallenged in the general election. Stollings defeated Jeffrey Eldridge in the Democratic primary election.

West Virginia State Senate District 7 Democratic Primary, 2010

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngRon Stollings 53.7% 8,173
Jeffrey Eldridge 46.3% 7,049
Total Votes 15,222

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for West Virginia State Senate District 7 raised a total of $1,873,945. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $74,958 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, West Virginia State Senate District 7

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $89,772 4 $22,443
2014 $43,583 2 $21,792
2012 $91,405 2 $45,703
2010 $198,106 2 $99,053
2008 $418,868 2 $209,434
2006 $143,091 5 $28,618
2004 $363,547 3 $121,182
2002 $316,830 4 $79,208
2000 $208,743 1 $208,743
Total $1,873,945 25 $74,958