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West Virginia, State Senate, District 16

West Virginia State Senate District 16
Current incumbentsPatricia Rucker Republican Party
John Unger Democratic Party
Population149,067
Voting age75.3% age 18 and over

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

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 16

Incumbent John Unger (D) defeated Michael Folk (R) in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

John Unger (D)
52.1
18,802

Michael Folk (R)
47.9
17,257

Total votes: 36,059
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16

Incumbent John Unger advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate

John Unger (D)

Republican primary election
Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16

Michael Folk advanced from the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 16 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate

Michael Folk (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. 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

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Patricia Rucker 52.79% 22,499
Democratic Stephen Skinner 47.21% 20,122
Total Votes 42,621
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State

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

West Virginia State Senate District 16, Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Stephen Skinner 67.21% 6,904
Democratic David Manthos 32.79% 3,368
Total Votes 10,272

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

West Virginia State Senate District 16, Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Patricia Rucker 55.95% 5,359
Republican Joe Funkhouser 44.05% 4,219
Total Votes 9,578

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

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Unger Incumbent 52.5% 12,287
Republican Larry V. Faircloth 47.5% 11,122
Total Votes 23,409

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

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngHerb Snyder Incumbent 53.9% 20,764
Republican James Ruland 46.1% 17,763
Total Votes 38,527

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

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Unger Incumbent 50.4% 18,800
Republican Craig Blair 49.6% 18,482
Total Votes 37,282

West Virginia State Senate District 16 Democratic Primary, 2010

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Unger 69.5% 4,073
Patrick Murphy 30.5% 1,784
Total Votes 5,857

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

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $379,479 4 $94,870
2014 $88,430 2 $44,215
2012 $278,192 2 $139,096
2010 $173,406 4 $43,352
2008 $105,753 4 $26,438
2006 $180,214 2 $90,107
2004 $96,608 5 $19,322
2002 $23,050 1 $23,050
2000 $61,900 2 $30,950
Total $1,387,032 26 $53,347