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West Virginia, State Senate, District 5

West Virginia State Senate District 5
Current incumbentsRobert H. "Bob" Plymale Democratic Party
Mike Woelfel Democratic Party
Population103,358
Voting age80.4% age 18 and over

West Virginia's fifth state senate district is represented by Democrat Senators Robert H. "Bob" Plymale and Mike Woelfel.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 103,358 civilians reside within West Virginia's fifth 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 5

Incumbent Mike Woelfel (D) defeated Larry Brooke Lunsford (R) in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 5 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Mike Woelfel (D)
59.7
20,305

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Larry Brooke Lunsford (R)
40.3
13,732

Total votes: 34,037
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 5

Incumbent Mike Woelfel advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 5 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate

Mike Woelfel (D)

Republican primary election
Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 5

Larry Brooke Lunsford advanced from the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 5 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Larry Brooke Lunsford (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 Robert Plymale defeated Tyson Smith in the West Virginia State Senate District 5 general election.

West Virginia State Senate District 5, General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Robert Plymale Incumbent 60.24% 22,863
Republican Tyson Smith 39.76% 15,092
Total Votes 37,955
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State

Incumbent Robert Plymale ran unopposed in the West Virginia State Senate District 5 Democratic primary.

West Virginia State Senate District 5, Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Robert Plymale Incumbent (unopposed)

Tyson Smith ran unopposed in the West Virginia State Senate District 5 Republican primary.

West Virginia State Senate District 5, Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Tyson Smith (unopposed)


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. Robert Alexander was defeated by Mike Woelfel in the Democratic primary, while Vicki Dunn-Marshall was unopposed in the Republican primary. Woelfel defeated Dunn-Marshall and Roy L. Ramey (I) in the general election.

West Virginia State Senate District 5, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngMike Woelfel 49.8% 12,511
Republican Vicki Dunn-Marshall 47% 11,818
Independent Roy L. Ramey 3.2% 793
Total Votes 25,122

West Virginia State Senate, District 5 Democratic Primary, 2014

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMike Woelfel 74.5% 5,218
Robert Alexander 25.5% 1,784
Total Votes 7,002

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 Robert H. "Bob" Plymale was unchallenged in the general election. Plymale was unopposed in the Democratic primary election.

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 Evan Jenkins was unchallenged in the general election. Jenkins defeated John Cummings and Kevin Scott Regan in the Democratic primary election.

West Virginia State Senate District 5 Democratic Primary, 2010

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngEvan Jenkins 66.3% 5,490
John Cummings 26.4% 2,185
Kevin Scott Regan 7.4% 609
Total Votes 8,284

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for West Virginia State Senate District 5 raised a total of $1,425,089. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $54,811 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, West Virginia State Senate District 5

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $90,125 2 $45,063
2014 $269,600 4 $67,400
2012 $77,281 2 $38,641
2010 $147,738 3 $49,246
2008 $101,274 3 $33,758
2006 $209,089 3 $69,696
2004 $94,919 3 $31,640
2002 $414,655 5 $82,931
2000 $20,408 1 $20,408
Total $1,425,089 26 $54,811