If I were asked if there’s one word that best describes the primary election cycle in West Virginia, my answer would be “Unfortunate,” and here’s why.
It was unfortunate to witness Republicans attacking Republicans in the races for the Governor, Congress, and state senate.
It was unfortunate to hear Wheeling’s Mr. Carl Carpenter’s joke-of-slogan – “Make Wheeling Paved Again” – more than once … especially after so much paving has taken place to streets and alleys during the last four years.
It was unfortunate so many statewide candidates only visited the Northern Panhandle for fundraisers and not free-to-the-public events.
It was unfortunate West Virginia’s Executive Republican Committee voted to block independents from the party’s primary and approved it for 2026 – as of now.
It was unfortunate those anonymous-and-negative-in-nature mailers overshadowed the final full campaigning week in the mayoral race in Wheeling.
It was unfortunate there was ugliness when a few state campaigns launched personal attacks instead of staying on policy.
It was unfortunate to see so much negativity on social media.
It was unfortunate a few folks who registered to run for one of Wheeling’s council positions – but pulled out too late to remove their names from the ballot – filed in the first place.
It was unfortunate to see so few Democrats file.
And that’s just the Top 10.
