The signs are coming down. The television ads have returned to largely pharmaceutical. Mailboxes are no longer overflowing with glossy fire starters, and our phones have returned to calls and texts from friends about get-togethers.
After months of campaigning, the May 12 primary election is behind us. Now comes the harder question for West Virginia politics, and it is definitely one to ponder. Where do we go from here?
The answer will determine far more than who won or lost a primary race. It will determine what kind of political culture West Virginia becomes over the next decade or more.
This election season exposed some uncomfortable truths. The divisions inside the Republican Party are real. The influence of outside money is growing. Campaigns are becoming increasingly personal and negative. Voter turnout continues to decline.
‘If West Virginians want better government, they have to remain engaged even when politics become frustrating.’
The turnout in this year’s primary was abysmally low.
For the crazy amount of dollars spent on advertising, all the social media arguments, and all the rhetoric about “the importance of this election,” an overwhelming number of eligible voters stayed home. That reality should concern everyone, regardless of party.
Low turnout elections create a dangerous cycle.
The smaller the voting pool becomes, the more influence highly motivated groups, outside organizations, and special interests gain over the process. When only the most politically engaged or ideologically driven voters participate, candidates often move further toward the extremes rather than toward the broad middle which is where most West Virginians actually live.
Make no mistake, many voters are exhausted. People are tired of constant political fighting. They are tired of campaigns built almost entirely around anger, fear, and division. They are tired of seeing neighbors treated like enemies because of a yard sign or a Facebook post. At some point, many simply tune out. That may explain part of the turnout problem, but it does not excuse it.
If West Virginians want better government, they have to remain engaged even when politics become frustrating. Democracy does not work well when large portions of the public stop participating.
Several races this year became proxy wars between different factions of the Republican Party, with endorsements and outside organizations pouring significant resources into legislative contests. Governor Patrick Morrisey heavily involved himself in many Republican primaries, producing mixed results across the state.
‘The danger is that internal civil wars can eventually become more destructive than competition between parties.‘
At the same time, new election rules changed the political landscape. West Virginia Republicans implemented a fully closed primary system for the first time, limiting GOP primary participation to registered Republicans only. I have heard of confusion at some polling places, with voters being told incorrect information. Further, new voter ID requirements began during this primary election.
Whether one supports or opposes those changes, they undeniably altered who participated.
But beyond the mechanics of elections lies a bigger issue. West Virginia politics has become increasingly nationalized. Campaign rhetoric has started to sound more like Washington, D.C., than Welch, Weston, or even Wheeling. That is a problem because West Virginia’s challenges are still very local.
Families are worried about rising costs of everything. Some candidates exploited this for political fodder. Something I expect to see more of as we get further into this cycle.
Communities continue fighting substance abuse. Employers are struggling to find workers. Roads, water systems, and broad all require infrastructure improvements. Healthcare issues and economic development still remain everyday concerns. Those problems do not care whether a candidate was endorsed by one side or another. They want solutions. West Virginia solutions.
Voters may enjoy political competition, but most West Virginians still expect elected officials to eventually sit down and work together.
That requires something increasingly rare in modern politics. That is the ability to disagree without treating opponents as enemies. The ability to articulate one’s message without the assistance of regurgitative bots, who may even be human, but are interfering for one purpose only.
‘Most importantly, there is a difference between grandstanding and service.‘
One encouraging sign from this primary was that many voters appeared to resist pure chaos politics. In many of the races, incumbents and candidates viewed as pragmatic or collaborative survived intense challenges. In some cases, the people said “ENOUGH”. You are not going to tell me this or that ridiculous statement about this person I know from my community. That suggests many West Virginians still value effectiveness over performance and results over rhetoric.
There is also a broader lesson here for both parties.
Republicans dominate statewide politics in West Virginia today. That reality is unlikely to change anytime soon. But dominance creates its own risks. When one party holds overwhelming power, the real political fights move inside that party. That is exactly what we saw this spring.
The danger is that internal civil wars can eventually become more destructive than competition between parties. If politics becomes solely about ideological purity tests or punishing anyone willing to compromise, governing becomes nearly impossible.
Many people feel politically homeless right now. They are tired of being told they must constantly choose sides in seemingly never-ending political battles. They want leaders who can solve problems without turning every disagreement into a social media blood bath. They want people who listen.
Those voters still exist in large numbers across West Virginia. They are Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. They coach Little League together, sit next to each other in church, work together, and live beside one another. Most are far less interested in ideological conflict than cable news would suggest.
The future of West Virginia politics may depend on whether the people reassert themselves. It depends on whether they show up to vote.
Because low turnout sends a message too. It tells elected officials that many people have disengaged. It allows smaller and louder sides to dominate the conversation. Over time, it weakens public trust in the entire political system.
As we move toward November’s general election and eventually to the 2028 cycle, several questions will shape the state’s political future.
Will campaigns continue escalating into increasingly expensive and bitter races driven by outside money? Will lawmakers prioritize governing or grandstanding? Will candidates focus on local concerns or national political theater? Perhaps most importantly, will voters reward seriousness and results, or outrage and entertainment?
West Virginia has always been politically independent-minded. Our state has historically rewarded candidates who have deep roots in their districts, are willing to work hard, show up locally, and deliver tangible results for their communities. That tradition does not have to disappear.
Politics will never be completely civil; nor should it be. Debate and disagreement are healthy in a democracy. But there is a difference between competing and destroying, between persuasion and hatred. Most importantly, there is a difference between grandstanding and service.
The primary election is over. The governing part now begins.
Where do we go from here?
Hopefully forward. Possibly together; respectfully if not. That will depend on the candidates. Optimistically, more West Virginians will take this wake-up call and desire to participate in the process in the fall, because the future of this state should never be decided by only a small number of its people.
