The votes have been counted in the Greenbrier Valley. Some results came in as expected, while others were somewhat more of a surprise. Nonetheless, the next crop of leadership has been chosen.
The biggest upset of the night was quite possibly the District 42 House of Delegates race. Both Democratic incumbents were unseated by their Republican challengers. Barry Bruce and Todd Longanacre have been elected by what became a rather surprising margin. Bruce received 7,469 total votes, while Longanacre received 6,845. Jeff Campbell received 6,071 votes and Cindy Lavender-Bowe received 5,328.
The WV Daily News had the opportunity to speak with Delegate-Elect Longanacre moments after the election was called.
“People are starting to realize what the GOP means,” Longanacre said. “It doesn’t mean social justice for some at the expense of others. We strive for equal justice for all at the expense of none.”
We asked his thoughts about Lavender-Bowe and Campbell, Longanacre said, “This is a referendum on not the local delegates as much as the party they’re affiliated with.”
Longanacre concluded his statement with, “I want to thank all the volunteers that spent hundreds of hours working on mine and Barry’s campaign, and I want to let everyone know that I will work hard to ensure the legislation coming out of Charleston can benefit everyone equally and not just a few. I’m excited to get started.”
In the race for State Senate, Jack David Woodrum has unseated Democratic incumbent Bill Laird by a margin of 9,524 votes to 5,749 votes. Greenbrier County Sheriff Barry Sloan has won re-election; defeating Doug Beard 8,877 votes to 6,655 votes. And Lowell Rose will remain in his position as county commissioner; defeating Dan Withrow by a margin of 8,903 votes to 6,500 votes.
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