The split between Democrats and
Republicans in the state House of Delegates got a little closer this
week when Ohio County Delegate Ryan Ferns (R-3) changed his party affiliation
from Democrat to Republican and launched a campaign for state Senate.
That means the House numbers will
stand at 53-47, with Democrats still in charge, when the 2014 Regular
Legislative Session begins on Jan. 8.
House Speaker Tim Miley (D-48)
said, much of the time, those numbers do not really matter.
“Most bills that we pass, down in
the House of Delegates, get overwhelming bipartisan support. Are there a
handful of bills that break down largely along party lines? Yes, but very
few and, even on those bills, some Democrats vote with Republicans, some
Republicans vote with Democrats,” he said.
Republicans have made gains in the
House in recent years and party leaders have said their goal is to
take control of that chamber as early as next year or in 2016, but
Democratic leaders are working to keep that from happening.
Democrats have a much stronger hold
on the state Senate, 24-10.
Miley said he was aware Mercer
County Senator Bill Cole (R-6) met with Ferns, as recently as last week, as
part of his larger Republican recruitment efforts focused on the Senate.
Ferns will run next year in the First Senatorial District.
“Both sides recruit what they
believe to be good candidates to run for office in their respective bodies and
Sen. Cole is doing that on the Senate side. We’re doing that on the House
side, as are Republicans on the House side,” said Miley.”
The 2014 Primary Election in West Virginia
