West Virginians ready to decide; 2014 midterm has unmatched intrigue

One of the most compelling midterm elections in decades unfolds Tuesday in West Virginia when voters go to the polls in the state’s 55 counties.

Two years ago Republicans made major inroads in the House of Delegates, cutting the Democrats’ majority to 54-46. One defection later it stands 53-47 and Republicans claim they have a chance to take control of the House for the first time since 1931.

The significance of Tuesday’s election took several giants steps forward Jan. 11 when U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller announced he would not seek re-election. By that point, 2nd District Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, a seven-term Republican incumbent in the U.S. House, had already announced her plans to run for Senate. Not long after Rockefeller announced, West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant announced her intentions.

Many polls in the last few months have had Capito with a comfortable lead over Tennant. Both candidates were still campaigning hard Monday.

The races for Capito’s current seat in West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, as well as the 3rd Congressional District, appear too close to call.

Rep. Nick Rahall has held the congressional seat in southern West Virginia since the mid-1970s but he’s never had a battle like the one this year against state Sen. Evan Jenkins. Rahall had to spend much of the time reaffirming to voters that he is a West Virginian and will never stop fighting for the way of life enjoyed in the Mountain State.

Jenkins switched parties to take on Rahall. Several polls have his numbers surging in the last few weeks. Rahall and others have claimed Jenkins is backed by out-of-state millionaires. The biggest thing Jenkins may have in his favor this election is a 3rd District that has been turning more ‘red’ in recent years and that he’s from Cabell County, which represents the largest voting bloc in the district, a place where Rahall picked up significant votes in past runs.

The big question Tuesday: Can Republicans continue gains the House of Delegates? Two years ago they won races in Democratic strongholds like Boone County. Republicans will have to win those races again and pick up even more to overtake Democrats.

There are challenged races in most of the state Senate’s 17 contests. They include:

— Sen. Donald Cookman (D-Hampshire) against former House of Delegates Minority Leader Charles Trump in the eastern panhandle;

— Sen. Larry Edgell (D-Wetzel) trying to retain his Senate seat against Republican Kent Leonhardt who ran a strong campaign for agriculture commissioner in 2012;

— Sen. Mike Green (D-Raleigh), who has been outspent by his former employer, Republican Jeff Mullins.

Several counties have individual issues up for vote, including a $15 million library levy in Kanawha County, a proposed school levy in Mercer County and measures to allow Sunday hunting in Mason and Roane counties.

The polls will be open in all 55 counties from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.