State

State Senator, 1st Senatorial District

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator votes on West Virginia laws and the state budget in the State Senate; each of the 17 senatorial districts elects two senators to staggered four-year terms.

District covers Hancock, Brooke, Ohio and part of Marshall counties (West Virginia Legislature Senate roster). Regular four-year term. The district's other senator, Ryan Weld, is not up this year.

Candidates Compare by issue

Shawn Fluharty

Democratic

Wheeling

The gist

Voted against 2025 certified microgrid program law (HB 2014).
Supported legalizing regulated sports betting and online gaming.
Introduced Raylee's Law on child abuse protections.
Voted for 2026 personal income tax reduction (SB 392).In office
Voted against the 2026 state budget bill (SB 250).In office
Voted for 2026 teacher and State Police pay raise.In office
Sponsored a "Stay in State" tax credit bill.In office
Sponsored bill barring credit history use in insurance.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Shawn

View sources (6)

Voted against 2025 certified microgrid program law (HB 2014).
House roll call 308: HB 2014, Certified Microgrid Program (passage, April 1, 2025)
Government record · West Virginia House of Delegates · Apr 1, 2025 · NAYS: Fluharty · wvlegislature.gov
“Certified Microgrid Program”
Shawn Fluharty for State Senate
Campaign website · Fluharty for the Northern Panhandle · shawnfluharty.com
“Shawn opposed House Bill 2014 because Charleston should not be able to erase local zoning”
Supported legalizing regulated sports betting and online gaming.
Shawn Fluharty for State Senate
Campaign website · Fluharty for the Northern Panhandle · shawnfluharty.com
“Shawn championed regulated sports gaming and iGaming, producing more than $100 million for vital public programs without raising taxes.”
Introduced Raylee's Law on child abuse protections.
Shawn Fluharty for State Senate
Campaign website · Fluharty for the Northern Panhandle · shawnfluharty.com
“Delegate Fluharty continues his fight for Raylee's Law, which he initially introduced”
Voted for 2026 personal income tax reduction (SB 392).
House roll call 526: SB 392, Relating to personal income tax reduction (passage, March 13, 2026)
Government record · West Virginia House of Delegates · Mar 13, 2026 · YEAS: Fluharty · wvlegislature.gov
“Relating to personal income tax reduction”
Voted against the 2026 state budget bill (SB 250).
House roll call 354: SB 250, Budget Bill (passage, March 5, 2026)
Government record · West Virginia House of Delegates · Mar 5, 2026 · NAYS: Fluharty · wvlegislature.gov
“Budget Bill”
Voted for 2026 teacher and State Police pay raise.
House roll call 130: HB 4765, Teacher, School Personnel, and State Police Pay Raise (passage, February 19, 2026)
Government record · West Virginia House of Delegates · Feb 19, 2026 · YEAS: Fluharty · wvlegislature.gov
“Teacher, School Personnel, and State Police Pay Raise”
Sponsored a "Stay in State" tax credit bill.
Shawn Fluharty: member page, West Virginia Legislature
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · HB 5606 · wvlegislature.gov
“Establishing the “Stay in State” tax credit”
Sponsored bill barring credit history use in insurance.
Shawn Fluharty: member page, West Virginia Legislature
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · HB 5608 · wvlegislature.gov
“Prohibiting use of a person’s credit history in certain insurance transactions”

Laura Wakim Chapman

RepublicanIncumbent

Lawyer · Wheeling

The gist

Voted for the 2026 state budget bill (SB 250).In office
Voted for 2026 teacher and State Police pay raise.In office
Voted for 2025 certified microgrid program law (HB 2014).In office
Sponsored bill ending sales tax on residential utility payments.In office
Sponsored bill requiring legislative approval of utility rate increases.In office
Sponsored bill giving public school staff a 10 percent raise.In office
Sponsored bill limiting state elected officials to three terms.In office
Sponsored bill extending Medicaid coverage for postpartum care.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Laura

View sources (4)

Voted for the 2026 state budget bill (SB 250).
Senate roll call 358: SB 250, Budget Bill (concur as amended and pass, March 5, 2026)
Government record · West Virginia Senate · Mar 5, 2026 · Y CHAPMAN · wvlegislature.gov
“Budget Bill”
Voted for 2026 teacher and State Police pay raise.
Senate roll call 715: HB 4765, Teacher, School Personnel, and State Police Pay Raise (recede and pass, March 14, 2026)
Government record · West Virginia Senate · Mar 14, 2026 · Y CHAPMAN · wvlegislature.gov
“Teacher, School Personnel, and State Police Pay Raise”
Voted for 2025 certified microgrid program law (HB 2014).
Senate roll call 591: HB 2014, Certified Microgrid Program (concur and pass, April 12, 2025)
Government record · West Virginia Senate · Apr 12, 2025 · Y CHAPMAN · wvlegislature.gov
“Certified Microgrid Program”
Sponsored bill ending sales tax on residential utility payments.
Laura Wakim Chapman: member page, West Virginia Legislature
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · SB 168 · wvlegislature.gov
“Eliminating sales tax on utility payments for residential users”
Sponsored bill requiring legislative approval of utility rate increases.
Laura Wakim Chapman: member page, West Virginia Legislature
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · SB 461 · wvlegislature.gov
“Requiring any PSC rate increase to have legislative approval”
Sponsored bill giving public school staff a 10 percent raise.
Laura Wakim Chapman: member page, West Virginia Legislature
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · SB 713 · wvlegislature.gov
“Providing 10 percent raise for all public school staff”
Sponsored bill limiting state elected officials to three terms.
Laura Wakim Chapman: member page, West Virginia Legislature
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · SB 566 · wvlegislature.gov
“Imposing limit of three terms on elected public officials in state”
Sponsored bill extending Medicaid coverage for postpartum care.
Laura Wakim Chapman: member page, West Virginia Legislature
Government record · West Virginia Legislature · SB 505 · wvlegislature.gov
“Providing Medicaid coverage for postpartum health care”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.