State

State Senator, 2nd 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 Wetzel, Tyler, Doddridge and parts of Marshall, Marion and Monongalia counties (West Virginia Legislature Senate roster). Regular four-year term. The district's other senator, Chris Rose, is not up this year. Open seat: Sen. Charles Clements (R) did not file for re-election.

Candidates Compare by issue

Toby Heaney

Republican

Fairview

The gist

Supports longer sentences for repeat drug dealers.
Proposes in-state tuition for all veterans at state universities.
Proposes bill against predatory veterans' benefit claim services.
Opposes bills restricting the right to bear arms.
Supports measures promoting alternatives to abortion.
Supports continued state tax cuts.
Proposes ending unnecessary occupational licensing requirements.

More about Toby

View sources (1)

Supports longer sentences for repeat drug dealers.
Issues, Toby Heaney for WV Senate District 2
Campaign website · Friends of Toby Heaney · toby4wv.com
“I support raising penalties for repeat drug dealers to include extending incarceration.”
Proposes in-state tuition for all veterans at state universities.
Issues, Toby Heaney for WV Senate District 2
Campaign website · Friends of Toby Heaney · toby4wv.com
“I will be championing a bill that allows instate tuition, for any state university, to be granted to all veterans, regardless of status.”
Proposes bill against predatory veterans' benefit claim services.
Issues, Toby Heaney for WV Senate District 2
Campaign website · Friends of Toby Heaney · toby4wv.com
“I have already submitted a bill for drafting in the legislature that helps fight against predatory claims for veterans.”
Opposes bills restricting the right to bear arms.
Issues, Toby Heaney for WV Senate District 2
Campaign website · Friends of Toby Heaney · toby4wv.com
“If elected, I will adamantly oppose any bills that restrict our right to bear arms.”
Supports measures promoting alternatives to abortion.
Issues, Toby Heaney for WV Senate District 2
Campaign website · Friends of Toby Heaney · toby4wv.com
“If elected, I will support measures that prioritize alternatives to abortion”
Supports continued state tax cuts.
Issues, Toby Heaney for WV Senate District 2
Campaign website · Friends of Toby Heaney · toby4wv.com
“If elected, I will advocate for policies that prioritize tax cuts, fostering a climate where businesses can invest, expand, and create jobs.”
Proposes ending unnecessary occupational licensing requirements.
Issues, Toby Heaney for WV Senate District 2
Campaign website · Friends of Toby Heaney · toby4wv.com
“That includes ending unnecessary licensing requirements that hold back small businesses and entrepreneurs.”

Chris Claypole

Democratic

Mannington

The gist

Proposes updating the school funding formula.
Proposes limits on Hope Scholarship spending.
Opposes closing and consolidating rural hospitals.
Supports using state surplus for clean drinking water.
Supports local control over data centers and transmission lines.
Proposes making the Public Service Commission elected.
Opposes Flock surveillance cameras in the state.

More about Chris

View sources (1)

Proposes updating the school funding formula.
Chris Claypole for West Virginia Senate
Campaign website · Friends of Chris Claypole · claypoleforwv.com
“I will fight to update our funding formula to make sure schools obtain better funding.”
Proposes limits on Hope Scholarship spending.
Chris Claypole for West Virginia Senate
Campaign website · Friends of Chris Claypole · claypoleforwv.com
“I will work to establish guardrails on the out of control spending that is happening with the Hope program.”
Opposes closing and consolidating rural hospitals.
Chris Claypole for West Virginia Senate
Campaign website · Friends of Chris Claypole · claypoleforwv.com
“I will fight against the closing of hospitals and consolidation of care that has been allowed to happen.”
Supports using state surplus for clean drinking water.
Chris Claypole for West Virginia Senate
Campaign website · Friends of Chris Claypole · claypoleforwv.com
“We should not have a budget surplus while drinking water remains contaminated!”
Supports local control over data centers and transmission lines.
Chris Claypole for West Virginia Senate
Campaign website · Friends of Chris Claypole · claypoleforwv.com
“I vow to preserve our communities by giving control back to them to decide on topics like data center, AND transmission line construction.”
Proposes making the Public Service Commission elected.
Chris Claypole for West Virginia Senate
Campaign website · Friends of Chris Claypole · claypoleforwv.com
“making the appointed public service commission an elected position that answers to the public for which they serve”
Opposes Flock surveillance cameras in the state.
Chris Claypole for West Virginia Senate
Campaign website · Friends of Chris Claypole · claypoleforwv.com
“I will also protect our right to privacy by upholding our 4th amendment rights and rid our state of flock cameras.”

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.