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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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West Virginia's 1st Congressional District

West Virginia's 1st congressional district is currently located in the southern half of the state.

Responding to the census results, the state legislature adopted a new map for the 2022 elections and the following 10 years. It abandoned the practice used since the formation of the state of starting the numbering in the north, and rather divided the state in a northern and southern district, with the 1st being the more southerly one. The new 1st district contains the counties of Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Putnam, Raleigh, Roane, Summers, Wayne, Webster, Wirt, and Wyoming. For all intents and purposes, it was the successor to the 3rd district, and its congresswoman, Carol Miller, became the de facto incumbent in this new district. The state's other congressmen, Republicans David McKinley and Alex Mooney, were both drawn into the new 2nd district. All three ran for re-election. Miller was easily nominated in the Republican primary held May 10, 2022, while former 1st district congressman David McKinley was soundly defeated by 2nd district congressman Alex Mooney. Both Republicans were easily elected in November.

In its previous incarnation, the 1st covered the northern part of the state, and was historically the most regularly drawn district in the state. From 1953 to 2023, it was represented by only four men: Bob Mollohan (D) (1953–1957), former Governor Arch Moore, Jr. (R) (1957–1969), Bob Mollohan again (1969–1983), Alan Mollohan (1983–2011) and McKinley (2011-2023).

Despite the lack of turnover in the congressional seat, historically the 1st was not safe for either party. The cities are ancestrally Democratic strongholds, while the rural areas were much more conservative and had a tendency to swing Republican more often. As late as 2014, state legislators were roughly split between both parties.

For most of the 20th century, the Democratic vote in the cities was enough to keep the district in Democratic hands. However, West Virginia Democrats tend to be somewhat more socially conservative than their counterparts in the rest of the nation, and the district has been swept up in the growing Republican trend in the state at the national level. No Democrat since Bill Clinton (who did so by a plurality in a three-way race) has carried the 1st district in presidential elections. George W. Bush carried the district both times in 2000 with 54% of the vote and 2004 with 58% of the vote. John McCain carried the district in 2008 with 56.77% of the vote while Barack Obama received 41.51%.

History

Prior to the 2020 redistricting, the first district had always been anchored in Wheeling, and as such had always included Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, and Wetzel counties–the five counties usually reckoned as the Northern Panhandle. The original 1863 districting included also Tyler, Pleasants, Doddridge, Harrison, Ritchie, Wood, Wirt, Gilmer, Calhoun and Lewis counties. It was essentially the successor of Virginia's 11th congressional district.

In 1882, the counties of Tyler, Doddridge, Harrison, Gilmer, Lewis and Braxton were added to the core counties. In 1902, the core counties were joined by Marion, Harrison, and Lewis counties. In the 1916 redistricting it included only the five core counties and Marion and Taylor. The district was unchanged in the 1934 and 1954 redistrictings. In 1962, Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion and Taylor joined the five core counties. The 1972 redistricting added Tyler, Pleasants, and Woods and deleted Taylor. The 1982 redistricting added Taylor back to the district.

For 1992 the district consisted of Barbour, Brooke, Doddridge, Grant, Hancock, Harrison, Marion, Marshall, Mineral, Monongalia, Ohio, Pleasants, Preston, Ritchie, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Wetzel and Wood counties. In 2002 Gilmer was added. For the election cycle that began in 2012 the district was unchanged.

For the 2020 census, the legislature abandoned the practice of numbering the districts from north to south and the first district was now the more southerly one, consisting of Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Putnam, Raleigh, Roane, Summers, Wayne, Webster, Wirt, and Wyoming counties.

Election results from statewide races

Election results from statewide races
Year Office Results
2000 President Bush 54 - 43%
2004 President Bush 58 - 42%
2008 President McCain 57 - 42%
2012 President Romney 62 - 36%
2016 President Trump 68 - 26%
Governor Cole 45 - 45%
2018 Senate Manchin 49 - 46%
2020 President Trump 68 - 30%
Senate Capito 70 - 27%
Governor Justice 64 - 30%

List of members representing the district

Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history
District established December 17, 1863

Jacob B. Blair
(Parkersburg)
Union December 17, 1863 –
March 3, 1865
38th Elected in 1863.
Retired.

Chester D. Hubbard
(Wheeling)
Union March 4, 1865 –
March 3, 1867
39th
40th
Elected in 1864.
Re-elected in 1866.
Lost renomination.
Republican March 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1869

Isaac H. Duval
(Wellsburg)
Republican March 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1871
41st Elected in 1868.
Retired.

John James Davis
(Clarksburg)
Democratic March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1873
42nd
43rd
Elected in 1870.
Re-elected in 1872.
Retired.
Independent Democratic March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875

Benjamin Wilson
(Clarksburg)
Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1883
44th
45th
46th
47th
Elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Retired.

Nathan Goff Jr.
(Clarksburg)
Republican March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1889
48th
49th
50th
Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Retired.

John O. Pendleton
(Wheeling)
Democratic March 4, 1889 –
February 26, 1890
51st Elected in 1888.
Lost contested election.

George W. Atkinson
(Wheeling)
Republican February 26, 1890 –
March 3, 1891
51st Won contested election.
Retired.

John O. Pendleton
(Wheeling)
Democratic March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1895
52nd
53rd
Elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Lost renomination.

Blackburn B. Dovener
(Wheeling)
Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1907
54th
55th
56th
57th
58th
59th
Elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Lost renomination.

William Pallister Hubbard
(Wheeling)
Republican March 4, 1907 –
March 3, 1911
60th
61st
Elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Retired.

John W. Davis
(Clarksburg)
Democratic March 4, 1911 –
August 29, 1913
62nd
63rd
Elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Resigned to become U.S. Solicitor General.
Vacant August 29, 1913 –
October 14, 1913
63rd

Matthew M. Neely
(Fairmont)
Democratic October 14, 1913 –
March 3, 1921
63rd
64th
65th
66th
Elected to finish Davis's term.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Lost re-election.

Benjamin L. Rosenbloom
(Wheeling)
Republican March 4, 1921 –
March 3, 1925
67th
68th
Elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.

Carl G. Bachmann
(Wheeling)
Republican March 4, 1925 –
March 3, 1933
69th
70th
71st
72nd
Elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Lost re-election.

Robert L. Ramsay
(Follansbee)
Democratic March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1939
73rd
74th
75th
Elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Lost re-election.

A. C. Schiffler
(Wheeling)
Republican January 3, 1939 –
January 3, 1941
76th Elected in 1938.
Lost re-election.

Robert L. Ramsay
(Follansbee)
Democratic January 3, 1941 –
January 3, 1943
77th Elected in 1940.
Lost re-election.

A. C. Schiffler
(Wheeling)
Republican January 3, 1943 –
January 3, 1945
78th Elected in 1942.
Lost re-election.

Matthew M. Neely
(Fairmont)
Democratic January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1947
79th Elected in 1944.
Lost re-election.

Francis J. Love
(Wheeling)
Republican January 3, 1947 –
January 3, 1949
80th Elected in 1946.
Lost re-election.

Robert L. Ramsay
(Follansbee)
Democratic January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1953
81st
82nd
Elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Lost renomination.

Bob Mollohan
(Fairmont)
Democratic January 3, 1953 –
January 3, 1957
83rd
84th
Elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Retired to run for governor.

Arch A. Moore Jr.
(Glen Dale)
Republican January 3, 1957 –
January 3, 1969
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
Elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Retired to run for governor.

Bob Mollohan
(Fairmont)
Democratic January 3, 1969 –
January 3, 1983
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
Elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Retired.

Alan Mollohan
(Fairmont)
Democratic January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 2011
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
Elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Lost renomination.

David McKinley
(Wheeling)
Republican January 3, 2011 –
January 3, 2023
112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
Elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Redistricted to the 2nd district and lost renomination.

Carol Miller
(Huntington)
Republican January 3, 2023 –
present
118th Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 2022.

Recent election results

2000s

2000 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alan Mollohan (incumbent) 170,974 87.78
Libertarian Richard Kerr 23,797 12.22
Total votes 194,771 100.00
Democratic hold
2002 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alan Mollohan (incumbent) 110,941 99.71
write-ins 320 0.29
Total votes 111,261 100.00
Democratic hold
2004 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alan Mollohan (incumbent) 166,583 67.77
Republican Chris Wakim 79,196 32.22
Total votes 245,779 100.00
Democratic hold
2006 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alan Mollohan (incumbent) 100,939 64.29
Republican Chris Wakim 55,963 35.65
Write-ins 98 0.06
Total votes 157,000 100.00
Democratic hold
2008 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alan Mollohan (incumbent) 187,734 99.93
Write-ins 130 0.07
Total votes 187,864 100.00
Democratic hold

2010s

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McKinley 90,660 50.40
Democratic Mike Oliverio 89,220 49.60
Total votes 179,880 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic
2012 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McKinley (incumbent) 133,809 62.5
Democratic Sue Thorn 80,342 37.5
Total votes 214,151 100.0
Republican hold
2014 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McKinley (incumbent) 92,491 64.0
Democratic Glen Gainer III 52,109 36.0
Total votes 144,600 100.0
Republican hold
2016 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McKinley (incumbent) 163,469 69.0
Democratic Mike Manypenny 73,534 31.0
Total votes 237,003 100.0
Republican hold
2018 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McKinley (incumbent) 127,997 64.6
Democratic Kendra Fershee 70,217 35.4
Total votes 198,214 100.0
Republican hold

2020s

2020 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McKinley (incumbent) 180,488 69.0
Democratic Natalie Cline 81,177 31.0
Total votes 261,665 100.0
Republican hold
2022 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Carol Miller (incumbent) 151,511 66.7
Democratic Lacy Watson 65,428 28.8
Independent Belinda Fox-Spencer 10,257 4.5
Total votes 227,196 100.0
Republican hold

Historical district boundaries

2003 - 2013
2013 - 2023

See also

References

Specific
  1. ^ "My Congressional District".
  2. ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "Bill Status - Complete Bill History".
  4. ^ Flatley, Jake (October 14, 2021). "West Virginia lawmakers settle on a north-south congressional map, opening up McKinley vs Mooney". WV MetroNews. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  5. ^ "Mooney wallops McKinley in rare matchup of congressional incumbents". May 11, 2022.
  6. ^ West Virginia Blue Book, pp. 534 (2012 edition)
General

39°22′55″N 80°16′07″W / 39.38194°N 80.26861°W / 39.38194; -80.26861