There are 49 contested state legislative primaries in West Virginia in 2024, the fewest since 2014. On average, there were 58 contested primaries each election year from 2014-2022.

One contributing factor was the limited number of Democratic primaries (four) this cycle. From 2014-2022, there was an average of 22.2 contested Democratic primaries in each cycle. The number of Republican primaries this cycle (45) was higher than the average of 35.6 over that same span.

The total number of filed candidates (244) also declined in 2024 compared to the 2014-2022 average (303). There are 38 candidates for the Senate (28 Republicans, 9 Democrats, and one Mountain Party) and 208 candidates for the House (145 Republicans, 62 Democrats, and one Libertarian).

West Virginia has been a Republican trifecta since Gov. Jim Justice (R) changed his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican in August 2017. Republicans have held majorities in both chambers of the state legislature since 2015. The state was a Democratic trifecta from 2001 to 2014.

West Virginia’s state legislative primaries are scheduled for May 14. Seventeen of the 34 Senate seats and all 100 of the House seats are up for election in 2024.