CHARLESTON, W.Va. — New West Virginia GOP Chairman Matt Herridge says Republicans plan to encourage independent and non-affiliated voters to change their party affiliation before the 2026 Primary Election.
Matt Herridge
Herridge said a vote by the West Virginia Republican Party Executive Committee on Saturday to close the Primary to Republican voters only is allowing them two years to generate more members.
“I think it’s a responsible way to do that given the timeline that we’re facing right now with this election year,” Herridge said on Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
The resolution initially would’ve closed the Primary starting with this upcoming May election. Committee members voted on an amendment that would change the closure from 2024 to 2026.
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Delegate Jim Butler (R-Mason) said it’s an exciting election year to do that. He said the state is missing a big opportunity by waiting to implement this resolution. He voted for it.
“I’m disappointed that we’re not going to see the immediate benefits of this because with Donald Trump at the top of the ticket and some very important races, I think this Primary race could’ve made a big impact,” he said.
Butler said the vote was very divided with 65 in favor and 54 against the resolution.
Jim Butler
“I think we came out of the meeting pretty well united. Some of us are sure that this is the right thing to do, but others are a little more doubtful, but I think we can make it happen and grow the party,” Butler said.
Herridge agreed and said his top priority is to help grow the party. He wants to reach independent and non-affiliate voters over the next two years.
“We’re going to invite them to join the party and encourage them to vote for our candidates. We’re going to be communicating in various ways through technology, direct mail, on the radio and other ways that we can communicate through media to let them know we’re ready for them to join the party,” Herridge said.
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The committee’s move will limit the 2026 Primary to Republican voters only, but Herridge said those who are still undecided can vote Republican in the General Election that year.
“They’re still going to be voting for those Republican candidates in the General Election if they choose to stay unaffiliated, but I think we can make an awesome argument for them to go ahead and join the party,” he said.
Herridge succeeds Elgine McArdle as the new GOP chair.
There are currently 287,000 independent or non-affiliated voters in West Virginia, making up 25 percent of all registered voters.
The state Democratic Party has made no similar move to close its Primary.
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The Primary Election in West Virginia this year is May 14.
The West Virginia Mountaineers (10-3) welcome the Maryland Terrapins (10-5) to Kendrick Family Ballpark Tuesday afternoon the first encounter between the two programs since 2023 and the first meeting in Morgantown since 2018. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. EST and the action will stream on ESPN+.
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The Mountaineers captured their fourth consecutive series of the season after taking two of the three games from Columbia over the weekend. West Virginia sophomore Matt Ineich and senior Brodie Kresser both blasted grand slams during the series. Ineich lifted WVU in game two with a walk-off grand slam in the 10th in game two, and Kresser ignited a 16-1 rout, capping a six-run second inning in the series finale.
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Gavin Kelly leads West Virginia at the plate with a .436 batting average with a Big 12 leading nine doubles. Ineich and senior Paul Schoenfeld has raked in a team-leading 16 RBI apiece, while senior Matthew Graveline has clubbed a team-high three home runs.
On the mound, West Virginia is expected to start sophomore David Hagen. The right-hander has made four appearances on the season, including one start. He last started in the home-opener against Ohio where he pitched two scoreless innings and recorded a strikeout to collect his first win of the season. He holds a 1.00 ERA with five strikeouts on the season.
After starting 3-4, Maryland is 7-1 in its last eight games. The Terrapins won two of three at UNC Wilmington in the season opening series, followed by a midweek win against Georgetown before getting swept at Louisiana. The Terps bounced back with a pair of midweek wins versus Delaware and swept a one-win Wagner team.
Junior Brayden Martin is batting a team-best .443 to go with four doubles and 12 RBI. Redshirt freshman Ryan Costello leads the Terps in home runs (9) and RBI (21) and is third in batting average at .328, while freshman Ty Kaunus has a team-high seven doubles and has .269 batting average.
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Maryland is scheduled to start freshman Nic Morlang. The right-hander has four appearances on the season, including four starts. He allowed five earned runs in his appearances, coinciding with his two starts, in six innings of work. In his last two appearances in relief, He’s allowed one earned run on five hits.
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West Virginia leads the all-time series 8-5, including a five-game winning streak over Maryland.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to a series of parties in Morgantown over the weekend.
Morgantown police officers, West Virginia University Police and state police responded to reports of overcrowded parties, underage drinking, physical altercations and multiple injuries.
Morgantown Communications Director Brad Riffie said several citations were issued for open containers and underage consumption.
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Two large parties were dispersed and six arrests were made without incident.
None of the reported injuries are believed to be serious or life-threatening.
The Morgantown Fire Department assisted in the operations.
Hancock County, WV — A Weir High School senior has been recognized as the 2026 West Virginia Student Journalist of the Year.
Hailey Hans was selected for the statewide honor after building a journalism portfolio since her freshman year. She also serves as the staff manager of Weir Student Media, where she oversees articles and is in charge of deadlines.
“When I was a freshman I was placed in the journalism one class, and I actually tried to get pulled from the class. But, then after I sat in the class and I learned a little bit, that’s where my love grew and then from there I continued to take classes, I helped pass a law, and I got to these national conventions. Where it just lit a fire inside me,” Hans said.
Hans is planning to attend West Liberty University in the fall to study education with a minor in journalism, with the goal of becoming a journalism teacher. She will now submit her portfolio for the national-level contest.
