It’s almost over! 

That seems to be the dominant feeling swirling around the 2026 Republican Primary. 

Almost to a man (or woman), people I have spoken to about this primary have all expressed the same sentiment – they can’t wait until it is over. 

That is not that unusual to hear from the candidates, the media covering the election, or your average resident. Running for office is difficult. Campaigning can be exhausting. Meanwhile, voters have grown weary of the advertisements invading their social media, mailboxes, televisions, and radio. 

This is especially true this year, in what has become one of the most contentious and expensive primary elections anyone can remember. That is certainly true for a Republican Party that has had the majority in both chambers of the legislature since 2014. 

As of May 8, seven Political Action Committees had poured $4.97million into the legislative primary races. Most of that money came from PACs associated with Governor Patrick Morrisey and funded by out-of-state interests. 

Morrisey-associated PACs have spent nearly $3 million on legislative races, flooding voters with campaign material, often attacking their political opponents. 

The attacks being levied in the ads would lead you to believe West Virginia voters were at a crossroads, forced to pick between a staunch conservative and a radical liberal. One mailer that stood out informed me that this particular candidate “will have my back” when the radical left comes for my guns. 

Good to know. 

I just wish someone could tell me who the radical left is in West Virginia and where they are coming from. 

Many of the attack ads may be technically true, but lack any context or nuance and mislead the voters. Pointing out a candidate’s record, for instance, opposing Governor Morrisey’s $250 million tax cut plan, is certainly fair game. However, it misleads the voter when that same candidate voted in favor of a $150 million tax cut in the most recent legislative session and previously voted for the largest income tax cut in the state’s history. 

With that context, the voter gets a very different perspective of the candidate, a perspective that is purposefully omitted from campaign rhetoric. 

The purpose of the mailers and other campaign materials attacking candidates is to motivate supporters to go to the polls. Chris Stirewalt pointed out in a 2022 article he penned for the American Enterprise Institute that the political parties are “very much arranged around the idea of motivation over persuasion.” 

He continued to point out that the parties have created an atmosphere that “has pushed previously apathetic voters into action.” 

Will it work? 

It’s hard to say.

Recent polling by State Navigate looked at several key senate races and determined that most of them are neck and neck battles. 

Secretary of State Kris Warner reported that early voting totals were actually about 8 percent higher than early turnout for the last off-year primary in 2022. 

At least by this time Wednesday, it will all be over… for now. 

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) – Candidates running for seats in the West Virginia House of Delegates in Wood County say their top priorities if elected range from job creation and workforce development to health care policy changes and infrastructure, as they make their case to voters ahead of the election.

Incumbent Delegate Vernon Criss, a Republican running in House District 12, said jobs would be his top focus, arguing Wood County has been left out of state efforts to attract manufacturing.

“It would be jobs,” Criss said. He pointed to what he described as $340 million available through a high-impact, jobs-related manufacturing fund for companies returning to West Virginia, saying the governor “has refused to use these dollars to help the county.” Criss also cited restoring highway funding and funding for drinking water and sewer projects as priorities.

Criss said he would also push for foster care legislation in the next session, noting the governor vetoed a foster care bill this year that he said would have helped families and relatives caring for children in the system.

In House District 13, Republican candidate Melissa McCrady said her leading priority is repealing the state’s certificate of need program, which she said restricts medical facilities and practices from opening in the state.

“The main issue that I would prioritize is the repeal of the certificate of need,” McCrady said, calling it a program that limits a “free market” approach to health care by requiring approvals before certain services can expand.

McCrady said she would also like to repeal the inventory tax on businesses, which she said makes West Virginia less attractive for economic growth. She also said she supports religious and philosophical vaccine exemptions for children and adults in response to future outbreaks.

On education, McCrady said she wants to give teachers and families more voice in Wood County and reduce what she called burdensome requirements and restrictions placed on classrooms. On jobs and cost of living, she said reducing taxes and regulations and allowing the market to develop would create more opportunity for residents.

Incumbent Delegate Scot Heckert, a Republican running in House District 13, said his top issues include “infrastructure, accountability” and school funding.

“Top issues right now is infrastructure, accountability, for the school funding,” Heckert said. He said policy changes depend in part on what he hears from residents, but added he believes the school aid formula should be reviewed and that traditional public schools, homeschooling and charter schools should be held to the same set of rules.

Heckert said the state needs to do more to support teachers and address long-term retirement funding costs. On jobs and workforce development, Heckert said building a workforce is essential and suggested the state should look at incentives and assistance programs to encourage employment.

Asked about transparency and accountability, Heckert said constituents can contact him directly.

“Any constituent of District 13 can call me anytime,” he said, adding, “You can’t have one without the other.”

Criss and McCrady also emphasized transparency as a priority. Criss said the budget process should remain open to the public, while McCrady said she wants to be accessible through office hours and multiple communication channels.

Candidate for House of Delegates district 12 Charles Hartzog was not available to be interviewed.

Voters in Wood County will choose their delegates in House Districts 12 and 13 in the upcoming election. Details on early voting and Election Day locations are available through the county clerk’s office.

Editor’s note: The video for this story will be added once it airs. Please check back for the updated video.

Charleston, W.Va. — An abrupt closure at a Charleston recovery home last week left residents searching for a new place to stay, but members of the local recovery community stepped in to help keep many of them on track.

PAAC House closed its doors Friday after funding issues left employees unpaid for nearly a month, displacing 14 residents, many of whom were still in early sobriety.

For former resident John Boso, the closure came after weeks of uncertainty.

“Services started dropping off, we’d have less counseling, less things going on,” Boso said. “And then before we know it, it’s like, you’ve got to find somewhere else to go.”

Caroline Paxton, a founder of the nonprofit True Freedom, said the sudden disruption raised immediate concerns about residents’ stability.

“I think especially in early sobriety, that’s really stressful for anyone. And so our biggest concern was we want to make sure they were able to continue to stay sober and continue on this like recovery journey,” Paxton said.

Paxton and fellow True Freedom founder Michael Paxton said they already knew many of the men through the nonprofit’s meetings. When they learned the residents had just four days’ notice to find new housing, they began working to secure placements — a process that often involves applications, interviews and fees.

They connected with HopeWorks, a recently opened home, and worked to fast-track interviews the next day. HopeWorks Director Catherine Tyler said she fortunately had many beds open and their transition has been smooth so far.

“They’re doing great so far,” said Tyler. “They are already buddies from the PAAC House, and I think that’s going to be really good for them.”

Six of the men were able to stay together, something former residents said has been critical to their recovery.

“It’s awesome that we’re all together,” one resident said. “Brotherhood was the biggest thing we had going for us. That was the only thing we were sure of.”

The men said despite the sudden closure, due to securing placements they have been able to continue attending meetings and focusing on recovery.

Several residents said they feared the disruption could have pushed them backward in their recovery.

“I was hopeless thought I was going to go right back to the life I was living then bam Mike and Caroline to the rescue it was great,” Alden Smith said.

“I thought I had come all this way for nothing,” said Christian Taylor.

Michael Paxton said helping the men find stability has been worth every effort.

“Just to know these guys, know that they’re safe and they have a place they’re loved. You know, they still have another chance at life,” he said.

Those involved encouraged anyone struggling with addiction to reach out to True Freedom.