Republicans Win Seven of Eight Panhandle House Seats
Republicans captured most legislative seats in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle, while Laura Wakim Chapman held Senate District One.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Republicans won seven of the eight West Virginia House of Delegates seats in the Northern Panhandle in the November 4 election. Karen Shuler Stakem was the lone Democrat elected to the House from the region.
Why it matters
The results give Republicans a dominant position in the region's legislative delegation for West Virginia's state government. Republican incumbent Laura Wakim Chapman also defeated Democrat Shawn Fluharty in Senate District One.
Seven of the eight Northern Panhandle House of Delegates seats went to Republicans, with Democrat Karen Shuler Stakem winning the only remaining seat. Vote margins and certified totals for these contests were not included in the available results.
The players
Laura Wakim Chapman
Republican incumbent who won re-election to West Virginia's Senate District One.
Shawn Fluharty
Democrat who lost the Senate District One race to Republican incumbent Laura Wakim Chapman.
Karen Shuler Stakem
Democrat who won the lone House of Delegates seat in the Northern Panhandle won by a Democrat.
The details
Voters in the Northern Panhandle elected Republicans to seven of the region's eight House of Delegates seats. In Senate District One, Republican incumbent Laura Wakim Chapman defeated Democrat Shawn Fluharty. Many elected positions in Ohio also flipped blue in the same election.
Timeline
November 4, 2026: Election results for Northern Panhandle legislative seats came in.
Political Context
The Northern Panhandle results extend West Virginia's pattern of Republican control in its legislature. Democrats hold only a small share of the region's House seats, and the Senate District One result continues that trend.
Residents of the Northern Panhandle will be represented mostly by Republicans in the House of Delegates for the next term. Senate District One voters will continue to be represented by Laura Wakim Chapman.
The takeaway
Election outcomes at the legislative level shape state policy for years, so voters in West Virginia should follow results as they are certified. Checking candidate positions before future elections helps voters understand how their representatives vote.
Further reading
For more on the state's races, see Elections coverage across West Virginia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WTOV.
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