Williams Unseats Oliverio in Senate District 13
John Williams defeated incumbent state Senator Mike Oliverio in West Virginia's 13th Senate District, according to returns counted with 99% of the vote.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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With 99% of the vote counted, John Williams received 15,503 votes, or 55%, to Mike Oliverio's 11,647 votes in West Virginia Senate District 13. The race covers eastern Marion County and central Monongalia County, and Marion County results were unavailable Tuesday night.
Why it matters
The result changes the composition of a West Virginia Senate seat held by Oliverio and gives Williams, who ran on addressing affordability, a path to statewide legislative influence. Williams's strength in Monongalia County drove much of his margin.
With 99% of votes counted, Williams holds a 55% share, or 15,503 votes, against Oliverio's 11,647. Williams's 4,622-vote edge in Monongalia County carried much of the margin, while Marion County totals were still unavailable.
The players
John Williams
A Morgantown insurance professional and fifth-term member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Williams won the Senate District 13 race after campaigning on affordability.
Mike Oliverio
The incumbent West Virginia state senator for District 13 who lost his seat in the 2026 election to Williams.
The details
Williams, a Morgantown resident, husband, father and insurance professional, is finishing his fifth term in the West Virginia House of Delegates District 80 and campaigned on affordability. The district covers eastern Marion County and central Monongalia County.
Timeline
- Election day, November 3, 2026: Williams unseats Oliverio in Senate District 13.
Political Context
Williams's move from the House of Delegates to the Senate follows a path that several West Virginia legislators have taken when challenging sitting senators. Oliverio's defeat marks the removal of a sitting senator in a race where the challenger's home county delivered the decisive edge.
Voters in Senate District 13 now have a new state senator who will represent eastern Marion County and central Monongalia County. The outcome shifts representation for residents of those areas in the state Senate.
The takeaway
Legislative seats can change hands when a House member runs for a Senate seat with a strong home-county base. Results in Marion County will complete the district picture.
Further reading
For more on how these contests are decided, see Elections coverage of West Virginia.
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