WESPAC News

2008 Primary Election Results

The 2008 Primary Election came and went yesterday leaving behind a trail of many wins and some key loses for WESPAC supported candidates. Of the eighty-four endorsed candidates for statewide, Senate and House of Delegate races seventy-four candidates will move into General Election battles. This marks an eighty-eight percent win rate for WESPAC endorsed candidates.

WESPAC made endorsements in the Governor, Attorney General, and Supreme Court races and most Senate and House of Delegate races. Additionally, AMPAC the political action committee of the American Medical Association endorsed in the second congressional district.

Click here for a listing of the WESPAC endorsed candidates’ election results.

Brief review of Statewide Races:

Governor Joe Manchin took an easy win over Mel Kessler with seventy-five percent of the vote and will now face challenger Russ Weeks (R) former Senator from Raleigh County.  Dan Greer (R), WESPAC endorsed candidate, will challenge current Attorney General Darrell McGraw (D) in the Fall.

AMPAC supported candidate Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R) for the 2nd Congressional District had an easy ride through the primary without any opposition.  Capito will now be challenged by Anne Barth (D), longtime aide to Senator Byrd, in the General Election.

To view the election results for all races go to the Metro News site and click on the "Primary Live Results" icon.

Supreme Court Results Disappointment for Maynard Supporters

In the heavily contested and increasingly negative Democratic Primary race for the WV Supreme Court of Appeals, Tuesday night proved to be a great disappointment for supporters of Elliott E. "Spike" Maynard. Though the business and physician communities put in a great deal of energy to help Maynard win his re-election bid the efforts fell short.

Reports of Maynard having personal connections to Massey Coal's CEO and ruling on cases involving Massey proved to add enough momentum to pull down his campaign.

Maynard, current Supreme Court Chief Justice, added a voice of reason to the Court and has voted to protect the medical liability reform legislation against trial lawyer efforts to tear it down. This news is a big blow to the physician community.

Polling results showed Margaret Workman, former Supreme Court Justice, coming in at the top with 36 percent of the vote, Menis Ketchum followed in second with 27 percent, Spike Maynard followed in third place with 19 percent and Bob Bastress rounded it out in fourth place with 18 percent of the vote.

The Supreme Court race has really just begun for Charleston attorney Beth Walker who was chosen as the Republican nominee in the uncontested primary. Walker, however, has already received significant support from the business community and from WESPAC. With the defeat of business and healthcare favorite Maynard, efforts are expected to heat up even more for Walker.

In a statement released by Walker's campaign she states "I am honored to accept the nomination of the Republican Party as a candidate for Justice of the Supreme Court. That being said, fairness and integrity and commitment to the rule of law are not really partisan issues. We would all benefit from a Supreme Court that is less about politics and more about a relentless commitment to the rule of law. We have plenty to do between now and November 4. I will be working hard every day so that our campaign that is not only effective but also respectful and responsible. Our campaign will reflect the dignity that I believe is vital for the office of Justice of the Supreme Court."