WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump will compete for West Virginia's four electoral votes in the Nov. 5 general election. Voters will also cast ballots for a full slate of federal and state contests, including a U.
S. Senate race that will help decide control of the chamber next year. Neither Harris nor Trump have campaigned in West Virginia , and the state has not been a competitive presidential battleground for years.
West Virginia was reliable Democratic territory for most of the 20th century, but Republican presidential candidates have won the state by comfortable margins since George W. Bush's victory there in 2000. Also appearing on the presidential ballot this year are three independent or third-party candidates, including Jill Stein and Robert F.
Kennedy Jr., who dropped out of the race in August and endorsed Trump. In the U.
S. Senate race, Republican Gov. Jim Justice is running against Democrat Glenn Elliott and Libertarian David Moran to succeed Democrat-turned-independent Joe Manchin, who is not seeking a third full term.
Manchin's retirement has complicated Democratic hopes of maintaining control of the chamber next year. A win by Justice would be enough to give the GOP a majority if Trump wins the White House, assuming they hold their other seats. Republican state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is running against Democrat Steve Williams and three third-party candidates to replace Justice as go.
