1968 West Virginia House of Delegates election

1968 West Virginia House of Delegates election
November 5, 1968
All 100 seats in the West Virginia House of Delegates
51 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader H. Laban White
(retired)		 Brereton C. Jones
(retired)
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since 1965 1967
Leader's seat Harrison Co. Mason Co.
Last election 65 seats 35 seats
Seats won 63 37
Seat change Decrease 2 Increase 2
Popular vote 1,449,004 1,275,201
Percentage 53.19% 46.81%

     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Republican gain      Republican hold

Democratic:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100%
Republican:      50–60%      60–70%      90–100%

Speaker before election

H. Laban White
Democratic

 Elected Speaker

Ivor F. Boiarsky
Democratic

Elections to the West Virginia House of Delegates were held on November 5, 1968, to elect 100 candidates to the House to serve a two-year term. The Republican Party gained a net total of two seats in the chamber, reducing the Democrats' majority to 63 seats.[1]

At the opening of the 59th Legislature, Republicans elected former minority leader George H. Seibert back to the position to succeed outgoing delegate Brereton C. Jones, and Democrat Ivor F. Boiarsky was elected speaker.[2]

This election used the map first drawn for the 1964 general election, using plurality block voting in districts with multiple delegates.

List of districts

District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • Barbour Co. • Boone Co. • Braxton Co. • Brooke Co. • Cabell Co. • Clay Co. • Fayette Co. • Hampshire Co. • Hancock Co. • Harrison Co. • Jackson Co. • Jefferson Co. • Kanawha Co. • Lewis Co. • Lincoln Co. • Logan Co. • Marion Co. • Marshall Co. • Mason Co. • McDowell Co. • Mercer Co. • Mineral Co. • Mingo Co. • Monongalia Co. • Monroe Co. • Nicholas Co. • Ohio Co. • Preston Co. • Putnam Co. • Raleigh Co. • Randolph Co. • Roane Co. • Summers Co. • Taylor Co. • Upshur Co. • Wayne Co. • Webster Co. • Wetzel Co. • Wood Co. • Wyoming Co.

District 1

District 1 election[3]
2 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wallace L. Files (incumbent) 9,144 27.76%
Republican Ward W. Keesecker 8,613 26.14%
Democratic Robert M. Steptoe (incumbent) 8,314 25.24%
Democratic Ralph B. Hovermale 6,874 20.87%
Total votes 32,945 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 2

District 2 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Larkin B. Ours (incumbent) 4,812 100.00%
Total votes 4,812 100.00%
Republican hold

District 3

District 3 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas J. Hawse (incumbent) 4,604 100.00%
Total votes 4,604 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 4

District 4 election[3]
2 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas C. Edgar (incumbent) 10,061 37.63%
Democratic Richard H. Bowman (incumbent) 9,594 35.89%
Republican Thomas B. Freeman 7,080 26.48%
Total votes 26,735 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 5

District 5 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Forrest M. Buck (incumbent) 5,107 100.00%
Total votes 5,107 100.00%
Republican hold

District 6

District 6 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. C. Powell (incumbent) 4,227 55.10%
Democratic Stephen C. Bird 3,444 44.90%
Total votes 7,671 100.00%
Republican hold

District 7

District 7 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Billy Brown Burke (incumbent) 4,590 55.39%
Republican Linda Lou Brohard 3,696 44.61%
Total votes 8,286 100.00%
Democratic hold

Barbour County

Barbour County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kenneth D. Auvil (incumbent) 3,875 59.42%
Republican Orville (Chuck) Edens 2,646 40.58%
Total votes 6,521 100.00%
Democratic hold

Boone County

Boone County election[3]
2 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas Goodwin (incumbent) 6,717 40.77%
Democratic Dennie L. Hill (incumbent) 6,467 39.25%
Republican Heyward Chambers 3,291 19.98%
Total votes 16,475 100.00%
Democratic hold

Braxton County

Braxton County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rodney B. Belknap 3,133 53.05%
Republican Michael E. Posey 2,773 46.95%
Total votes 5,906 100.00%
Democratic hold

Brooke County

Brooke County election[3]
2 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Irma M. Maple 7,330 31.82%
Democratic Mino R. D' Aurora (incumbent) 6,325 27.45%
Republican Paul L. Conaway 5,251 22.79%
Republican Roger N. Pauls 4,132 17.94%
Total votes 23,038 100.00%
Democratic hold

Cabell County

Cabell County election[3]
6 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert R. Nelson (incumbent) 21,703 9.36%
Republican Dr. John M. Bobbitt (incumbent) 21,188 9.14%
Republican David B. Daugherty 20,759 8.95%
Republican C. E. Romine 20,693 8.93%
Republican Jody G. Smirl (incumbent) 20,564 8.87%
Democratic Hugh A. Kincaid (incumbent) 19,617 8.46%
Democratic Freda Paul (incumbent) 19,166 8.27%
Democratic Mike Casey (incumbent) 18,990 8.19%
Republican John W. Dickensheets 18,067 7.79%
Republican Gerald E. Broughton 17,509 7.55%
Democratic H. Fred Ferguson 16,789 7.24%
Democratic Don E. Booth 16,787 7.24%
Total votes 231,832 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

Clay County

Clay County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John W. Kyle 1,912 52.86%
Democratic Lane Ellis (incumbent) 1,702 47.06%
Write-in J. M. Arbogast 3 0.08%
Total votes 3,617 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

Fayette County

Fayette County election[3]
3 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ethel L. Crandall (incumbent) 14,560 24.61%
Democratic Adam Toney 14,336 24.23%
Democratic T. E. Myles (incumbent) 14,240 24.07%
Republican Earl C. Kincaid 5,629 9.52%
Republican Mark Legg 5,237 8.85%
Republican Otis D. Morton 5,154 8.71%
Total votes 59,156 100.00%
Democratic hold

Hampshire County

Hampshire County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James B. Cookman (incumbent) 2,486 100.00%
Total votes 2,486 100.00%
Democratic hold

Hancock County

Hancock County election[3]
2 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gust G. Brenda Jr. 10,912 33.85%
Democratic George G. Griffith (incumbent) 10,670 33.10%
Republican H. Burdette Crow 5,999 18.61%
Republican John Lincoln Owen 4,651 14.43%
Total votes 32,232 100.00%
Democratic hold

Harrison County

Harrison County election[3]
4 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donald L. Kopp (incumbent) 17,432 14.19%
Democratic C. Paul Wanstreet 15,987 13.01%
Democratic James Laulis 15,973 13.00%
Democratic Paul G. Lister 15,773 12.84%
Republican Michael D. Greer 14,696 11.96%
Republican Boyd L. Warner 14,564 11.85%
Republican Gary H. Bailey 14,435 11.75%
Republican Charles G. Johnson 14,006 11.40%
Write-in John Walker 1 0.00%
Write-in Duffy Riley 1 0.00%
Write-in Jack Biafore 1 0.00%
Write-in SeIby WoIfe 1 0.00%
Write-in Marshall Bishop 1 0.00%
Write-in Ralph Keister 1 0.00%
Total votes 122,872 100.00%
Democratic hold

Jackson County

Jackson County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican B. Noel Poling (incumbent) 5,142 56.01%
Democratic Fred Hammack 4,038 43.99%
Total votes 9,180 100.00%
Republican hold

Jefferson County

Jefferson County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Roger J. Perry 4,074 62.97%
Republican Louise Leonard 2,396 37.03%
Total votes 6,470 100.00%
Democratic hold

Kanawha County

Kanawha County election[3]
14 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ivor F. Boiarsky (incumbent) 49,484 4.14%
Democratic Si Galperin Jr. (incumbent) 47,991 4.02%
Republican James C. Jeter (incumbent) 45,586 3.82%
Republican Paul Zakaib Jr. (incumbent) 44,887 3.76%
Democratic James W. Loop 44,848 3.76%
Republican Thomas E. Potter (incumbent) 44,659 3.74%
Republican Cleo S. Jones (incumbent) 44,000 3.69%
Democratic Sam C. Savilla 43,958 3.68%
Republican Lon Clark Kinder (incumbent) 43,764 3.67%
Republican Harlan Wilson Jr. 43,541 3.65%
Republican Leo G. Kopelman (incumbent) 43,194 3.62%
Republican Russell L. Davisson (incumbent) 43,172 3.62%
Democratic Phyllis J. Rutledge 42,947 3.60%
Democratic J. Dempsey Gibson 42,706 3.58%
Democratic Kenneth L. Coghill 42,625 3.57%
Democratic Jesse S. Barker 42,545 3.56%
Republican Eric Nelson (incumbent) 42,164 3.53%
Democratic Thomas P. Maroney 41,731 3.50%
Republican Charles Young 41,502 3.48%
Republican Alfred A. Lilly (incumbent) 41,161 3.45%
Republican Chester W. Bourne 41,147 3.45%
Republican Robert M. Fletcher 40,452 3.39%
Democratic Richard S. Glaser 40,385 3.38%
Republican Wilbur L. Carte 40,014 3.35%
Democratic Charles S. Knowles 39,835 3.34%
Democratic Harley Wells III 38,862 3.25%
Democratic Harold T. McCoy 38,453 3.22%
Democratic Chester Derrick 38,307 3.21%
Total votes 1,193,920 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

Lewis County

Lewis County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Fred L. Mulneix (incumbent) 4,136 54.75%
Democratic Louis G. Craig 3,418 45.25%
Total votes 7,554 100.00%
Republican hold

Lincoln County

Lincoln County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic H. Leon Hager (incumbent) 4,434 54.29%
Republican Jack Lovejoy 3,734 45.71%
Total votes 8,168 100.00%
Democratic hold

Logan County

Logan County election[3]
3 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ervin S. Queen (incumbent) 13,843 27.49%
Democratic Paul E. Hicks (incumbent) 13,599 27.00%
Democratic Earl Hager (incumbent) 12,770 25.36%
Republican Garland C. Scaggs 5,260 10.44%
Republican Melvin Cyfers Jr, 4,891 9.71%
Total votes 50,363 100.00%
Democratic hold

Marion County

Marion County election[3]
3 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William J. Parker 15,796 19.35%
Democratic J. E. Ned Watson (incumbent) 15,211 18.64%
Democratic Nick Fantasia (incumbent) 15,073 18.47%
Republican Tracy Alan Smith 11,911 14.59%
Republican David L. Swearingin 11,889 14.57%
Republican F. N. Stern 11,742 14.39%
Total votes 81,622 100.00%
Democratic hold

Marshall County

Marshall County election[3]
2 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Roy H. Rogerson (incumbent) 8,366 26.70%
Republican Robert C. Polen (incumbent) 8,029 25.63%
Democratic Chester A. Burkey 7,882 25.16%
Democratic George A. Vance 7,052 22.51%
Total votes 31,329 100.00%
Republican hold

Mason County

Mason County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eugene Ball 5,225 52.11%
Republican R. R. Smith 4,802 47.89%
Total votes 10,027 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

McDowell County

McDowell County election[3]
4 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Corbett Church (incumbent) 13,114 19.90%
Democratic Chester Matney (incumbent) 13,007 19.74%
Democratic Fred G. Wooten (incumbent) 12,461 18.91%
Democratic Harry Pauley 11,617 17.63%
Republican Joe Cassady 4,517 6.86%
Republican Abishi C. Cunningham 4,283 6.50%
Republican James L. Gallimore 3,656 5.55%
Republican L. E. Burks 3,232 4.91%
Total votes 65,887 100.00%
Democratic hold

Mercer County

Mercer County election[3]
4 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Odell H. Huffman 13,749 15.68%
Democratic Charles E. Lohr (incumbent) 12,962 14.78%
Democratic Clarence C. Christian Jr. (incumbent) 12,865 14.67%
Democratic Lucille Thornhill 12,411 14.15%
Republican Harold D. Brewster Jr. 9,275 10.58%
Republican Herman E. Kirchner 9,231 10.53%
Republican James E. Perry 8,703 9.93%
Republican Edwin C. Damewood 8,485 9.68%
Total votes 87,681 100.00%
Democratic hold

Mineral County

Mineral County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert D. Harman (incumbent) 5,109 53.47%
Democratic William K. Chidester 4,446 46.53%
Total votes 9,555 100.00%
Republican hold

Mingo County

Mingo County election[3]
2 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert L. Simpkins (incumbent) 8,235 32.49%
Democratic T. I. Varney (incumbent) 7,953 31.38%
Republican Thomas Hanshaw 4,739 18.70%
Republican Buddy Boyce Preece 4,419 17.43%
Total votes 25,346 100.00%
Democratic hold

Monongalia County

Monongalia County election[3]
3 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert W. Dinsmore 13,385 20.30%
Democratic Harry U. Howell (incumbent) 12,530 19.00%
Democratic Clifford B. Hoard (incumbent) 11,954 18.13%
Republican Donald E. Price 10,057 15.25%
Republican Doretha Barns 9,338 14.16%
Republican James A. Smith 8,675 13.16%
Total votes 65,939 100.00%
Democratic hold

Monroe County

Monroe County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic W. Marion Shiflet (incumbent) 3,153 54.54%
Republican John C. Harman 2,628 45.46%
Total votes 5,781 100.00%
Democratic hold

Nicholas County

Nicholas County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Doc Frazer (incumbent) 5,357 60.98%
Republican F. H. Mansfield 3,428 39.02%
Total votes 8,785 100.00%
Democratic hold

Ohio County

Ohio County election[3]
4 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George H. Seibert Jr. (incumbent) 17,626 15.57%
Republican Fred P. Stamp Jr. (incumbent) 16,745 14.79%
Republican Fred A. Grewe Jr. (incumbent) 16,514 14.59%
Republican James F. Companion 15,636 13.81%
Democratic Cecil Cece Hedrick 12,773 11.28%
Democratic H. A. Lewis 12,071 10.66%
Democratic Mrs. Thais Blatnik 11,566 10.22%
Democratic John L. Allen 10,283 9.08%
Total votes 113,214 100.00%
Republican hold

Preston County

Preston County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert C. Halbritter (incumbent) 6,166 64.01%
Democratic Marvin (Joe) Wilhelm 3,467 35.99%
Total votes 9,633 100.00%
Republican hold

Putnam County

Putnam County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles Robert Henderson 5,536 51.02%
Democratic William F. Hanson 5,314 48.98%
Total votes 10,850 100.00%
Republican hold

Raleigh County

Raleigh County election[3]
4 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lewis McManus (incumbent) 18,306 17.21%
Democratic Anthony J. Sparacino 16,528 15.53%
Democratic Mrs. W. W. Withrow (incumbent) 16,331 15.35%
Democratic Ted T. Stacy 16,086 15.12%
Republican Robert B. Sayre (incumbent) 11,832 11.12%
Republican Perry Clay Price 9,425 8.86%
Republican Jerry McGraw 8,962 8.42%
Republican Cyril Cy Lilly 8,929 8.39%
Total votes 106,399 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

Randolph County

Randolph County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Earl H. Stalnaker (incumbent) 7,441 100.00%
Total votes 7,441 100.00%
Democratic hold

Roane County

Roane County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Orton A. Jones 4,247 65.03%
Democratic Daniel J. Looney 2,284 34.97%
Total votes 6,531 100.00%
Republican hold

Summers County

Summers County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jack E. Holt 4,093 65.36%
Republican James V. Coste 2,169 34.64%
Total votes 6,262 100.00%
Democratic hold

Taylor County

Taylor County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican C. N. Bud Harman 3,293 53.48%
Democratic Samuel A. Morasco (incumbent) 2,864 46.52%
Total votes 6,157 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

Upshur County

Upshur County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles R. Shaffer 4,205 59.65%
Democratic Berlin Karlen 2,845 40.35%
Total votes 7,050 100.00%
Republican hold

Wayne County

Wayne County election[3]
2 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert K. Flanagan (incumbent) 8,929 30.17%
Democratic Clayton C. Davidson (incumbent) 8,474 28.64%
Republican Hobart Akers 6,369 21.52%
Republican David F. Varney 5,820 19.67%
Total votes 29,592 100.00%
Democratic hold

Webster County

Webster County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Albert L. Sommerville Jr. (incumbent) 2,753 100.00%
Total votes 2,753 100.00%
Democratic hold

Wetzel County

Wetzel County election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William A. Powell Jr. 4,275 50.29%
Democratic Joseph M. Ballouz 4,225 49.71%
Total votes 8,500 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

Wood County

Wood County election[3]
4 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert W. Burk Jr. (incumbent) 21,295 15.66%
Republican William P. A. Nicely (incumbent) 20,453 15.04%
Republican J. C. Butcher (incumbent) 19,794 14.56%
Republican Spencer K. Creel (incumbent) 19,721 14.50%
Democratic Russell G. Beall 14,700 10.81%
Democratic John M. Yeager 13,517 9.94%
Democratic John T. Smith 13,325 9.80%
Democratic Joseph M. Cameron 13,173 9.69%
Total votes 135,978 100.00%
Republican hold

Wyoming County

Wyoming County election[3]
2 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Warren R. McGraw 6,526 30.93%
Democratic J. T. Davidson Jr. 6,388 30.28%
Republican Clair L. Cook 4,150 19.67%
Republican Jimmy R. Lester 4,032 19.11%
Total votes 21,096 100.00%
Democratic hold

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ In multi-member districts, the shading of the district shapes are determined by the sum of all of the candidates' vote percentages, and the shading of the circles is determined by multiplying each elected candidate's vote percentage by the number of seats up for election.

References

  1. ↑ Barnes, Clark S. (2016). WEST VIRGINIA BLUE BOOK 2015 -2016 (PDF). Charleston, West Virginia: West Virginia Senate Clerk's Office. p. 511. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  2. ↑ Myers, J. Howard (1969). West Virginia Blue Book (PDF). Charleston, W. Va. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 Myers, J. Howard (1969). West Virginia Blue Book (PDF). Charleston, W. Va. pp. 598–599. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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