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West Virginia, State Senate, District 4

West Virginia State Senate District 4
Current incumbentsMitch B. Carmichael Republican Party
Eric Tarr Republican Party
Population117,998
Voting age77.1% age 18 and over

West Virginia's fourth state senate district is represented by Republican Senators Mitch B. Carmichael and Eric Tarr.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 117,998 civilians reside within West Virginia's fourth state senate district. West Virginia state senators represent an average of 54,500 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 53,187 residents.

About the office

Members of the West Virginia State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. West Virginia legislators assume office the first day of December following the election.

Qualifications

Section 13 of Article 6 of the West Virginia Constitution states, "No person holding any other lucrative office or employment under this state, the United States, or any foreign government; no member of Congress; and no person who is sheriff, constable, or clerk of any court of record, shall be eligible to a seat in the Legislature."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$20,000/year$131/day in session.Set by the compensation commission.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the senate, the Governor is responsible for filling any vacancy.

There are two procedures for filling vacancies dependent upon how much time is left in the vacant senator's term. A gubernatorial appointment is required if less than two months and two years are left in the term. A temporary gubernatorial appointment is required for any vacancy that has more than two months and two years remaining. The person who is selected by the Governor to fill the seat on an interim basis, serves until the next scheduled general election. A special election must be held to determine a permanent replacement. The executive committee of the political party that holds the vacant senate seat is responsible for making recommendations to the Governor on any appointment.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of West Virginia State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for May 12, 2020. The filing deadline is January 25, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for West Virginia State Senate District 4

Eric Tarr (R) defeated Brian Prim (D) and Amy Nichole Grady (Independent) in the general election for West Virginia State Senate District 4 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Eric Tarr (R)
51.8
18,885

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Brian Prim (D)
37.2
13,583

Amy Nichole Grady (Independent)
11.0
4,005

Total votes: 36,473
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 4

Brian Prim advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia State Senate District 4 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Brian Prim (D)

Republican primary election
Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 4

Eric Tarr defeated incumbent Mark Drennan in the Republican primary for West Virginia State Senate District 4 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Eric Tarr (R)
54.8
4,994

Mark Drennan (R)
45.2
4,126

Total votes: 9,120

2016

Elections for the West Virginia State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 10, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was January 30, 2016.

Incumbent Mitch B. Carmichael defeated Brian Prim in the West Virginia State Senate District 4 general election.

West Virginia State Senate District 4, General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Mitch B. Carmichael Incumbent 51.05% 22,032
Democratic Brian Prim 48.95% 21,123
Total Votes 43,155
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State

Brian Prim defeated Bruce Ashworth in the West Virginia State Senate District 4 Democratic primary.

West Virginia State Senate District 4, Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Brian Prim 58.77% 6,999
Democratic Bruce Ashworth 41.23% 4,910
Total Votes 11,909

Incumbent Mitch B. Carmichael defeated Dustin Lewis in the West Virginia State Senate District 4 Republican primary.

West Virginia State Senate District 4, Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Mitch B. Carmichael Incumbent 59.49% 8,442
Republican Dustin Lewis 40.51% 5,749
Total Votes 14,191


2014

Elections for the West Virginia State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 13, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 25, 2014. Incumbent Mike Hall was unopposed in the Republican primary. Hall was unopposed in the general election.

2012

Elections for the office of West Virginia State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 8, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. Republican Mitch B. Carmichael defeated Democrat Michael "Mike" Bright in the general election. Carmichael was unopposed in the Republican primary election. Bright defeated Marla Dee Ingels in the Democratic primary election.

West Virginia State Senate, District 4, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMitch Carmichael 55.9% 16,981
Democratic Mike Bright 44.1% 13,403
Total Votes 30,384

West Virginia State Senate, District 4 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMike Bright 67.5% 6,085
Marla Ingels 32.5% 2,936
Total Votes 9,021

2010

Elections for the office of West Virginia State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 11, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. Republican incumbent Mike Hall (West Virginia) was unchallenged in the general election. Hall was unopposed in the Republican primary election.

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for West Virginia State Senate District 4 raised a total of $1,748,352. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $69,934 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, West Virginia State Senate District 4

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $291,216 4 $72,804
2014 $24,300 1 $24,300
2012 $109,987 4 $27,497
2010 $19,990 1 $19,990
2008 $68,353 2 $34,177
2006 $197,817 3 $65,939
2004 $168,551 3 $56,184
2002 $727,740 3 $242,580
2000 $140,398 4 $35,100
Total $1,748,352 25 $69,934