2026 United States Senate election in West Virginia
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The 2026 United States Senate election in West Virginia will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of West Virginia. Republican incumbent Shelley Moore Capito is seeking a third term.[1] She is being challenged by Democratic former Morgantown councilwoman Rachel Fetty Anderson.
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November 3, 2026
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Primary elections were held on May 12, 2026. In the Republican primary, Capito won the nomination with 66.5% of the vote over state senator Tom Willis. Fetty Anderson won the Democratic nomination with 33.2% of the vote over a field of candidates that included former state Senate president Jeff Kessler.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Shelley Moore Capito, incumbent U.S. senator (2015–present)[2]
Eliminated in primary
- Alex Gaaserud, third party logistics executive and candidate for West Virginia's 2nd congressional district in 2024[3]
- Bryan McKinney, sales consultant and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024[4]
- Janet McNulty, retail worker and candidate for West Virginia House of Delegates in 2022 and U.S. Senate in 2024[4]
- David Purkey, staff engineer[4]
- Tom Willis, state senator from the 15th district (2024–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018[5]
Withdrawn
- Derrick Evans, former state delegate from the 19th district (2020–2021), candidate for West Virginia's 1st congressional district in 2024, convicted participant in the January 6 United States Capitol attack (ran for U.S. House)[6]
Endorsements
Shelley Moore Capito
- Executive branch officials
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[7]
- U.S. senators
- Jim Justice, West Virginia (2025–present)[8]
- U.S. representatives
- Carol Miller, WV-01 (2019–present)[8]
- Riley Moore, WV-02 (2025–present)[8]
- Organizations
Tom Willis
- Organizations
Fundraising
Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate.
| Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Derrick Evans (R) | $1,062,145 | $1,001,214 | $60,931 |
| Alex Gaaserud (R) | $3,000 | $1,740 | $1,260 |
| Janet McNulty (R) | $5,775 | $5,775 | $0 |
| Shelley Moore Capito (R) | $5,770,883 | $4,176,660 | $4,064,753 |
| Tom Willis (R) | $496,222 | $439,153 | $57,069 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[15] | |||
Results
Moore Capito
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
Willis
- 40–50%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Shelley Moore Capito (incumbent) | 80,376 | 66.5 | |
| Republican | Tom Willis | 22,829 | 18.9 | |
| Republican | Bryan McKinney | 5,587 | 4.6 | |
| Republican | David Purkey | 5,040 | 4.2 | |
| Republican | Alex Gaaserud | 4,462 | 3.7 | |
| Republican | Janet McNulty | 2,597 | 2.1 | |
| Total votes | 120,891 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Rachel Fetty Anderson, former Morgantown city council member[4]
Eliminated in primary
- Thornton Cooper, attorney and nominee for Secretary of State in 2024[4]
- Jeff Kessler, former President of the West Virginia Senate (2010–2015) from the 2nd district (1997–2017), candidate for Governor of West Virginia in 2011 and 2016, and candidate for Supreme Court of Appeals in 2018[17]
- Rio Phillips, cybersecurity technician[4]
- Zach Shrewsbury, political organizer and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024[18]
Endorsements
Rachel Fetty Anderson
- Organizations
Jeff Kessler
- Labor unions
- Communications Workers of America District 2-13[21]
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| R. F. Anderson (D) | $22,447 | $16,891 | $12,552 |
| Rio Phillips (D) | $13,776 | $13,624 | $152 |
| Zach Shrewsbury (D) | $498,539 | $490,416 | $8,123 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[15] | |||
Results
Anderson
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 40–50%
- 30–40%
- 20–30%
Kessler
- 80–90%
- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 40–50%
- 30–40%
- 20–30%
Shrewsbury
- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 40–50%
- 30–40%
Cooper
- 30–40%
- 20–30%
Phillips
- 20–30%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rachel Fetty Anderson | 30,930 | 33.2 | |
| Democratic | Jeff Kessler | 25,228 | 27.0 | |
| Democratic | Zach Shrewsbury | 15,076 | 16.2 | |
| Democratic | Thornton Cooper | 11,826 | 12.7 | |
| Democratic | Rio Phillips | 10,237 | 11.0 | |
| Total votes | 93,297 | 100.0 | ||
Constitution party
Candidates
Nominee
- S. Marshall Wilson, National Guard Officer, former Republican member of the 60th district in the House of Delegates and candidate for governor in 2020 and 2024[23]
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| S. Marshall Wilson (C) | $2,420 | $1,921 | $499 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[15] | |||
Veteran's party
Candidates
Disqualified
- Owen Nicholas Carlson[24]
Write-in Candidates
Candidates
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of April 22, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Rio Phillips (WI) | $13,776 | $13,624 | $152 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[26] | |||
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[27] | Solid R | April 13, 2026 |
| Decision Desk HQ[28] | Safe R | July 14, 2026 |
| The Economist[29][a] | Safe R | May 22, 2026 |
| FiftyPlusOne[30] | Safe R | August 3, 2026 |
| Fox News[31] | Solid R | July 21, 2026 |
| Inside Elections[32] | Solid R | April 23, 2026 |
| Race To The WH[33] | Safe R | May 22, 2026 |
| RealClearPolitics[34] | Solid R | May 19, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[35] | Safe R | March 4, 2026 |
| Silver Bulletin[36] | Solid R | August 11, 2026 |
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Shelley Moore Capito (R) | $6,488,843 | $4,582,173 | $4,377,201 |
| Rachel Fetty Anderson (D) | $22,447 | $16,891 | $12,552 |
| S. Marshall Wilson (C) | $2,420 | $1,921 | $499 |
| Rio Phillips (WI) | $13,776 | $13,624 | $152 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[26] | |||
Notes
- The Economist's prediction model uses unconventional terminology. For the purpose of equivalency, their "Very Likely" ratings are formatted as a "Likely" rating while "Likely" ratings are formatted as a "Lean" rating.