11:30 p.m.
Danielle Walker: “The difference was that the fab five of District 51 worked together. We canvassed together. We phone banked together. We did everything together.”
10:41 p.m.
Totally forgot to mention: Fairmont Human Rights Commission ordinance passes with 3,384 votes (57.86 percent). 2,465 (42.14 percent) voted against the ordinance.
10:25 p.m.
“We make a good team,” said Sean Sikora, fellow Monongalia County Commissioner.
10:05 p.m.
“He went after my strengths,” said Bloom — citing why he feels he topped Andrew Price to remain the lone Democrat on the Monongalia County Commission.
9:45 p.m.
Voter turnout was nearly 46 percent in Monongalia County. One of the highest that Carye Blaney can remember, saying it felt “from the beginning” more like a Presidential election than a mid-term election.
9:25 p.m.
Bob Beach officially wins with 18,580 votes. Mike Oliverio finishes with 17,054 votes. He defends by winning in Mon County and keeping things close in Marion County.
“It all came down to volunteers.”
“Two things were going to impact the race for me: women and 55 Strong. Tonight, they were out there in force.”
9:01 p.m.
Rodney Pyles on his 5th place finish: “Very much surprised that we got all five.”
Pyles commenting on the successful challenge of Evan Hansen and Danielle Walker: “We will mentor to some extent. Evan and Danielle are both bright individuals.”
8:44 p.m.
It is indeed a blue wave.
- Barbara Evans Fleischauer (I) — 16,244
- Evan Hansen — 15,455
- John Williams (I) — 14,945
- Danielle Walker — 14,615
- Rodney Pyles (I) — 14,142
Tom Bloom defeats Andrew Price for Monongalia County Commission race. Bloom wins with 18,196 votes. Price finishes with 12,325 votes.
Bob Beach up by 2,372 votes on Mike Oliverio with 47 of 84 precincts reporting in.
8:20 p.m.
11 precincts reporting in — all five Democrats still leading in those five House of Delegates spots. Fleischauer, Hansen, Williams, Walker, and Pyles leading the way.
Seven precints of 84 reporting in State Senate District 13. Bob Beach leading by 1,748 votes.
Kendra Fershee keeping things interesting in the first Congressional District. Down by 10 points, but it’s very early.
Tom Bloom with a major lead that is looking near insurmountable in Monongalia County Commission race.
8:01 p.m.
Still waiting on additional precincts in Monongalia County. Looking elsewhere: Evan Jenkins and Joanna Tabit with big early leads in the State Supreme Court races. Monongalia County went heavy against Amendment One, which is down by around 4000 votes currently.
7:43 p.m.
Strong start: 14,372 ballots officially cast in early voting in Monongalia County.
County Commission: Tom Bloom (8,436) leads Andrew Price (5,575) by 2,861 votes.
House of Delegates: Barbara Evans Fleischauer, Evan Hansen, John Williams, Danielle Walker, and Rodney Pyles — all Democrats — leading the way in the top five right now. Joe Statler and Cindy Frich are close behind.
In Monongalia County, Bob Beach comes out to an early lead with 5,261. Oliverio has 3,795 thus far. Still need numbers from Marion County.
7:23 p.m.
If you wind up at election headquarters, you can try to say hello to Dave Wilson and Sarah Giosi. They’re live on the scene.
Nearly 17,000 people voted today in Monongalia County thus far. Polls are still open, though only for a few more minutes. You need to get in line by 7:30.
Hoping to get those first numbers and take a hard look at the only local race with absolutely no statewide or national implications — Monongalia County Commission.
7:02 p.m.
We’re updating you live from the scene of the Monongalia County Election Center.
Monongalia County Clerk Carye Blaney reported at 7:02 that, with polls still open, Monongalia County had eclipsed 42 percent voter turnout.
“When I look at the numbers for the last mid-term in 2014, we’re about three times what we voted then,” she said. “I think that nationally, we’ve watched a bit of the national news here this evening waiting for 7:30, and I think that we’re seeing that nationally there is a larger turnout.”
There were also some issues with voting machines that have since been resolved.
“We’ve experienced a few problems with power issues starting about 5 o’clock this evening, but those have all been resolved.”
Overall, she called Monongalia County’s day relatively smooth — citing the nearly 14,000 early voters who participated between Oct. 24 and Nov. 3.
“We haven’t experienced the wait times that many of our surrounding counties are experiencing,” she said.