FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Democrat Mike Caputo has won the seat most recently held Senate Majority Leader Roman Prezioso. Caputo ended election night with 25,870 votes compared to 20,178 for Republican challenger Rebecca Polis.
Caputo has represented the house of Delegates District 51 since 1996 and his current term ends in December of this year. Caputo says many supporters and peers convinced him to run for the senate.
“The phone started ringing and long-time supporters and friends asked me to run for the senate seat,” Caputo said,” I thought, hey why noy I’ve got the experience.”
Many experts have said that early and absentee voting is an advantage for Democrats and Caputo believes that may have been his advantage.
“The early vote and absentee vote was much wider than the when the in-person vote came in today and it narrowed,” Caputo said,” So, that might have a lot to do with it.”