Candidates Clash Over Education and Economy in West Virginia Races

Republican and Democratic candidates are competing for seats in the West Virginia House of Delegates ahead of the general election on November 3, 2026, with education funding and economic development emerging as central themes.

In District 24, Patrick Lucas, a Republican delegate and realtor, is running for reelection against Democratic challenger Steve Williams. Lucas advocates for updating the state school funding formula to support rural schools and increasing teacher pay. Williams, a former mayor of Huntington, emphasizes infrastructure investment in broadband, water, and roads. He has criticized the Republican-led legislature for diverting $277 million from public schools to the Hope Scholarship program.

Meanwhile, in the 21st District, Republican C.D. Caldwell and Democrat Michael G. Mosteller II are vying for an open seat vacated by Jarred Cannon. Mosteller has proposed legalizing recreational cannabis to generate revenue for education and called for the repeal of HB 2014 to restore local code enforcement. Caldwell supports reviewing the school funding formula to improve mental health support and facility maintenance, while also calling for responsible data center development to protect water resources and prevent electric rate hikes.