The fall foliage is lining the hills, and the air is turning crisp, and the May 12, 2026, Primary Election in West Virginia is just seven months away. There is still over a year until the 2026 General Election, but most races for the West Virginia Legislature will be decided at the close of the Primary Election.
West Virginia is a Republican state with a Republican Supermajority Legislature. Most legislative races are unopposed after the Primary or are in such “red” districts that the outcome is essentially predetermined. There are exceptions to this rule, such as Morgantown, Wheeling and Huntington, where races stay competitive until November. But largely, the primary determines the winner.
The West Virginia Legislature has undergone a shift. Its Republican Majority has historically been reliably pro-business, but we now see a trend of support for anti-business legislation. Eight years ago, the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) removed West Virginia from its list of “Judicial Hellholes.” In evaluating the 2025 regular session, ATRA labeled the Senate Judiciary Committee a “Lawsuit Inferno.”
During the 2025 Regular Session, 26 bills were introduced that either created or expanded causes of action against businesses. The bills targeted banks, industry and businesses more broadly. The WVBA has successfully advocated against such legislation, but the trend is concerning.
Fortunately, this trend need not continue. The 2026 Primary Election is both an opportunity for change and for West Virginia bankers to get involved. John Adams wrote: “We electors have an important constitutional power placed in our hands; we have a check upon two branches of the legislature.” In creating political change, it is you who can make the greatest impact.
Being informed is the first step in effective engagement. The 2026 Primary will feature an array of candidates. Many of these will be traditional, pro-business candidates supported by groups like the WVBA. Others will not share these views. The WVBA will communicate information about candidates and their districts so you can know who is running in your area. We will keep you informed and encourage you to interact with these candidates, whether this is reaching out to them directly or attending an event, town hall or other function.
Engaging with your candidates requires not just knowing about the candidates, but about the issues. The WVBA will provide information about our priorities and goals so that you can provide candidates with information and resources about issues in business and banking in West Virginia. If you or a candidate has questions, contact us; we are happy to provide more detailed resources. Good policy requires understanding, and building understanding during the campaign season only strengthens the association and its members during the legislative session.
The 2026 Primary is nearer than autumn’s arrival suggests. It is an opportunity for positive change and a renewed focus on business policy and growth in West Virginia. The WVBA is ready to be a force in driving that change, and we want to help our members participate with us. If you’d like more information, have questions or simply want to know what to talk about when you engage with your candidates, reach out. I have great hope that the 2026 Primary will bring forth positive changes to our legislature, because when policy enables growth, West Virginia’s people and businesses — and especially banks — are poised for great success.
