West Virginia WV-01 House2020
RACE AT A GLANCE
RACE TYPE
Incumbent running
David McKinley (R)
COOK PARTISAN VOTING INDEX
Last updated : Oct 2, 2020Key Dates
Filing Deadline: Jan 25, 2020
Primary Election: May 12, 2020
INCUMBENT
Sign in to view
First Elected: Sign in to view
Last General Election: Sign in to view
Last Primary Election: Sign in to view
INCUMBENT
Full Bio:
McKINLEY, David, a Representative from West Virginia; born in Wheeling, Ohio County,
W. Va., March 28, 1947; B.S.C.E., Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.,
1969; civil engineer; business owner; member of the West Virginia state house
of representatives, 1980-1995; chairman, West Virginia Republican Party,
1990-1994; unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of
West Virginia in 1996; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Twelfth and
to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2011-present).
Source: Bioguide
CANDIDATES
Democrats
Sign in to view
DISTRICT DATA
West Virginia - 01
North: Wheeling, Morgantown
Population Breakdown
Source: American Community Survey 2015
Past Presidential Results from this District
2016 Election Results
Source: Dave's Redistricting/VEST
2012 Election Results
Source:
RACE ANALYSIS
The Bottom Line
Updated: Mar 13, 2020
In 2018, some Democratic operatives were intrigued when Wheeling-based former Orrick law firm CEO Ralph Baxter got into the race and raised $429,000. But Baxter evidently took the primary for granted, and lost the nomination to WVU law professor Kendra Fershee, who had $8,000 in the bank in April. McKinley ended up clobbering Fershee 65 percent to 35 percent.
McKinley, 72, won't have a problem winning another term in 2020. But GOP insiders speculate it could logically be his last: West Virginia is slated to lose a seat after the 2020 Census and the northern 1st CD could easily be merged with the Eastern Panhandle (currently in the 2nd CD). In that scenario, McKinley could retire and current 2nd CD Rep. Alex Mooney could run for a new northern seat.
Race Analysis
Updated: Jun 11, 2026
RELATED CHARTS
Subscribe Today
Our subscribers have first access to individual race pages for each House, Senate and Governors race, which will include race ratings (each race is rated on a seven-point scale) and a narrative analysis pertaining to that race.