The 2014 West Virginia Senate elections were held on November 4, 2014, as part of the biennial United States elections. Seventeen of West Virginia's 34 state senators were up for regular selection. West Virginia Senate districts each have two elected representatives. State senators serve staggered four-year terms in West Virginia, with one senator from each district up in even-numbered years corresponding to presidential election years, and the other up in even-numbered years corresponding to presidential midterm years (such as 2014).
Primary elections in the state were held on May 13. After the previous 2012 state elections, Democrats held a healthy supermajority in the Senate, holding 24 seats to the Republicans' 10. Despite the national Democratic Party's increasing focus on environmentalism, the unpopularity of President Barack Obama, and the increasing social conservatism of the Republican Party that have helped the GOP solidify power in the state rapidly since 2000, control of the West Virginia Legislature still rested with Democrats.
However, the negative backlash to the national Democratic Party and policies of Barack Obama helped the Republicans gain a whopping eight seats, leaving the Senate tied 17-17 on election night. The next day, Senator Daniel Hall switched his party registration from Democrat to Republican, allowing the GOP to gain control of the West Virginia Senate for the first time since 1932. Republicans also took over the House of Delegates, giving Republicans control of both legislative chambers for the first time since 1930.
Following the state's 2014 Senate elections and Daniel Hall's party switch, Republicans gained control of the Senate with 18 seats to the Democrats' 16.
Retirements
Two incumbents did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents are:
One incumbent was defeated in the May 13 primaries. Senator Sam Cann was appointed to the 12th Senate District and was the incumbent for the remainder of the term. However, Harrison County Commissioner Mike Romano challenged and defeated Cann.