AP declares Robin Davis, Tish Chafin winners in WV Supreme Court - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

AP declares Robin Davis, Tish Chafin winners in WV Supreme Court race

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By Andrea Lannom - email
Robin Jean Davis Robin Jean Davis
Letitia “Tish” Chafin Letitia “Tish” Chafin

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Incumbent Robin Jean Davis and Kanawha County attorney Letitia "Tish" Chafin have won the two seats in the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals primary, The Associated Press has declared.

"I'm delighted that the people of West Virginia have put their confidence in me to be a Supreme Court justice," Davis said. "I think it is clear that I have distinguished myself as a leader on the West Virginia Court." 

"I think the fact that I have run a very positive campaign and have emphasized the transparency, fairness and stability of our court has been a message resonating with the citizens of West Virginia," Davis added. 

The Associated Press declared Davis the winner just before 9:30 p.m. and called Chafin just after 10 p.m.

"I'm delighted that the people of West Virginia have put their confidence in me to be a Supreme Court justice," Davis said. "I think it is clear that I have distinguished myself as a leader on the West Virginia Court." 

"I think the fact that I have run a very positive campaign and have emphasized the transparency, fairness and stability of our court has been a message resonating with the citizens of West Virginia," Davis added. 

Chafin said she was very excited. She said she thinks voters chose her because of her balanced court initiative, which aims to change the justice recusal rule. 

"Today we won and we will pause tonight, but we will be back at it again tomorrow on the campaign trail," Chafin said. 

"This is a victory that was earned with hard work and good ideas," she said. "I am humbled by your faith in me and by the chance to get one step closer to serving on the state's highest court." 

Sen. Joe Manchin, who attended Chafin's campaign watch party, congratulated both winners. 

"We really truly had qualified runners this year. We had Davis who is an incumbent and Tish just coming on," Manchin said. "It was a good quality race and a lot of hard work was put into it. Now, we must work together so her and Robin will be successful in the fall." 

With roughly 84 percent of precincts reporting, Davis and Chafin emerged with more than half the votes between them. Davis had 28 percent of the votes and Chafin had 27 percent. 

Six Democrats and two Republicans filed for the two open Supreme Court seats, currently filled by Davis and Justice Thomas E. McHugh.

Two uncontested Republican candidates also sailed through to November's general election.

Since the race involved two seats on the state's highest court, Charleston attorney Allen Loughry and 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge John Yoder automatically progressed.