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From its founding in 1863 until 1870, the Republican Party dominated West Virginia. From 1871 until 1896, the Democrats dominated, and then again from 1896 until about 1932, the GOP dominated. After that, West Virginia became a solidly Democratic-controlled state. Much of the allegiance to the Democrats in West Virginia stems from labor disputes in which Democratic candidates sided with the coal miners unions during the [[Great Depression]]. However, since 2000, there has been a slow but strong shift to the GOP in West Virginia politics, starting on the presidential level, and slowly shifting to the federal level and then the state level. The 2014 election clearly demonstrated this shift, as the GOP made large gains, winning a U.S. Senate seat, the entire Congressional delegation to the U.S. House for the first time since 1921, and winning majorities in both houses in the state legislature.<ref>Willis, Derek (November 24, 2014). [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/25/upshot/election-was-rough-for-democrats-it-was-worse-for-west-virginia-democrats.html?_r=2&abt=0002&abg=1 Election Was Rough for Democrats. It Was Worse for West Virginia Democrats.] ''The New York Times''. Retrieved September 17, 2016.</ref>
From its founding in 1863 until 1870, the Republican Party dominated West Virginia. From 1871 until 1896, the Democrats dominated, and then again from 1896 until about 1932, the GOP dominated. After that, West Virginia became a solidly Democratic-controlled state. Much of the allegiance to the Democrats in West Virginia stems from labor disputes in which Democratic candidates sided with the coal miners unions during the [[Great Depression]]. However, since 2000, there has been a slow but strong shift to the GOP in West Virginia politics, starting on the presidential level, and slowly shifting to the federal level and then the state level. The 2014 election clearly demonstrated this shift, as the GOP made large gains, winning a U.S. Senate seat, the entire Congressional delegation to the U.S. House for the first time since 1921, and winning majorities in both houses in the state legislature.<ref>Willis, Derek (November 24, 2014). [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/25/upshot/election-was-rough-for-democrats-it-was-worse-for-west-virginia-democrats.html?_r=2&abt=0002&abg=1 Election Was Rough for Democrats. It Was Worse for West Virginia Democrats.] ''The New York Times''. Retrieved September 17, 2016.</ref>
The Republican-controlled legislature has made several reforms, including making the election of judges nonpartisian,<ref>http://www.statejournal.com/story/29265365/nonpartisan-election-of-judges-law-in-west-virginia</ref> banning abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy,<ref>http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20150306/GZ01/150309374/1101</ref> legalizing [[concealed carry]] without need for a permit,<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/03/08/west-virginia-legalizes-concealed-carry-without-permit.html</ref> and enacting a [[Right to Work]] law.<ref>http://nlpc.org/2016/02/26/west-virginia-enacts-right-work-law-over-governors-veto/</ref><ref>http://loganbanner.com/news/7927/cigarette-tax-hike-other-west-virginia-laws-taking-effect</ref>
West Virginians are generally very conservative in such issues as gun control, abortion, and same-sex marriage. When the Democratic Party was dominant, their elected officials were slightly more conservative than the national party.
West Virginians are generally very conservative in such issues as gun control, abortion, and same-sex marriage. When the Democratic Party was dominant, their elected officials were slightly more conservative than the national party.