Changes

From 1928 through 1996, West Virginia usually voted for Democrat presidential candidate when a new president was being elected, but the state did help reelect [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in 1956 and [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1984. Since 2000, it has voted for the Republican presidential nominee.

From 1928 through 1996, West Virginia usually voted for Democrat presidential candidate when a new president was being elected, but the state did help reelect [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in 1956 and [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1984. Since 2000, it has voted for the Republican presidential nominee.

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 Democrat-controlled state. Much of the allegiance to the Democrats in West Virginia stems from labor disputes in which Democrat 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> In the 2016 elections, the GOP held all of its previous gains and made new ones in the State Senate and took three statewide offices.<ref>[http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article113238573.html The Latest: GOP maintains majority in West Virginia Senate]. ''Miami Herald'' (from ''AP''). November 9, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref><ref>McElhinny, Brad (November 9, 2016). [http://wvmetronews.com/2016/11/09/w-va-republicans-celebrate-trump-win-and-gop-gains/ W.Va. Republicans celebrate Trump win and GOP gains]. ''wvmetronews.com''. Retrieved November 10, 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 Democrat-controlled state. Much of the allegiance to the Democrats in West Virginia stems from labor disputes in which Democrat 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). [https://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> In the 2016 elections, the GOP held all of its previous gains and made new ones in the State Senate and took three statewide offices.<ref>[http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article113238573.html The Latest: GOP maintains majority in West Virginia Senate]. ''Miami Herald'' (from ''AP''). November 9, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref><ref>McElhinny, Brad (November 9, 2016). [http://wvmetronews.com/2016/11/09/w-va-republicans-celebrate-trump-win-and-gop-gains/ W.Va. Republicans celebrate Trump win and GOP gains]. ''wvmetronews.com''. Retrieved November 10, 2016.</ref>

The Republican-controlled legislature has made several business-friendly and [[small government]] reforms, including making the election of judges nonpartisian,<ref>[http://www.statejournal.com/story/29265365/nonpartisan-election-of-judges-law-in-west-virginia Nonpartisan election of judges becomes law in WV]. ''The State Journal''. June 8, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2016.</ref> banning abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy,<ref>Eyre, Eric & Nuzum, Lydia (March 6, 2015). [http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20150306/GZ01/150309374/1101 20-week abortion ban to become W.Va. law; Senate overrides Tomblin veto]. ''Charleston Gazette-Mail''. Retrieved September 18, 2016.</ref> legalizing [[concealed carry]] without need for a permit,<ref>Gutowski, Stephen (March 8, 2016). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/03/08/west-virginia-legalizes-concealed-carry-without-permit.html West Virginia legalizes concealed carry without a permit]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved September 18, 2016.</ref> repealing the state's [[prevailing wage]] law,<ref>[http://www.wsaz.com/content/news/West-Virginia-lawmakers-OK-bill-to-eliminate-prevailing-wage-367689401.html UPDATE: Lawmakers override Tomblin prevailing wage veto]. ''WSAZ'' (from ''AP''). February 12, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2016.</ref> and enacting a [[Right to Work]] law.<ref>Horowitz, Carl (February 26, 2016). [http://nlpc.org/2016/02/26/west-virginia-enacts-right-work-law-over-governors-veto/ West Virginia Enacts Right to Work Law over Governor’s Veto]. ''National Legal and Policy Center''. Retrieved September 18, 2016.</ref><ref>Mattise, Jonathan - AP (July 1, 2016). [http://loganbanner.com/news/7927/cigarette-tax-hike-other-west-virginia-laws-taking-effect Cigarette tax hike, other West Virginia laws taking effect]. ''The Logan Banner''. Retrieved September 18, 2016.</ref> The latter four bills were enacted over the Democrat governor's veto.

The Republican-controlled legislature has made several business-friendly and [[small government]] reforms, including making the election of judges nonpartisian,<ref>[http://www.statejournal.com/story/29265365/nonpartisan-election-of-judges-law-in-west-virginia Nonpartisan election of judges becomes law in WV]. ''The State Journal''. June 8, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2016.</ref> banning abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy,<ref>Eyre, Eric & Nuzum, Lydia (March 6, 2015). [http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20150306/GZ01/150309374/1101 20-week abortion ban to become W.Va. law; Senate overrides Tomblin veto]. ''Charleston Gazette-Mail''. Retrieved September 18, 2016.</ref> legalizing [[concealed carry]] without need for a permit,<ref>Gutowski, Stephen (March 8, 2016). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/03/08/west-virginia-legalizes-concealed-carry-without-permit.html West Virginia legalizes concealed carry without a permit]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved September 18, 2016.</ref> repealing the state's [[prevailing wage]] law,<ref>[http://www.wsaz.com/content/news/West-Virginia-lawmakers-OK-bill-to-eliminate-prevailing-wage-367689401.html UPDATE: Lawmakers override Tomblin prevailing wage veto]. ''WSAZ'' (from ''AP''). February 12, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2016.</ref> and enacting a [[Right to Work]] law.<ref>Horowitz, Carl (February 26, 2016). [http://nlpc.org/2016/02/26/west-virginia-enacts-right-work-law-over-governors-veto/ West Virginia Enacts Right to Work Law over Governor’s Veto]. ''National Legal and Policy Center''. Retrieved September 18, 2016.</ref><ref>Mattise, Jonathan - AP (July 1, 2016). [http://loganbanner.com/news/7927/cigarette-tax-hike-other-west-virginia-laws-taking-effect Cigarette tax hike, other West Virginia laws taking effect]. ''The Logan Banner''. Retrieved September 18, 2016.</ref> The latter four bills were enacted over the Democrat governor's veto.