West Virginia › Hancock County › West Virginia Senate District 1
2 candidates are tracked for West Virginia Senate District 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Shawn Fluharty and Laura Wakim Chapman. Candidate information follows official Hancock County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Shawn Fluharty (Democrat), Laura Wakim Chapman (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for West Virginia Senate District 1. Laura Wakim Chapman is the sitting member, per the West Virginia Legislature's member roster. Party nominees were chosen at the May 12, 2026 primary, per the West Virginia Secretary of State's certified general-election candidate list. West Virginia's 17 senatorial districts each elect two senators on staggered terms; only one seat per district is up in the regular 2026 cycle.
Shawn is the son of a union electrician with IBEW Local 141 and a teacher's aide who worked with children with special needs, per the campaign site. He has served in the West Virginia Legislature for more than a decade after first being elected in 2014, per the campaign site, and has sponsored legislation including "Raylee's Law" concerning child protection, per the campaign site.
2026 priorities (per the campaign site)
- Supports gaming legislation that the campaign site says has generated more than $100 million in state revenue
- Sponsors "Raylee's Law," concerning child protection
Source: candidate campaign site.
Campaign site →
Laura is a constitutional lawyer who represents clients on First and Second Amendment matters, per the campaign site. She is a graduate of Mount de Chantal and West Virginia University and lives in Wheeling, per the campaign site.
2026 priorities (per the campaign site)
- Supports reducing and eventually eliminating the state income tax
- Supports school security measures including additional law enforcement hiring and mental health professionals
- Supports lowering prescription drug costs for seniors
- Supports veteran healthcare access and tax exemptions
Source: candidate campaign site.
Campaign site →
Questions about this race
Who is running for West Virginia Senate District 1 in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for West Virginia Senate District 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Shawn Fluharty and Laura Wakim Chapman. Candidate information follows official Hancock County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the West Virginia Senate District 1 election in West Virginia?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for West Virginia are on the West Virginia election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Hancock County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
