How a long-serving Democratic senator held his ground during a Republican surge in West Virginia

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 2006, West Virginia was shifting toward the Republican Party, yet incumbent Democrat Robert Byrd easily secured a ninth term. While national and state Republicans struggled to recruit a challenger, the election highlighted the complex political landscape of a state that had once been a reliable Democratic stronghold.

The 2006 United States Senate election occurred against a backdrop of increasing Republican competitiveness in West Virginia. Although the state had consistently supported Democratic presidential nominees from 1932 until 2000, the margins began to tighten significantly. By 2004, George W. Bush won the state over John F. Kerry by a 56–43 margin. This trend was mirrored in local races, where Republicans made gains in the state legislature and secured victories in offices like the Supreme Court of Appeals and the Secretary of State.

Despite this momentum, the Republican Party faced difficulty finding a candidate willing to challenge the popular Robert Byrd. High-profile figures such as Representative Shelley Moore Capito and Secretary of State Betty Ireland declined to run, citing concerns over the negativity of such a campaign and the desire to maintain their current positions. Other potential candidates, including former basketball coach Gale Catlett and state party chairman Rob Capehart, also opted out. Eventually, businessman John Raese emerged as the Republican nominee, self-financing his campaign and focusing his efforts on attacking the incumbent.

On November 7, 2006, Byrd defeated Raese and Mountain Party candidate Jesse Johnson with 64% of the vote. The election results underscored the resilience of established Democratic incumbents in the state, even as the broader political environment shifted. Following the Democratic takeover of the Senate in 2007, Byrd assumed the role of President pro tempore, placing him third in the presidential line of succession, and became chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He served until his death in office on June 28, 2010.

The 2006 cycle also demonstrated the limits of external influence on state politics. Despite a two-million-dollar advertising campaign funded by Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship aimed at unseating Democratic legislators, the Democratic Party actually gained net seats in both the West Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate. This solidified a 72-28 advantage in the House and a 23-11 lead in the Senate, proving that local political dynamics remained distinct from national trends.

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