The population in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle is growing and the state Legislature drew new district lines for the state House of Delegates for the 2022 election so that each district will be represented by a single Delegate. Of the 100 Delegate districts across the state, There are now are four districts that cover Jefferson County and they have new numbers — 97 (shared with Berkeley County), 98, 99 & 100.
You can use the sample ballot lookup tool created by the West Virginia Secretary of State to see which district you vote in (the sample ballot will list both the Delegate District and candidate names).
House of Delegates District 97
The 97th Delegate District (shown in purple on the map) covers the north-western part of the county, extending northward from Route 9. It loops around Shepherdstown to the west, then dips down around the north of Willowdale and runs down Shepherd Grade Road past University Drive before it turns to the river right outside the town limits. The boundary line to the west of Shepherdstown is just past the shopping center on Route 45. Roughly two-thirds of the population of this district is in Berkeley County and one-third is in Jefferson County.
In the 2022 general election, there are two candidates running in Delegate District 97: John Hardy (currently serving as a Delegate) and Philip Wenner (neither candidate has provided responses to The Observer’s questionnaire).
House of Delegates District 98
The 98th Delegate District (shown in blue on the map) covers the southern part of the county from the Shenandoah River on the east to the Berkeley County line on the west and north to Route 9 (including all of Ranson).
In the 2022 general election, Paul Espinosa (currently serving as a Delegate) is running unopposed in District 98:
House of Delegates District 99
The 99th Delegate District (shown in green on the map) includes the City of Charles Town, the subdivisions around Huntfield, Tuscawilla, Locust Hill, and Mechanicstown, as well as the subdivisions off of Flowings Springs Road and Old Country Club Road.
In the 2022 general election, there are two candidates running in Delegate District 99:
Wayne Clark (currently serving as a Delegate) is the Republican Party candidate.
Debra Cornwell is the Democratic Party candidate.
House of Delegates District 100
The 100th Delegate District (shown in yellow on the map) includes the Town of Shepherdstown, plus Willowdale and Maddex Farms neighborhoods to the west and the neighborhoods near the elementary school to the south. This district stretches eastward to include the Towns of Bolivar and Harpers Ferry, and the unincorporated areas around Moler Crossroads, Bakerton, and Uvilla. This district includes all of the areas to the east of the Shenandoah River (Blue Ridge, Mountain Mission, Shannondale) as well as Millville and portions of Halltown.
In the 2022 general election, there are two candidates running in Delegate District 100:
Susan Benzinger is the Democratic Party candidate.
Bill Ridenour is the Republican Party candidate.
Read More: The Observer’s Guide to the 2022 Election
By Staff Contributor