W.Va. voters choose new blood, oust incumbent Democrat Mollohan from US House after 28 years
By Vicki Smith, APWednesday, May 12, 2010
W.Va. congressman’s 28-year run ends in primary
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Democrat Alan Mollohan’s 28-year run in the House of Representatives is over.
With 71 percent of the precincts reporting, state Sen. Mike Oliverio had nearly 56 percent of the vote compared to Mollohan’s 44 percent.
Tuesday’s vote made Mollohan the first House incumbent to lose his seat this year.
Mollohan was dogged by ethical questions. The more conservative Oliverio ran an aggressive campaign portraying him as corrupt and disconnected.
Conservative media rallied around Oliverio, along with anti-abortion groups angry over Mollohan’s support of health care reform.
Though Democrats outnumber Republicans almost 2-to-1, West Virginia voted twice for George W. Bush and rejected Barack Obama in favor of John McCain.
Tags: Barack Obama, Campaigns, Health Care Reform, Morgantown, North America, Political Corruption, Political Ethics, Political Issues, United States, Virginia, West Virginia
