Robb takes West Virginia Senate seat with 14,732 votes
The former South Charleston mayor unseats an incumbent to double the Democratic presence in the state upper chamber.
By Pedro Tanaka ·
Richie Robb won the unexpired 17th State Senate District race with 14,732 votes, capturing 53 percent of the total.
The result unseats Republican incumbent Anne Charnock and shifts the balance of power in Charleston. Robb joins fellow Democrat John Williams, who won the 13th District seat. This move increases the Democratic Party's representation in the West Virginia Senate from two members to four.
Robb enters the Capitol after a long tenure in local executive leadership. He first won the South Charleston mayoral race at age 29. He served eight consecutive terms, a total of 32 years, in that office. His successor, Frank Mullens, recently secured a sixth term as mayor.
The new senator cited a desire for change as the driving force behind his victory. He noted that voters in his district and across half of Kanawha County sought a different direction. Robb stated that he believes the state and country have veered off course and intends to steer them back.
He said he will rely on the experience gained during his decades as mayor to legislate. Robb emphasized the value of listening to constituents to understand their needs before making final decisions. He described his approach as a balance between public input and personal observation.
Robb is scheduled to take office in January. He identified public education as a primary focus for his tenure. He argued that education and economic development are linked and not mutually exclusive. He said a strong public school system will bolster economic growth in a state with dwindling resources.
The 17th District seat had been vacant due to the unexpired term. Robb's victory fills that seat and completes the new legislative composition for the coming session.
