Putnam County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
16 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 9 Putnam County races, led by the Putnam County Commissioner (District 1) contest.
County offices
Commissioner (District 1)David Edwards (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
David Edwards Democrat
David Edwards is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Putnam County Commissioner (District 1), per the West Virginia Secretary of State's certified candidate database. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
David Edwards is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the West Virginia Secretary of State's certified candidate database.
Full race pageCommissioner (District 3)Brian Ellis (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Brian Ellis Republican
Brian Ellis is the Republican incumbent Putnam County Commissioner, District 3, per the county's official website. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Brian Ellis is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the West Virginia Secretary of State's certified candidate database.
Full race pageCommissioner, Unexpired TermZach Crede (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Zach Crede Republican
Zach Crede is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Putnam County Commissioner, Unexpired Term, per the West Virginia Secretary of State's certified candidate database. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Zach Crede is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the West Virginia Secretary of State's certified candidate database.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Putnam County is split across 6 West Virginia Senate and House districts.
Find your districts by addressWest Virginia Senate: 2 districtsDistricts 4, 8
West Virginia Senate District 4Zachary Abbott (D) · Stephanie E. Butcher (Libertarian) · Eric J. Tarr (R)
Zachary Abbott Democrat
Zachary Abbott is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for West Virginia Senate District 4 on the Secretary of State's certified general-election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Stephanie E. Butcher Libertarian
Stephanie E. Butcher is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for West Virginia Senate District 4 on the Secretary of State's certified general-election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Eric J. Tarr Republican Incumbent
- Supports educational freedom and parental choice in school selection
- Supports funding based on the child's needs rather than the school system
- Supports expanding technical trades education
Per the campaign site.
About Eric J. Tarr
Eric is an entrepreneur who started his first business in Teays Valley in 1997 at age 24, per the campaign site. He completed a doctorate and an MBA through weekend and evening study, and has served in the West Virginia Senate since 2018, currently chairing the Finance Committee, per the campaign site.
Zachary Abbott (Democrat), Stephanie E. Butcher (Libertarian), Eric J. Tarr (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for West Virginia Senate District 4. Eric J. Tarr 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.
Full race pageWest Virginia Senate District 8Kim Hundley (D) · Lance Wheeler (R)
Kim Hundley Democrat
Kim Hundley is a teacher and a breast cancer survivor who was first inspired to run for office while participating in the 2018 West Virginia teachers strike, per West Virginia Watch. She said lowering health care costs for state employees, citing rising Public Employees Insurance Agency premiums, is a driving concern for her campaign, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Lance Wheeler Republican
Lance Wheeler is a Kanawha County Commissioner, first elected to the commission in 2020, per WV MetroNews. He said his work on the county commission, including scrutinizing government spending, has prepared him to serve at the state level. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Kim Hundley (Democrat), Lance Wheeler (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for West Virginia Senate District 8. The Legislature's member roster marks no incumbent seeking this seat. 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.
Full race pageWest Virginia House: 4 districtsDistricts 18, 19, 20, 21
West Virginia House District 18Jonathan Hersman (D) · Jim Butler (R)
Jonathan Hersman Democrat
Jonathan Hersman is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for West Virginia House District 18 on the Secretary of State's certified general-election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Jim Butler Republican Incumbent
- Describes himself as pro-life, pro-family, and pro-gun
- Describes himself as a fiscal conservative focused on jobs
Per the campaign site.
About Jim Butler
Jim is a Christian, husband, father, and former United States Marine, per the campaign site. He is a small excavating contractor who has worked for friends and neighbors for 30 years and has been elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates four times, per the campaign site.
Jonathan Hersman (Democrat), Jim Butler (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for West Virginia House District 18. Jim Butler 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.
Full race pageWest Virginia House District 19Nolan Rose (D) · Kathie Hess Crouse (R)
Nolan Rose Democrat
- Supports strengthening worker protections
- Supports protecting access to medical care
- Supports transparency and accessibility to constituents
Per the campaign site.
About Nolan Rose
Nolan describes himself as a working-class West Virginian and a reliable coworker who has worked across the state, per the campaign site.
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Incumbent
Kathie holds a biology degree from West Virginia State University and worked as an analytical technician at Dow Chemical and as a microbiologist for the WV Office of Laboratory Services, including service on the state's Bioterrorism Response team, before becoming a stay at home mother in 2004, per the campaign site. She has also led WV Home Educators and was the first female commissioner on the WV Athletic Commission, per the campaign site.
Nolan Rose (Democrat), Kathie Hess Crouse (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for West Virginia House District 19. Kathie Hess Crouse 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.
Full race pageWest Virginia House District 20Tonya Patrick Shuler (D) · Sarah Drennan (R)
Tonya Patrick Shuler Democrat
Tonya Patrick Shuler is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for West Virginia House District 20 on the Secretary of State's certified general-election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Sarah Drennan Republican Incumbent
- Describes herself as a supporter of the Constitution and Bill of Rights
- Says she is committed to keeping Putnam County and West Virginia places where families can thrive
Per the campaign site.
About Sarah Drennan
Drennan is a NICU nurse with experience caring for critically ill newborns, per the campaign site. That clinical background has shaped Drennan's perspective on health care and family policy, per the campaign site. Drennan is also involved in community activities in Putnam County, per the campaign site.
Tonya Patrick Shuler (Democrat), Sarah Drennan (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for West Virginia House District 20. Sarah Drennan 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.
Full race pageWest Virginia House District 21Michael G. Mosteller II (D) · C. D. Caldwell (R)
Michael G. Mosteller II Democrat
- Supports reproductive rights and healthcare access
- Wants more investment in public education
- Supports clean water regulation and the Above Ground Storage Tank Act
Per the campaign site.
About Michael G. Mosteller II
Michael is a husband and father of two who moved to Putnam County and, as a private citizen, authored West Virginia's Above Ground Storage Tank Act after the 2014 MCHM chemical leak, which the Legislature passed into law, per the campaign site.
C. D. Caldwell Republican
- Says his focus is advocating for Putnam County during a period of growth and transition
Per the campaign site.
About C. D. Caldwell
Caldwell is Director of Career and Technical Education for Putnam County Schools and principal of the Putnam County Career and Technical Center, and also serves as president of the Putnam County Development Authority, per the campaign site. He graduated from Hurricane High School and West Virginia State University and earned a graduate degree in leadership studies from Marshall University, and serves on Hurricane City Council and the Hurricane Fire and Water Board, per the campaign site.
Michael G. Mosteller II (Democrat), C. D. Caldwell (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for West Virginia House District 21. The Legislature's member roster marks no incumbent seeking this seat. Party nominees were chosen at the May 12, 2026 primary, per the West Virginia Secretary of State's certified general-election candidate list.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
West Virginia's field is the Secretary of State's candidate database for the November 3, 2026 general election. Party nominees were chosen at the May 12 primary. All 100 House of Delegates districts are up; each of the 17 Senate districts has two senators on staggered terms, so one seat per district is on the ballot, and a few districts also fill an unexpired term. Most judicial and board of education races are nonpartisan and were decided at the May election. Unopposed candidates still appear on the ballot.
Who is on the ballot in Putnam County, West Virginia on November 3, 2026?
Putnam County sample ballot 2026: see where the commissioner, county commissioner and west virginia senate candidates stand on schools, the budget and jobs. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in West Virginia?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for West Virginia are listed on the West Virginia election hub. West Virginia election hub →
How do I see my exact Putnam County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
Sample ballot by ZIP code in Putnam County11 ZIP codes
Candidate roster last updated Sep 25, 2026 from official election sources.