WV 2nd District Democratic Primary: AP Calls Race For Wendell

WEST VIRGINIA — The Associated Press has called the Democratic primary for West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District in favor of Barry Lee Wendell.

Wendell, the former Morgantown City Council member, edged Angela Dwyer of Falling Waters in the two-person race, according to AP.

The polls closed at 7:30 p.m., but anyone in line for voting by that time were given a "waiting voters permit" that will guarantee them the opportunity to vote, the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office announced in a Facebook post.

Here are the latest unofficial results as of 9:37 p.m.:

• Angela Dwyer: 10,521 (42.57%)
• Barry Lee Wendell: 14,193 (57.43%)

Whichever candidate claims the Democratic nomination will be considered a heavy underdog in the general election to whomever emerges as the Republican nominee. Rep. David McKinley and Rep. Alexander Mooney are frontrunners in the Republican primary.

Dwyer is running on a platform of improving economic opportunities for West Virginians, according to her campaign website. Her goals include lowering the poverty rate, producing jobs and raising the federal minimum wage of $18 per hour as well as increasing opportunities for women, improving police and community relations and protecting the rights of LGBTQ people.

Wendell moved to Morgantown in 2012, when he was named Rabbi at Tree of Life Congregation. He was elected to a pair of two-year terms on Morgantown City Council in 2017 and 2019.

Wendell laid out some of his top priorities in a recent Facebook post, including reinstating the Extended Child Care Tax Credit and allocating health funding toward solving the mental health crisis on college campuses, treatment centers for people battling opioid addiction and COVID-19 testing and treatment.

"We can accomplish these things by making billionaires pay taxes," Wendell said.