Shelley Moore Capito secures third term as US Senator

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., will continue serving in the U.S. Senate after the election was called by the Associated Press in her favor about an hour after polls closed. 

Capito secured 57% of the votes counted, according to the Association Press around 9 p.m.. Polls closed at 7:30 p.m. She has won every general election for a federal position. 

“It is wonderful to be here to be declared a winner on such a night,” Capito said at her watch party in Charleston, West Virginia. “From the bottom of my heart, I want to say a great, great thank you. … I will continue to always serve you as I have for the last several years.”

Democratic challenger Rachel Fetty Anderson, a Morgantown-based attorney, received around 39% of the votes counted.

Capito, who is fourth in the Senate Republican majority leadership, stressed that her win means West Virginia will have a strong voice “at the table” in Washington, D.C.

“We are mighty in spirit and always have been,” she said. 

Capito, 72, has been in the U.S. Senate since 2015 and is the first woman from West Virginia to hold that position. She won elections by wide margins in 2014 and 2020.

She easily won a May primary challenge from six challengers, including current state Sen. Tom Willis, R-Berkeley. 

Capito has been re-elected to a six-year term in the U.S. Senate, beginning her third term in 2027.

She serves as chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

President Donald Trump endorsed Capito in her re-election campaign. 

Before serving in the U.S. Senate, Capito was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the West Virginia House of Delegates.

Fetty Anderson won a crowded and competitive Democratic primary race in May to challenge Capito in the general election.