17 year old topples Establishment incimbent in W.Va. primary election

6/27/2014

Blair topples incumbent Kump in W.Va. primary election

Ric Dugan/Staff Photographer

Saira Blair

Saira Blair, a 17-year-old senior at Hedgesville (W.Va.) High School, waves to motorists along W.Va. 9 Tuesday afternoon. Saira challenged incumbent Larry D. Kump for the Republican nomination in the 59th District of the West Virginia House of Delegates.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Hedgesville High School senior Saira Blair unseated incumbent state Del. Larry D. Kump in Tuesday’s primary election, according to unofficial results.

With 13 of 13 precincts reporting in Berkeley and Morgan counties, Blair, 17, received 872 votes and Kump, 66, received 728 votes in the 59th District race for the House of Delegates.

“I’m really thankful that the people are willing to give me a chance regardless of my age,” Blair said in a phone interview.

“I really want to work to prove to the people that I can do this.”

Blair, who will turn 18 on July 11, will face Democrat Layne Diehl of Martinsburg in the November general election.

“I’m so thankful for all the support from my friends and family,” said Blair. Her father is state Sen. Craig Blair, R-Berkeley.

Blair said she was “overwhelmed” by the results and expected her age would be a factor in the race.

Kump, R-Berkeley/Morgan, of Falling Waters, W.Va., was seeking a third, two-year term.

In the 60th district, incumbent Larry W. Faircloth received 469 votes and Gary W. Kelley received 459 votes in his bid for a second term.

Voter turnout among the county’s 67,258 voters was about 10 percent, according to the unofficial results, which will be canvassed next Monday.

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