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This is the 1974 race. The latest: 2026 →

1974Final resultsIncumbent defeated

1974 election for West Virginia Delegate District 17

West Virginia House of Delegates · West Virginia

Harold E. Given (D), Larry Sonis (D), Martha Wehrle (D), John Boettner (D), J. Kemp McLaughlin (D), Lyle Sattes (D), E. M. Johnson (D), Darrell E. Holmes (D), Jack Canfield (D), Roger W. Tompkins (D), Walton Shepherd (D), Leon Copeland (D) and John Payne (D) won the district's 13 seats.

13 seats
Harold E. GivenDemocrat · winner · incumbent
5.3%33,748
Larry SonisDemocrat · winner
5.1%32,432
Martha WehrleDemocrat · winner
5.0%32,052
John BoettnerDemocrat · winner
4.7%30,435
J. Kemp McLaughlinDemocrat · winner
4.7%30,067
Lyle SattesDemocrat · winner
4.6%29,780
E. M. JohnsonDemocrat · winner
4.6%29,467
Darrell E. HolmesDemocrat · winner
4.6%29,362
Jack CanfieldDemocrat · winner
4.6%29,277
Roger W. TompkinsDemocrat · winner
4.6%29,220
Walton ShepherdDemocrat · winner
4.4%28,218
Leon CopelandDemocrat · winner
4.3%27,609
John PayneDemocrat · winner
4.0%25,982
Leo KopelmanRepublican · incumbent
3.5%22,362
James Clay JeterRepublican · incumbent
3.5%22,261
Thomas E. PotterRepublican · incumbent
3.4%22,071
James CopenhaverRepublican · incumbent
3.3%21,204
W. C. FieldRepublican · incumbent
3.3%20,902
Jean S. HoltRepublican · incumbent
3.0%19,269
Doris CriggerRepublican
3.0%19,121
Gary A. KingRepublican
3.0%18,974
Samuel RubinRepublican
2.9%18,694
Paul ZakaibRepublican · incumbent
2.9%18,288
Lucille E. GillespieRepublican
2.8%18,057
W. W. Wertz ChambersRepublican
2.6%16,387
Roy B. DunnRepublican
2.5%16,309
641,548 votes

Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET

The seat over time

D − R margin in this seat's races around 1974

Races before and after

EvenD+7.51974D+7.91976R+1.51978

Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

The candidates

Harold E. Given (D)Larry Sonis (D)Martha Wehrle (D)

Also on the ballot: John Boettner (Democrat), 4.7%; J. Kemp McLaughlin (Democrat), 4.7%; Lyle Sattes (Democrat), 4.6%; E. M. Johnson (Democrat), 4.6%; Darrell E. Holmes (Democrat), 4.6%; Jack Canfield (Democrat), 4.6%; Roger W. Tompkins (Democrat), 4.6%; Walton Shepherd (Democrat), 4.4%; Leon Copeland (Democrat), 4.3%; John Payne (Democrat), 4.0%; Leo Kopelman (Republican), 3.5%; James Clay Jeter (Republican), 3.5%; Thomas E. Potter (Republican), 3.4%; James Copenhaver (Republican), 3.3%; W. C. Field (Republican), 3.3%; Jean S. Holt (Republican), 3.0%; Doris Crigger (Republican), 3.0%; Gary A. King (Republican), 3.0%; Samuel Rubin (Republican), 2.9%; Paul Zakaib (Republican), 2.9%; Lucille E. Gillespie (Republican), 2.8%; W. W. Wertz Chambers (Republican), 2.6%; Roy B. Dunn (Republican), 2.5%