1986Final resultsIncumbent defeated

1986 election for West Virginia Delegate District 23

West Virginia House of Delegates · West Virginia

Dee Caperton (D), Charlotte Pritt (D), John R. Hoblitzell (R), Barbara Hatfield (D), Henry Shores (R), Rudy Seacrist (D), Sharon Spencer (D), Bonnie Brown (D), Thomas A. Knight (D), John Wells (R), Lyle Sattes (D) and James F. Humphreys (D) won the district's 12 seats.

12 seats

Dee CapertonDemocrat · winner

5.7%23,755

Charlotte PrittDemocrat · winner · incumbent

5.2%21,805

John R. HoblitzellRepublican · winner

4.9%20,328

Barbara HatfieldDemocrat · winner · incumbent

4.8%20,193

Henry ShoresRepublican · winner

4.8%19,995

Rudy SeacristDemocrat · winner · incumbent

4.7%19,716

Sharon SpencerDemocrat · winner

4.7%19,694

Bonnie BrownDemocrat · winner · incumbent

4.6%19,265

Thomas A. KnightDemocrat · winner · incumbent

4.6%19,249

John WellsRepublican · winner · incumbent

4.6%19,227

Lyle SattesDemocrat · winner · incumbent

4.6%19,051

James F. HumphreysDemocrat · winner · incumbent

4.4%18,389

Ruth GoldsmithRepublican

4.3%17,866

Walton ShepherdDemocrat · incumbent

4.2%17,724

Ann CalvertRepublican

4.2%17,683

Leonard UnderwoodDemocrat · incumbent

4.1%17,105

Anne B. CharnockRepublican

4.0%16,686

Dick HendersonRepublican

4.0%16,565

Ramona CerraDemocrat

3.7%15,364

Andrew K. BoydRepublican

3.6%15,010

Charles H. WitscheyRepublican

3.2%13,302

Foster BurdetteRepublican

2.6%10,709

Harold W. CarterRepublican

2.5%10,272

Joseph M. AdamsRepublican

2.3%9,494

418,447 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 1986

Races before and after

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

The candidates

Dee Caperton (D)Charlotte Pritt (D)

Also on the ballot: John R. Hoblitzell (Republican), 4.9%; Barbara Hatfield (Democrat), 4.8%; Henry Shores (Republican), 4.8%; Rudy Seacrist (Democrat), 4.7%; Sharon Spencer (Democrat), 4.7%; Bonnie Brown (Democrat), 4.6%; Thomas A. Knight (Democrat), 4.6%; John Wells (Republican), 4.6%; Lyle Sattes (Democrat), 4.6%; James F. Humphreys (Democrat), 4.4%; Ruth Goldsmith (Republican), 4.3%; Walton Shepherd (Democrat), 4.2%; Ann Calvert (Republican), 4.2%; Leonard Underwood (Democrat), 4.1%; Anne B. Charnock (Republican), 4.0%; Dick Henderson (Republican), 4.0%; Ramona Cerra (Democrat), 3.7%; Andrew K. Boyd (Republican), 3.6%; Charles H. Witschey (Republican), 3.2%; Foster Burdette (Republican), 2.6%; Harold W. Carter (Republican), 2.5%; Joseph M. Adams (Republican), 2.3%