Poll workers Amy Cochran with the bags and Janice Brigner deliver voting materials to the Wood County Courthouse Tuesday evening. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG – Two incumbent lawmakers from Wood County lost in Tuesday’s primary election, while another trails by just five votes.

Incumbents in both District 3 Senate races were leading in results from two of four counties posted by the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office.

Parkersburg resident Charles Hartzog, a 23-year-old Walmart employee, upset House of Delegates Finance Committee Chairman Vernon Criss in the Republican primary for District 11. Hartzog received nearly 63% of the vote with results from all but two Wood County precincts, plus early votes, posted Tuesday night by the county clerk’s office. It was not immediately clear if either of the precincts still to be counted were in the 11th District, which consists of a portion of Parkersburg and areas to its east.

Hartzog had 688 votes to Criss’ 422.

A statement from Hartzog was not immediately available.

Tom Blondin, right, surveys which team of volunteers is ready to verify a precinct's ballots Tuesday evening at the Wood County Courthouse. 

Criss declined to comment Tuesday night.

Hartzog will take on Dennis V. Rempel, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary, in November.

In District 13 – which includes south Parkersburg, Washington and Lubeck – Melissa McCrady received 910 votes in the Republican primary while incumbent Del. Scot Heckert had 528.

“I am so thankful to the good people of District 13 who chose to endorse and act for freedom today,” McCrady said, expressing appreciation to her volunteers, advisers and family as well.

Moving forward, she pledged to “always move and vote in the direction of freedom … To be respectful toward Governor (Patrick) Morrisey and do my best to represent the views and best interests of the citizens of Wood County and our state.”

Heckert, who like Criss has butted heads with Morrisey, described himself as “a winner either way.

“I set out two years ago to show the state of West Virginia what the Morriseys were like, and I’ve done just that,” he said.

Heckert described this election as “the dirtiest campaigning I’ve ever seen.” He said he might run for the House again, but predicted “Patrick Morrisey will never be elected to anything in West Virginia ever again.”

McCrady is set to face Marley Umensetter, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary, in the general election.

In District 10, Justin Beanard led fellow Williamstown resident and 17-term Del. Bill Anderson by five votes, 827-822 according to the final, unofficial results.

Wood County Clerk Joe Gonzales said there are approximately 13 provisional ballots in the district. That means the outcome could change, depending on whether the ballots are accepted and who the voter chose.

“Honestly, I’m stoked, I did not think I was going to be able to pull it off, but I think it’s safe to say that people of West Virginia and especially Wood County – we want change,” Beanard said. “My whole thing has been about families and rebuilding broken relationships. This is what normal people want: They want a safe system for their families, and I think that was the biggest change and the biggest thing I push for, and I think that’s what everyone’s seen.”

Anderson said he’s always respected the voters of Wood County.

“In this particular case, I believe I’ve worked hard for the district over the years and plan to continue working hard – but if the judgment of the voters is that they desire someone else, then I respect their judgment,” he said.

In the Republican primary for District 11, former state Homeland Security Secretary Jeff Sandy led Parkersburg City Council President Andrew Borkowski 831-792.

There are approximately 86 provisional ballots countywide. It was not clear if there were enough to affect the outcome in District 11 or any district besides 10.

Sandy, a former Wood County sheriff, said he is looking ahead to the fall election after what he described as a race focused on issues rather than negativity.

“I think our election was the only one that was very to the point and professional,” Sandy said.

Borkowski said he called Sandy to congratulate him.

“Although I wish the outcome could have been different, I am grateful for a hard-fought race,” he said. “I wish Mr. Sandy nothing but the best in the general election.”

Sandy will take on Democrat Daniel Miller of Vienna in the fall.

There is no incumbent in District 11 as Del. Bob Fehrenbacher, R-Wood, opted to challenge Sen. Tom Azinger in the District 3 Republican primary.

Azinger was winning handily in Wood and Wirt counties, 4,649-3,232, according to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office, but results for the other counties in the district – Pleasants and Ritchie – had not been posted as of 11:19 p.m.

The Republican nominee will run against Democrat Caci Petrehn, unopposed in the primary, in the fall.

The other District 3 seat was on the ballot due to the retirement earlier this year of Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants. Morrisey appointed then-Del. Trenton Barnhart, R-Pleasants, to the seat and he filed to run for the unexpired term. He faces former Del. Jason Harshbarger in the Republican primary. Barnhart led 4,293-2,821 in Wood and Wirt counties.

There were Republican and Democratic primaries in House District 14, which includes southern Wood County and western Wirt County. Incumbent Del. Dave Foggin, R-Wood, had a 31-vote lead over Wirt County Republican Executive Committee Chairwoman Angie Adams, 697-666, according to the secretary of state’s office. Fellow Republican Andrew Daniel received 453 votes.

Foggin declined to comment with results still pending.

Barring any change due to provisional ballots, he appears set to take on Crystal Dawn Butcher, the winner of the Democratic primary.

Butcher received 309 votes to Jim Marion’s 275 and Jonathan White’s 86. Butcher could not immediately be reached for comment.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com.