Carol Miller will continue to serve in US House

Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., will be returning to the U.S. House of Representatives. 

The Associated Press called the race at 9:20 p.m. showing Miller beating Democratic challenger Vince George 56% to 40%. Belinda Fox-Spencer, a Constitution Party candidate, pulled around 3% of the vote. 

“It has absolutely been my honor to serve the people of West Virginia for the last eight years and I will continue to fight to improve access to rural healthcare and make life more affordable for West Virginians,” Miller said.

Miller was first elected to office in the 2018 midterm, after then Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va., declined to run again to pursue a seat on the state Supreme Court. In that election, she beat state Sen. Richard Ojeda, D-Logan, who coincidentally was showing as ahead in a race for the U.S. House in North Carolina Tuesday. 

Miller, the daughter of Rep. Samuel Devine, R-Ohio, married into the Dutch Miller Auto Group family. 

Miller’s campaign ran off the cachet of President Donald Trump, who while underwater in polls nationally is still enjoying support in the Mountain State. 

This election is the first Vince George has run for federal office. He previously ran for Kanawha County magistrate decades ago. Over the years, he has worked as a social worker, teacher, legislative staffer and a lobbyist for environmental groups. 

Throughout the campaign, George accused Miller of not being there for constituents, taking to calling her “Cardboard Carol.” 

George said even though he didn’t win, he counted the campaign as a victory. 

“We’ve already changed the political landscape here in West Virginia and we will continue from here,” he said. “Maybe I didn’t win, but we put forward an argument and fight.”