Swearengin wins Dem Senate primary in W.Va.

A progressive candidate featured in a Netflix documentary on politics has won the Democratic Senate primary in West Virginia to face Republican Sen. Shelly Moore Capito in November.

Paula Jean Swearengin was featured in the 2019 Netflix political documentary Knock Down the House. She accepted only individual donations during her campaign and outraised one of her two opponents, former state Sen. Richard Ojeda, by a more than 10-to-1 margin. Also seeking the Democratic nomination was former South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb.

The Senate race wasn’t Swearengin’s first bid for public office. She received 30% of the vote in the 2018 primary against Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.

In the Republican primary, Capito easily defeated Family Policy Council of West Virginia President Allen Whitt and former craftsman Larry Butcher.

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