BRIDGEPORT — Sen. Ben Queen secured the Republican nomination for West Virginia Senate District 12 on Tuesday, defeating challenger Joseph “Joe” Earley in a closely contested primary centered on economic policy, conservative governance and energy issues.
Queen built his strongest margins in the larger population centers of Harrison County, where he received 2,389 votes to Earley’s 1,834 (43.4%), earning 56.6% of the vote in the county.
In Lewis County, Queen won 665 votes (55.8%) to Earley’s 526 (44.2%).
Earley performed best in Calhoun County, where he received 200 votes (55%) to Queen’s 164 (45%).
Earley also carried Gilmer County, earning 196 votes (55.1%) to Queen’s 160 (44.9%).
The two candidates were nearly tied in Taylor County, where Earley edged Queen 342 votes (50.1%) to 340 (49.9%).
Queen also narrowly carried the county-level vote on balance across the district’s five counties, while maintaining overall advantages in the region’s higher-turnout areas.
In total, Queen received 3,718 votes to Earley’s 3,098, earning 54.5% of the vote compared to Earley’s 45.5% across Calhoun, Gilmer, Lewis, Harrison and Taylor counties.
