Present Day
Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, both Democrats, hold West Virginia's U.S. Senate seats. One of three seats in the United States House of Representatives is occupied by Democrat Nick Rahall; the other two are taken by Republicans David McKinley and Shelley Moore Capito. Democrats also maintain strong positions in the state legislature and most local and state offices. West Virginia also has a very strong tradition of union membership. While Democratic politicians hold most statewide offices and control both houses of the state legislature, Republicans have made major gains at the state and federal level in recent years.
Democratic politicians in the state are typically more conservative than the national party, especially on social issues. The late Senator Robert Byrd opposed affirmative action and same-sex marriage. Junior Senator and former Governor Joe Manchin and Congressman Nick Rahall are pro-life on the issue of abortion.
National Democrats such as Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are extremely unpopular in West Virginia. As of late 2011, President Obama had a 28% approval rating in the state, with 63% disapproving During his 2010 Senate campaign, then-Governor Joe Manchin released an ad touting his endorsement from the Republican-leaning NRA and slamming Obama's then-proposed cap and trade legislation.
Read more about this topic: Politics Of West Virginia
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