West Virginia State House District 39

Current seat holder: Doug Smith (Republican).

Brianna Pearcy

Brianna Pearcy is a Democrat and a West Virginian native. This is her first time running for office. She says she primarily wants to expand Medicare and increase Social Security benefits to help assist seniors, reform the foster care system in West Virginia, support veterans in the state of West Virginia, and she says she believes in economic diversification to help to bring more jobs to the state. Pearcy also says she supports protecting West Virginians second amendment rights. Although Pearcy does not have experience as a lawmaker, she says she is passionate about the issues facing West Virginia. She has used social media as her platform for her campaign. She won the Democratic primary against Neal Vestal, receiving 61% of the vote in the primary.

Samuel Lusk

Samuel Lusk is a 27-year-old resident of Athens, West Virginia, who is an economic developer for the Princeton Economic Development Authority. He got his bachelor’s degree in political science from Concord University in 2020 and got his master’s in Public Administration from Marshall University in 2023. This is Lusk’s first time running for political office. However, he does have political experience, as he formerly served as a field representative for Representative Carol Miller. This is in addition to the experience Lusk has had working as an economic developer for the last five years. Lusk has received endorsements from the current representative of District 39 in the House of Delegates, Doug Smith, and United States Senator Shelly Moore Capito. Lusk won the primary against Thurman Scott Dickerson after receiving 59 percent of the vote. Lusk aims to limit government spending and to help improve the education system in the state. Lusk is running against Democrat Brianna Pearcy and Independent Ronnie Oakley.

· Candidate campaign website & Ballotpedia (secondary source)

Campaign site

“I am running to keep common-sense leadership in District 39. My focus is on smart investments in jobs, infrastructure, and education to improve the quality of life for all West Virginians. With years of experience in federal and local government, I am committed to listening to the people of our district and using their voice as a guide for practical, effective solutions.” (Samuel Lusk Campaign Website)

Ronnie Oakley

Ronnie Oakley (Independent) is a 2026 candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates representing District 39 (Mercer County) on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.

· Candidate campaign website & Ballotpedia (secondary source)

Campaign site

“I'm Ronnie Oakley, a No Party candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates, District 39. I'm a former career firefighter, an Eagle Scout, and a sixth degree black belt in Taekwondo. My wife and I work in small business, so I understand the pressures families and business owners face. I'm running because I believe government should protect people's rights, be accountable for its decisions, and provide services that actually work for West Virginians.” (Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey)
“Protect children and reform CPS. Children deserve safe, stable homes, timely services, and prompt, impartial investigations of abuse or neglect in every placement. Families deserve due process, complete evidence, and fair treatment. I support independent oversight, stronger worker training, conflict of interest protections, and decisions that respect safe relationships with siblings and other bonded caregivers.” (Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey)
“I'm passionate about protecting children and reforming West Virginia's CPS and family court systems to ensure fairness, due process, and accountability. I strongly support health freedom, informed consent, and the right of patients and families to make personal medical decisions. Other priorities include affordable utilities, safe drinking water, modern infrastructure, protecting private property rights, improving rural healthcare, and preserving parental choice in education. As a former firefighter and small business owner, I believe government must be transparent, fiscally responsible, and accountable to the people it serves.” (Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey)