Current seat holder: Tom Takubo (R).
Wes Holden Jr. is a military veteran residing in Sissonville. He enlisted the in the Army the day after graduating high school and was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for Heroism during the Vietnam War. His campaign says his service as a veteran strengthened his lifelong commitment to the country and his community. He got his education from West Virginia State University and the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies. During his professional career he spent 38 years as a senior staff member for former West Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller. During that time he was known for cutting through bureaucracy, helping veterans secure benefits, supporting miners with Black Lung claims, and working on economic development projects across the state. He was uncontested in the May 2026 primary for his candidacy running for the State Senate District 17.
· Candidate campaign website & Ballotpedia (secondary source)
Tom Takubo has served as a member in the West Virginia Senate representing District 17 since December 2014. He received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Marshall University and his doctorate of osteopathy from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. He attended East Tennessee State University as a pulmonary and critical care fellow. After his fellowship, he co-founded Pulmonary Associates of Charleston, where he worked as a pulmonary, critical care and sleep physician. He first ran for office in 2014 when he won 52% of the vote. From 2015-2016, he was the chairman of the West Virginia Senate Committee on Economic Development, and from 2017-2018, he served as the chairman of the West Virginia State Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources. He also served as the Senate majority leader under Senate President Craig Blair. Takubo opposed a bill that would have allowed for philosophical vaccine exemptions for public school students and sponsored a pro transgender amendment. He voted in favor of the state’s 2022 abortion ban.