In the McGrathian Senate election held in West Virginia in 2024, Michael McGrath, the biological son of President Joe McGrath, was elected to a senate seat. Michael became the first child elected to the McGrathian Senate The senate election coincided with a presidential election.
Background
In early 2024, Joe Manchin. the incumbent Democrat senator since 2010, announced his retirement from the senate seat. Within the same period, Michael McGrath, then at the age of eight, announced his senate campaign as a Republican. Initially, outgoing governor Jim Justice was going to run, but he declined and endorsed Michael. The Democrats nominated Don Blankenship, the former owner of a coal mining company, as their candidate.
General Election
Due to West Virginia’s deep conservative lean since the early 2010s, it was expected that Michael McGrath was going to win the senate race. To make things better for Michael, it was discovered that in 2010, Blankenship was involved in a mining accident that killed 29 miners. This resulted in Blankenship receiving one year in federal prison. As West Virginia is is a state home to many coal miners, this revelation mad Blankenship’s candidacy unacceptable.
Results
In the general election, Michael won, carrying all counties in West Virginia. He was sworn in as McGrathia’s first child senator on January 3, 2025. Blankenship received second place, but did well in Jefferson County, was Michael’s weakest county overall in the election.