West Virginia Senate Race: Margin of Victory

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican front-runner for Tennessee governor, has declined to debate or appear on stage with challengers, including Democratic nominee Jerri Green, and has largely avoided detailed press interviews ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Early voting is underway. Critics, including some traditional Republicans, describe growing "Blackburn fatigue," citing her reliance on front-runner status, close alignment with President Trump, and a reserved campaign style. Her August primary turnout of roughly 311,392 votes was down slightly from 2018. Green has cited polling showing a close race. Blackburn's campaign has answered written questionnaires but has not engaged directly with reporters or opponents on policy specifics.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey has unveiled a 20-year Responsible Data Center Development Plan aimed at capturing economic benefits from hyperscale data centers while addressing local opposition. Under the plan, developers and utilities—not taxpayers—would bear the cost of electrical infrastructure upgrades and power procurement, and projects would need to commit to water-efficient designs consistent with state environmental law. Revenue from qualifying hyperscale projects would be split: half toward reducing or eliminating the state's income tax, 30 percent to the host county, 10 percent shared statewide among counties, and 10 percent for local electrical, water, and wastewater improvements.

The plan follows passage of the state's 2025 Power Generation and Consumption Act, which limits local governments' ability to block large data center projects. It comes amid opposition from Tucker County residents to a proposed hyperscale facility from Fundamental Data LLC, which state regulators allowed to proceed despite concerns that it offers few direct benefits to the community. The plan also creates a new Data Center Advisory Council to set siting and development standards, and bars use of eminent domain for project land acquisition.

Marshall County Sheriff Mike Dougherty says 44-year-old David Will and his wife, 46-year-old Monica Will, a teacher at John Marshall High School, were found dead inside their Moundsville-area home early Thursday after a silent 911 call prompted deputies to respond around 1:40 a.m. Deputies were met with gunfire and took cover before spotting suspect Cyle Fabrizio, 25, holding a 16-year-old girl hostage at gunpoint in the doorway. A deputy shot and killed Fabrizio to protect the hostage. She and her 14-year-old brother, the Wills' children, were taken to safety and are now with family.

Dougherty said preliminary investigation suggests Fabrizio had an obsessive interest in the teenage girl, whom he met through church, and had been rebuffed when he sought to date her. Fabrizio had a prior criminal record dating to juvenile offenses. Authorities stress the community faces no ongoing threat. John Marshall High School canceled its homecoming parade and Thursday activities but plans to resume classes, with counseling available, and hold its football game and homecoming dance as scheduled.

A double homicide in Moundsville, West Virginia has left the Marshall County community in mourning. Authorities say David Will, 44, and his wife Monica Will, 46, a teacher at John Marshall High School, were found dead after a silent 911 call brought deputies to their home near the board of education office early Thursday morning.

Sheriff Mike Dougherty says deputies were met with gunfire upon arrival and then saw the suspect, 25-year-old Cyle Fabrizio, holding a 16-year-old girl hostage at gunpoint in the doorway. A deputy shot and killed Fabrizio to protect the hostage. She and her 14-year-old brother, the Wills' children, were taken to safety; both parents were found dead inside. Investigators believe Fabrizio had developed an obsession with the daughter, whom he met through church, after she rejected his advances. Officials stress there is no ongoing threat to the public. John Marshall High School canceled classes and its homecoming parade, offering counseling to students and staff as the community grieves.