I know it is still early, but here is part 1 of my predictions for the West Virginia State Senate elections.

1st District: Senator Edwin Bowman (D) vs. challenger George Village, III (R)

Bowman is an intolerable liberal who is more than safe in this race. Last time I looked Village has raised less than $500 and is no match for Bowman’s tens of thousands.

Bowman wins by no less than 40%.

2nd District: Senator Larry Edgell (D) vs. Challenger Wayne Weber (R)

Edgell can be beat but it remains to be seen what noise Weber can make. As a solid Christian conservative, Weber is well liked within the Republican Party but he needs to get the message out to the voting public — something hard to do with only $6,791.14 raised. He has a fighting chance if the Republican faithful get behind Weber and donate.

While the odds are currently in Edgell’s favor, it is far from a slam dunk. This race could be close if Weber campaigns right.

3rd District: Senator Frank Deem (R)

Senator Deem has served his constituents well and is running unopposed.

4th District: Mike Hall vs. Jim Lees

This race is for outgoing Senator Charles Lanham’s (R-Putnam) seat. Mike Hall is a conservative who has done an admirable job in the House and is looking for a promotion. Lees is already under investigation by the Secretary of State’s office for conducting an illegal push poll — a poll that predicted Lees would only get 42% of the vote. Meanwhile, with no scandal to dodge and a fantastic record in the House, Hall keeps chugging right along.

Hall, a proven winner, will handily defeat Lees who, to my knowledge, has yet to win a race.

Hall wins by 16% just as Lees’ poll predicts.

5th District: Even Jenkins (D) vs. challenger Thomas Scott (R)

Jenkins’ career as a Senator has been punctuated by nothingness. During his lackluster tenure he has successfully passed a surprisingly low number of bills and chairs on a minor committee. Thomas Scott is a former senator known for his charitable medical work in third-world countries and his conservative values.

Scott lost to Jenkins in 2002 by only 103 votes. Seeing as Jenkins has done nothing in the last four years to gain the confidence of the voters, Scott may very well be poised to upset him.

The advantage is still Jenkins’, but this race could be a toss-up. I have a feeling whoever wins will not do so by much.

6th Distict: Senator Truman Chafin (D)

Chafin’s fight was in the primary against challenger Greg “Hootie” Smith as he struggled to prove he lived inside his district. Like Speaker Kiss and Senator Unger, Chafin has a warm spot in his heart for Charleston and Kanawha County. He just cannot stay away.

Unfortunately Chafin beat Hootie and now is unopposed through the general election.

7th District: Ron Stollings (D) vs. Larry Lyon (R)

These men are fighting over outgoing Senator Dempsey’s spot. I could make something up, but if the truth were known, I know nothing about either man.

If Boone County votes as it usually does, Stollings will win. But your guess is good as mine.

8th District: Erik Wells (D) vs. Mark Plants (R)

After receiving a trouncing from Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito in 2004, Californian Erik Wells is facing off against South Charleston High School and WVU football hero, Mark Plants, for Senator Steve Harrison’s old seat.

Wells has an ace in his deck; just ask his primary challenger Dave Higgins. As a news anchor in the Kanawha valley for many years, Wells is a well-known figure with plenty of name recognition.

Ironically, both men’s challenge is publicity. For Erik Wells, he wants to make sure his true liberal California views are well hidden from the voters. He would rather keep his nice guy news anchor persona instead.

Plants has to combat the significant face time Wells enjoys by doing what helps you win: attend every cotton-picking ladies auxiliary meeting, fair, parade, baby dedication, family reunion, school crossing, ceremony, concert, garage sale, gospel sing, and bird watching event.

This one is very close, but I think Wells has a lead that will not last.

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Stay tuned for part 2…