A Fairmont science teacher is one of three Democrats running to unseat Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., in the state's Second Congressional District.

The Mountain State’s primary election is May 12.

Stephanie Tomana said as a mom of two daughters, she is proud to be one of an increasing number of women to appear on this year’s ballot.

"It is amazing to me to be on this ticket with so many women," Tomana observed. "We see the 63 from the state House as a record number of women running for West Virginia."

As of 2026, the West Virginia Legislature has 16 women serving across a total of 134 seats. In the West Virginia House of Delegates, there are 11 women out of 100 members, including nine Republicans and two Democrats.

The other two Democrats seeking the seat are Ace Parsi, an Iranian-born community organizer and Steven Wendelin, a Navy veteran. Tomana feels more residents are tapped into this year’s primaries, frustrated by problems plaguing most of the state’s rural counties, including health care deserts, water issues and aging infrastructure.

"I actually, two years ago, found myself running in an extremely gerrymandered district against an entrenched incumbent, and it was a really close election," Tomana pointed out. "They tell me, you know, one of the closest in the states."

Women make up 28% of voting members in the 119th Congress, according to the Pew Research Center, up significantly from a decade ago.

Source: Public News Service