In this article, we will explore some of the most liberal cities in West Virginia, where progressive ideas and inclusive attitudes flourish.
If you’re looking to move to West Virginia and want to know where the majority of West Virginians lean left, you’ve come to the right place.
Specifically, we wanted to know which cities have the highest number of liberal voters in the Mountain State.
To do so, we analyzed how the people in each city in West Virginia with a population greater than 5,000 voted during the last presidential election. The cities with the highest percentage of voters who voted Democrat were named the most liberal cities in the state.
48.2% Democrat vote · #1 most liberal in West Virginia
Located in
Monongalia County, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in and the county seat of Monongalia County, West Virginia, situated along the banks of the Monongahela River. With a permanent population of 31,073 per the 2015 U.S. Census estimates, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia. The Morgantown metropolitan area has a population of 138,176, and is the 3rd largest in West Virginia. West Virginia University adds several thousand seasonal residents to the city and surrounding area from September through May. Morgantown is best known as the home of West Virginia University and the Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit system.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
43.8% Democrat vote · #2 most liberal in West Virginia
Charles Town, officially the City of Charles Town, is a city in Jefferson County, West Virginia, and is also the county seat. The population was 5,259 at the 2010 United States Census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
43.8% Democrat vote · #2 most liberal in West Virginia
41.8% Democrat vote · #6 most liberal in West Virginia
Located in
Kanawha County, West Virginia
Charleston is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of West Virginia, and the county seat of Kanawha County. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers. As of the 2013 Census Estimate, it had a population of 50,821, while its metropolitan area had 224,743. It is a center of government, commerce, and industry.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
41.8% Democrat vote · #6 most liberal in West Virginia
Located in
Kanawha County, West Virginia
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
41.8% Democrat vote · #6 most liberal in West Virginia
Located in
Kanawha County, West Virginia
St. Albans is a city in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the Kanawha and Coal Rivers. The population was 11,044 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
41.8% Democrat vote · #6 most liberal in West Virginia
Located in
Kanawha County, West Virginia
Dunbar is a city in Kanawha County, West Virginia, along the Kanawha River. The population was 7,907 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
41.8% Democrat vote · #6 most liberal in West Virginia
Located in
Putnam County, West Virginia
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
40.1% Democrat vote · #9 most liberal in West Virginia
Located in
Wayne County, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell County and Wayne County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is the county seat of Cabell County, and largest city in the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, sometimes referred to as the Tri-State Area. A historic and bustling city of commerce and heavy industry, Huntington has long-flourished due to its ideal location on the Ohio River at the mouth of the Guyandotte River. It is home to the Port of Huntington Tri-State, the busiest inland port in the United States.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
36.3% Democrat vote · #10 most liberal in West Virginia
Located in
Ohio County, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Located almost entirely in Ohio County, of which it is the county seat, it lies along the Ohio River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Wheeling was originally a settlement in the British colony of Virginia and later an important city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Wheeling was the first state capital of West Virginia. Due to its location along major transportation routes, including the Ohio River, National Road, and the B&O Railroad, Wheeling became a manufacturing center in the late nineteenth century. After experiencing the closing of factories and substantial population loss following World War II, Wheeling’s major industries now include healthcare, education, law and legal services, entertainment and tourism, and energy.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is West Virginia’s statewide median.
On the map
Mapping the liberal strongholds in West Virginia
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the most liberal cities in West Virginia for 2026
To find the most liberal places in West Virginia, we used Saturday Night Science – the argument you’d make at a bar – to find the cities with the most liberals.
We started by making a list of every city in West Virginia over 5,000 people based on the 2020-2024 American Community Survey. That left us with 26 cities and towns.
We then measured the voting record and MIT election data to determine which places lean the most leftward in their allegiances by:
- Percentage Of Votes For Democratic President In 2020
Because no voting data exists at the city level, we used county-level election results from the 2020 election. We assigned every city in a county the percentage of votes that went to the Democrats, effectively extending the county’s results to the city level. In cases where larger cities encompassed an entire county, the election outcomes accurately reflected the city’s political landscape.
The winner, Morgantown, is “The Most liberal City in West Virginia For 2026”. The most conservative place in West Virginia was Buckhannon.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the most liberal places to live in West Virginia.
The full plate
Most Liberal Places In West Virginia
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Population | % Liberal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morgantown | 30,236 | 48.2% |
| 2 | Charles Town | 7,337 | 43.8% |
| 2 | Allenspark | 5,729 | 43.8% |
| 6 | Charleston | 47,421 | 41.8% |
| 6 | South Charleston | 13,457 | 41.8% |
| 6 | St. Albans | 10,522 | 41.8% |
| 6 | Dunbar | 7,254 | 41.8% |
| 6 | Nitro | 6,853 | 41.8% |
| 9 | Huntington | 45,787 | 40.1% |
| 10 | Wheeling | 26,350 | 36.3% |
| 11 | Fairmont | 18,221 | 34.5% |
| 12 | Martinsburg | 18,904 | 33.3% |
| 13 | Bridgeport | 9,252 | 30.2% |
| 13 | Clarksburg | 15,549 | 30.2% |
| 15 | Oak Hill | 7,937 | 30.0% |
| 16 | Parkersburg | 29,240 | 28.2% |
| 16 | Vienna | 10,518 | 28.2% |
| 18 | Weirton | 18,647 | 27.7% |
| 19 | Hurricane | 6,855 | 27.6% |
| 20 | Elkins | 6,811 | 27.6% |
| 21 | Moundsville | 7,869 | 24.5% |
| 22 | Beckley | 16,818 | 24.1% |
| 23 | New Martinsville | 5,133 | 23.1% |
| 24 | Bluefield | 9,387 | 22.1% |
| 24 | Princeton | 5,736 | 22.1% |
| 26 | Buckhannon | 5,116 | 22.1% |
Source: county-level 2020 election results, U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024. 26 cities with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
Summing Up The Liberal Snowflakes in West Virginia
Well, there you have it, the places in West Virginia that have the highest number of liberals per capita, with Morgantown ranking as the least conservative in the entire state.
The most liberal cities in West Virginia are Morgantown, Charles Town, Allenspark , Charleston, South Charleston, St. Albans, Dunbar, Nitro, Huntington, and Wheeling.
If you’re curious, here are the least liberal cities in West Virginia. Not sold on West Virginia? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
