From left, Democratic House of Delegates candidate Harry Deitzler, Parkersburg & Wood County Public Library Executive Director Brian Raitz, Republican House candidate Bob Fehrenbacher and Delegate Vernon Criss, R-Wood, check election results on their phones Tuesday evening at the Wood County Courthouse. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — Even after all the votes are counted in Monday’s canvass, the outcome of the Republican primary for the newly created House of Delegates District 11 may still be in doubt.

Final, unofficial results Tuesday night found retired DuPont plant manager Bob Fehrenbacher just eight votes ahead of Delegate Roger Conley, R-Wood, 1,146-1,138.

But Republican party officials have questioned Fehrenbacher’s candidacy after it was learned he was not registered with the party when he filed to run. The Wood County Republican Executive Committee voted to disclaim his candidacy and state GOP Chairman Mark Harris asked him to withdraw from the race, saying a win by Fehrenbacher would be “potentially endangering a safe Republican seat.”

Meanwhile, in the Republican primary for House District 14 which includes a portion of Wood and all of Wirt County, Dave Foggin received 848 votes to incumbent Delegate D. Shannon Kimes’ 817. Kevin Jay Siers finished third with 616.

If that margin holds through the canvasses, Foggin would face Democrat Jim Marion, who was unopposed in the primary.

The House districts were redrawn to single-delegate districts after the 2020 Census.

In District 11, Conley previously said he would challenge the outcome if Fehrenbacher won. Attorney Harry Deitzler, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary for the seat, said he would not challenge Fehrenbacher’s candidacy.

On Tuesday, Conley said neither candidate might have to take the matter to court because the Republican and Democratic parties might do it instead.

“The bottom line, I’m the only Republican that’s able to be seated,” Conley said. “Mr. Fehrenbacher was not a Republican when he filed, so when it goes before the courts, it won’t stand. I’m guaranteeing you the Democrats know that.”

Fehrenbacher said he admitted to making a mistake by thinking he was registered as a Republican when he was unaffiliated.

“But I also believe in my review that the code allowed a challenge period and that period lapsed,” he said. “I will address that if there’s a challenge, but I am confident at this time.”

It could be a moot point if the canvass produces enough votes to put Conley ahead. Both men acknowledged Tuesday’s final, unofficial numbers were too close to be definitive.

“I’m grateful that I’m eight up versus eight down,” Fehrenbacher said. “I’m grateful regardless of the outcome.”

Conley said he was “going to go home thinking this ain’t over yet.

“We’re just going to have to wait and see how it all works out,” he said.

Other House districts that include Wood County had uncontested primaries.

In District 10, incumbent Delegate Bill Anderson, R-Wood, will face Democrat J. Morgan Leach in the general election.

In District 13, Republican Scot Heckert was the only candidate to file.

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