Saira Blair Wins W. Virginia GOP Primary: 17-Year-Old Conservative Could Be Youngest State Lawmaker Ever
Saira Blair won the West Virginia Republican Party primary Tuesday, unseating the 59th District House of Delegates incumbent, despite being only 17 years old. The teen from Martinsburg describes herself as a churchgoer, "pro-life," "pro-family," and "pro-marriage," and has the chance to become the youngest legislator in the state's history.
Saira Blair won the West Virginia GOP primary by an 872-728 vote margin, beating out 66-year-old incumbent Del. Larry Krump of Falling Waters. While he painted her as inexperienced, she pointed out that she learned a lot from her father, state Sen. Craig Blair, R-Berkeley— plus, the job isn't all that hard, she added.
"I don't have as many biases because I am younger and so I'm more capable of taking the views of the people directly from the district to Charleston," the Hedgesville High School senior told The Martinsburg Herald-Mail. "I think I'm fully capable of doing the job, and I don't think its rocket science by any means— not if you just listen to the people."
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Blair won't graduate high school until later this month, 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the November election are eligible to vote and run, and Saira's birthday is in July. Now that she has won the primary, Blair seems eager to take on Democratic candidate Layne Diehl in November.
"It's wonderful," she said of her victory. "I really love the idea that I can potentially be a role model for not only the youth around my area but all across the state."
Blair's campaign flyers, which were partially paid for by the $4,800 she contributed to her campaign, describe her as fiscally conservative, pro-life, pro-family, pro-marriage and pro-jobs. She believes that her main job is to listen to the constituents.
"There are two types of politicians: those that think they know everything, and those who want to listen to the people and do what they feel, and I'll be the (latter)," she told the Herald-Mail.
Blair will be starting classes at West Virginia University in the fall, but if she is elected she'll take off the spring semester to serve in the state legislature.
