West Virginia teen beats incumbent state delegate in GOP primary

MARTINSBURG, W.Va., May 14 (UPI) -- Saira Blair, a 17-year-old from Martinsburg, W. Va., may be graduating high school at the end of the month. But she's shown no signs of slacking.

The politically active teen defeated incumbent state Del. Larry D. Kump in the GOP primary for 59th District on Tuesday. Blair, who will turn 18 in July, won with 872 votes to Kump's 728.

Kump was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2010. On his website, he claims to have "over forty years of prior legislative and public administration skills and experience."

Blair describes herself as a "pro-life," "pro-gun" and "pro-marriage" fiscal conservative.

She told the Herald-Mail that she was "really thankful" that voters didn't hold her youth against her.

"I'm really thankful that the people are willing to give me a chance regardless of my age," she said. "I really want to work to prove to the people that I can do this."

Blair, whose father is West Virginia state Senator Craig Blair, will will face Democrat Layne Diehl in November.