The non-competitive nature of the 2026 West Virginia U.S. Senate contest between incumbent Republican Shelley Moore Capito and Democrat Rachel Fetty Anderson drives trader consensus toward the 450K-500K turnout range. Forecasters across outlets rate the race Safe or Solid Republican, reducing national spending, party mobilization, and media focus that typically boost participation in battlegrounds. West Virginia's rural demographics and older electorate have produced historically modest midterm turnout, reinforced by the May primary's roughly 252,000 ballots cast. Early voting runs October 21-31 with registration closing October 13, leaving get-out-the-vote efforts and any late national developments as the main variables that could shift totals within the leading bins.