Mountain people are a breed apart, politically. Not just West Virginia, but all of "Appalachia" from PA down to GA and AL. They were and are Republicans in NC, but not the usual sort. I suspect that WVA was more susceptible to the charms of Dem-style socialist nostrums due to union influence in coal mining. That has faded in importance, and the native independent streak has risen to the fore once again.
Scots-Irish independents.
There aren't really any new union jobs in the state. They are lucky to keep the ones they have. Coal mining is a shadow of its former self. Strip mining is popular, because it is often small. No unions. Also, a lot the state's children left for right to work states (like me).